Correspondent photo / John Patrick Gatta Steve Vesey of WFMJ Today was the Master of Ceremonies at the 6th annual Youngstown Business Incubator Shark Tank competition on Thursday at Mr. Anthony’s in Boardman.

BOARDMAN — The entrepreneurial spirit was present Thursday evening at Mr. Anthony’s during the 6th annual Medical Mutual presents the YBI Shark Tank.

The local version of the popular reality TV show features entrepreneurs pitching their business ideas to wealthy investors, who are known as sharks.

Before the Shark Tank presentations, Barb Ewing, CEO of the Youngstown Business Incubator, announced a change in the organization’s logo and revealed its new name. “Looking into the future, we decided Youngstown Business Incubator needed a refresh of our brand. We are more of a regional brand. We are expanding into Warren. Our new name is YBI and the new motto is Where Grit Meets Growth,” Ewing said. During his opening remarks, John Reed, chairman of the board of YBI, told the 750 people in attendance that this is the second-largest event in the Mahoning Valley after Panerathon, which attracts thousands of participants.

“WFMJ Today” anchor Steve Vesey was the master of ceremonies for the second year in a row. Vesey joked that since he is on the morning show, it is rare for him to stay up past his bedtime, but he felt that this event was worth doing so.

Vesey introduced the local sharks who would choose a winner. The judges were RT Vernal (Vernal Paving and Excavating), Rob Komara (Komara Jewelers), Amy Abruzere (Grey Boutique), Wayne Mackey (AIMLABS) and Don Thomas (Platz Realty Group).

As part of a fundraiser, a mystery shark was selected during a live auction. Brianna Komara Pridon of Komara Jewelers won that role.

Each of the businesses gave a four-minute pitch — two minutes for a demonstration and then answered questions from the sharks. Their products included innovations in the medical field, manufacturing, gaming and religion.

Prior to the event, the companies received $5,000 to encourage their progress. The night’s winner received additional funding.

Tod W. Hodrinsky of Nivalon Medical presented a pitch for a patient-specific lumbar disc replacement system. His reasoning for creating the medical device: “I was in a car accident and had a spine injury, and then later I fell on the ice.”

Former NASA rocket scientist Zach Courtright followed to present his business, LeapFast. His company advances aluminum fabrication and processing at a pace and scale by rethinking geography and supply chain.

“My manufacturing process cuts lead time by 98%,” Courtright said.

Drew Lund and his business, Rapt, came next. A former minister, he created an AI-powered Bible study app. He said millions of people want to read the Bible, but 57% of those who do so do not understand what they read.

Gizmo & Trinket presented fourth.

“I am a gamer and I found out that it was difficult to play tabletop games with dice virtually with friends,” said Warren native Jeff Cochran.

His company created Oracle, which allows a gamer to use their own dice and throw them on a device to play with others anywhere in the world.

LeapFast won the Sharks Choice award, and Courtright received a check for $10,000.

When asked what his business would bring to the Valley, Courtright’s answer may have influenced the sharks’ decision.

“My first internship was at Dearing Compressor & Pump Company here in Youngstown,” he said. “So, I have a personal link to Youngstown. There’s no way I would have had a stepping stone to NASA without that first spot. My parents live here. I’m from Northeast Ohio.

“With all the manufacturing skills, the heritage, the infrastructure, the fact that the Ohio River is right there, we can throw big structures on a barge and have it out to the Mississippi (River) and anywhere in the world. No problem. It’s that strategic logistics of this location — Cleveland in one direction, Pittsburgh in the other, and you have New York, (Washington), D.C. and Chicago — all within arm’s reach. So, it’s a very great, strategic place for large-scale manufacturing.”

The People’s Choice winner was Gizmo & Trinket. Cochran received an additional $5,000 check that he said he will use to establish an office at YBI.