SEMA announced its top five finalists to advance in the 2022 SEMA Launch Pad Competition, a product-pitching competition for the automotive aftermarket.
“This year’s SEMA Launch Pad competitors were amongst the best that we’ve ever seen,” said Myles Kovacs, a Launch Pad judge. “I’m constantly amazed at the ingenuity, passion, and drive we see from competitors. It’s going to be difficult to select just one winner from the group.”
The top five finalists are:
Dustin Golat, GolaTTaylor Tools
Thread Wizard: Tool engineered to remove all grime, dirt, surface rust, and fouling from a bolt in a fraction of the time when compared to traditional methods.
Jacob Hawksworth, Hypercraft
Hyper-Pack: Modular EV battery pack system that allows builders to easily configure a custom high-voltage battery system for their electric vehicle project.
Susan Pieper, DMOS Collective Inc.
Stealth and Delta Car Shovels: Premium indestructible advanced designed shovels that are easy to stow and mount on various vehicle racks and platforms.
Kevin Robinson, TRAC LLC
TRAC Tire Jack: Tool designed to make removing or installing a wheel/tire from a vehicle safer, simpler, and easier.
Frank Terlep, Auto Techcelerators LLC
Drive CoPilot Technology Platform: Technology platform designed to help properly perform, document, and invoice for ADAS safety system verification testing, dynamic calibrations, seat belt function tests, and more.
The above finalists will pitch their ideas at the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas in November, where it will be narrowed down to two. The two finalists will be announced on Wednesday, Nov. 2. They will then again pitch their products, but this time on stage at the newly revamped SEMA Show Industry Awards Banquet on Thursday, Nov. 3.
The grand prize package is valued at $92,000.
The four returning judges are Chip Foose, award-winning vehicle builder and artist best known from the TV hit series Overhaulin’; Jared Hare, an innovator and entrepreneur who founded Addictive Desert Designs in 2007 and has grown the company into one of the leading off-road brands; Myles Kovacs, a trendsetter who founded DUB Magazine and launched TIS Wheels; and Alex Parker, industry advocate and CMO of the 2020 SEMA Manufacturer of the Year Winner Redline Detection.
