Mendieta wins NSU Inferno Pitch with plan for cutting-edge preventative health platform

NATCHITOCHES - Valeria Mendieta Montoya of Pereia, Columbia, is this year's first place winner in the Inferno Pitch, an entrepreneurial business competition hosted by Northwestern State University's College of Business and Technology. Mentoya's start-up, "MendiHealth", is a preventative health platform that uses early detection Artificial Intelligence to help manage non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Mendieta wins $3,000 and six months of professional services from the Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program.

MendiHealth provides personalized health information and tracks wellness goals, empowering patients to take control of their health and prevent complications. 

"MendiHealth was born out of a very personal experience, the loss of my grandmother due to a health problem that we could have prevented," she said. "This inspired my brother and me to create a way to help others prevent non-communicable diseases. Every day, we dedicate ourselves to developing the concept, refining our ideas with passion and effort until we arrived at a concrete solution."

"One of the most valuable lessons I learned throughout this process was the importance of seeking guidance from experts in key areas like finance, management and sales. Their advice and expertise were essential in shaping MendiHealth. Additionally, I learned that with discipline, hard work and dedication, dreams can indeed become reality."

Second place went to "Demons on the Go," a bike rental program that offers affordable and convenient travel to NSU students. Team members were Christopher Compas of Stonewall (team leader), Alizabeth Boyles of Many, Jacob Carter of Natchitoches, Kora Fry of East Wenatchee, Washington; Kamile Fuselier of Alexandria and Katie Murray of Pleasant Hill.

Third place went to "Demons on Wheels," a scooter rental service tailored for NSU students. Team members were Coline Bourreau of Chatou, France (team leader), Solone Aristizabal of Santa roa de Cabal, Columbia; Maria Camila Valencia Gonzalez of Pereia, Columbia, and Angee Mariana Bedoya Rivera of Dosquebradas, Columbia. 

Mendieta's next steps are to begin the development of the application and refine all aspects of the concept to prepare for the Entrepreneurship Pelican Cup. The Entrepreneurship Pelican Cup is the premier business plan competition in Louisiana with one of the largest cash prizes in the nation. The competition is designed to inspire participants and the community to think entrepreneurially by rewarding creativity, professionalism and hard work. Finalists for the Pelican Cup will be announced March 7, 2025. Presentations will be March 25 and awards will be announced April 10.

"I am excited to continue this journey and look forward to making a positive impact by shifting healthcare from a reactive to a preventative approach," she said.

The Inferno Pitch is annually sponsored by NSU's College of Business and Technology. Last year NSU student Matthew Gamble won the Pelican Cup for Rise and Rotate, a mobility assistance device he designed and developed. 

Information on the Pelican Cup is available at https"//www.ulm.edu/pelicancup/. Information on NSU's College of Business and Technology is available at https://nsula.edu/business/.

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