Most Fundable Companies Competition at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School Showcases Innovation and Alumni Entrepreneurship
On September 24, 2025, entrepreneurs, investors, and educators from across the nation convened for Pepperdine Graziadio Business School’s 2025 Most Fundable Companies Competition showcase, held at the Villa Graziadio Executive Center on Pepperdine University's Malibu campus. A distinguished panel of investors, venture advisors, and Pepperdine faculty selected the 14 winning startup companies from a pool of 2,300 applicants to be recognized within the eighth annual Most Fundable Companies List.
Everett hosting the Most Fundable Companies event
Since the program’s inception in 2018, the most promising US-based ventures in healthcare, sustainable housing, transportation, clean energy, consumer products, and advanced technology with annual revenues of less than $10 million have been invited to enter the competition. This year, Pepperdine Graziadio Business School alumnus Gene Eidelman (MBA ’19, PKE 142) was among the winners for his startup, Azure Printed Homes, Inc., cofounded by Ross Maguire.
“We’re very honored to be selected for this elite recognition, especially because the idea about our company was born on the Pepperdine campus,” said Eidelman, sharing that he met his current business partner while a Graziadio MBA student. “It has been both humbling and highly inspiring to realize this is an award that truly validates our mission to provide sustainable and scalable housing solutions—now additionally focused on helping those who lost their homes in the Palisades and Altadena wildfires. I’m grateful to be recognized by the very community that we are helping rebuild.”
Craig Everett, finance professor and executive director of the Most Fundable Companies program, hosted the event and highlighted the competition’s widespread participation—noting that, for the sixth consecutive year, companies from all 50 US states participated. Everett then thanked the Singleton Foundation for Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship, the program’s title sponsor for five consecutive years, who partnered with the George and Reva Graziadio Foundation among other distinguished supporters to underwrite the event.
“We are excited for you to meet the 14 startups who ran the gauntlet and emerged victorious this year,” said Everett as he outlined the intensity of the rigorous, multi-round competition. “This is not just a pitch competition; this is a due-diligence competition, and these entrepreneurs are the reason we are here.”
Keynote Panel: Monteparte (left), Frank Foster, David Feldman, Rockwood Foster
Deborah Crown, dean of Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, spoke to how the Most Fundable Companies list serves as a national platform for burgeoning startups—signaling to investors that the listed companies are well positioned for long-term growth. While honoring the event’s original founders, Crown expressed her appreciation for present investors and members of the Pepperdine alumni community who were in attendance.
“At Graziadio entrepreneurship is something we deeply believe in,” Crown explained. “It is a force that drives innovation and fuels economic growth. It requires resilience, creativity, and courage, and today we come together and champion the entrepreneurial spirit and to recognize founders who are building companies and creating solutions that lead to human flourishing.”
Following Crown’s remarks, Everett introduced Vince Monteparte (MBA ’01), Graziadio Board member, co-chair of the school’s Entrepreneurship and Family Business Committee, and principal of the investment banking firm Global Capital Markets. Monteparte moderated the event’s keynote panel, which discussed perspectives on scaling innovation, navigating capital markets, and how to best support the next generation of entrepreneurs.
The panel’s lineup included Frank and Rockwood Foster of the Gideon Hixen Fund; David Feldman, senior associate of Cerity Partners Ventures; and Stefan Gunnarsson, CEO of PropTexx—a 2024 Most Fundable Company winner.
Most Fundable Companies event audience
After the discussion concluded, Clemens Kownatzki, associate professor of finance and associate dean of academic programs, introduced the 14 Most Fundable Companies, who each presented their business models, annual revenues, and market opportunities. Kownatski then invited the audience to vote for the event’s fan favorite awards.
From the 14 winning companies, the three fan favorites selected were Ink’d Greetings, Inc., a kiosk service that allows consumers to rapidly select, personalize, and print greeting and gift cards on demand in more than 100 retailers; Microvascular Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company specializing in the development of microbubble and nanotechnology products; and Somnair, Inc., pioneers of the first noninvasive neurostimulation solution for obstructive sleep apnea.
In closing, Everett noted how each of the startups was an inspiration, and that each will receive a digital and print feature in Entrepreneur magazine. Entrepreneurs and investors were encouraged to continue their evening with a networking reception on the Villa Graziadio patio.
“Our proprietary methodology mirrors the diligence process used by investors and venture capitalists, giving the winners credibility and visibility with the investment community,” said Everett. “We’re very proud of our entrepreneurial focus here at Graziadio.”