COhatch and City of Dublin Host Fourth Annual Dublin Pitch Competition

DUBLIN, Sept. 23, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- COhatch and the City of Dublin are set to host the fourth annual Dublin Pitch Competition on October 15 at COhatch Dublin. The event, which started in 2023, aims to connect promising entrepreneurs with capital, visibility, and strategic business relationships. The competition will feature a Shark-Tank style format where startups will present their ideas and vie for funding opportunities, investor interest, and more than $25,000 in cash and prizes.

Entrepreneurs are invited to submit a three-minute video pitch of their business or idea by October 1. A four-judge panel, consisting of former Dublin pitch winners and investor and entrepreneur Rich Wartel, will review all submissions and select three finalists to pitch live at COhatch Dublin at 6:30 p.m. on October 15. The finalists will have five to seven minutes for their final pitch and to answer questions.

The Dublin Pitch event is open to the public, with tickets available through EventBrite. The competition will be held in conjunction with tours of Dublin's developing Riverview Village, an innovation district, and COhatch's planned new headquarters within the campus. The public-private development is designed to connect entrepreneurs and small businesses with flexible workspace, advanced connectivity, economic incentives, and collaborative programming in the heart of Historic Dublin.

The judges for this year's competition include: - Teri Sirset, MS, and DASI Simulations, based in the City of Dublin, are transforming structural heart care with AI and 3D modeling. The company has secured FDA clearances, established commercial agreements with leading heart centers, and raised more than $12 million. - Aaron Crookes and Apricity Robotics are developing an AI-powered robotic ultrasound platform. Since winning Dublin Pitch, Apricity has raised more than $10 million and received a $1 million NSF Phase II award. - Geoff Bruder and Cleveland-based Sonic Fire Tech are pioneering technology that uses sound waves to suppress fires without water or chemicals. The company was named a CES 2026 Innovation Awards honoree and has now raised $15 million in seed financing, one of the largest seed financings in Ohio's history.

The Dublin Pitch is open to the public, with tickets available through EventBrite. The event is part of a broader effort by the City of Dublin to invest in innovation, connectivity, and collaboration. Dublin is a city of around 50,000 residents located just northwest of Columbus, Ohio. It is home to more than 20 corporate headquarters, an entrepreneurial center, 4,300+ businesses, world-class events, and the urban, walkable Bridge Street District. For more information, visit DublinOhioUSA.gov or call 614.410.4400.

COhatch, founded in 2016 in Columbus, Ohio by a group of friends inspired to build better lives and stronger neighborhoods, has grown into a hub of innovation, collaboration, and connection, helping to anchor and uplift local economies.