Innovative Concepts Shine in Flagstaff Pitch Competitions

Flagstaff Innovators Win Pitch Competitions

The innovative concept of detecting wildfires from space and extinguishing them with a squad of firefighting drones is gaining traction in Flagstaff. Snuffed, a team comprised of engineers, astronomers, and firefighters, recently pitched their plan to the City of Flagstaff’s Economic Development and Sustainability department and emerged victorious.

The team, led by Flagstaff Fire Captain Mike Felts, shared their vision to launch 90 satellites to monitor the West for potential ignitions. Their proposal not only won first place in the city’s competition, Innovate Waste: The Carbon Neutrality and Water Conservation Challenge, but also secured $15,000 towards the development of their groundbreaking ideas. This success follows their advancement to the semifinals of the global XPRIZE Wildfire competition earlier this year.

Cody Hartman, a local aerospace engineer and member of Snuffed, expressed his gratitude for the community’s support, stating, “It will certainly take the entire community to help our team cross the finish line in the four-year global XPRIZE Wildfire competition.”

In a separate competition, entrepreneur Jesslynn Armstrong emerged victorious in Moonshot’s 5th Annual Rural AZ Pitch Flagstaff event with her Tensegrity Medical concept. This medical device company is developing light technology for use in medical emergencies and clinical practice. Armstrong was awarded $2,000 and the opportunity to compete in the state pitch contest in Cottonwood.

The city and Moonshot collaborated to kick off their competitions with a celebration that showcased Flagstaff’s startup community and local stakeholders. Moonshot President and CEO Scott Hathcock praised the event, stating, “The competition featured impressive talent from across the city, highlighting the innovative spirit of the Flagstaff community and its commitment to sustainability and economic development.”

Overall, these competitions have not only showcased the creativity and dedication of Flagstaff’s innovators but have also provided a platform for groundbreaking ideas to flourish and make a positive impact on the community.