gener8tor and Marshall University iCenter Invest in West Virginia’s Brightest Entrepreneurs, Empowering Innovation Beyond Major Tech Hubs
HUNTINGTON, West Virginia - Five promising startups have been selected to join the inaugural gBETA accelerator hosted by the Marshall University Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (iCenter), in partnership with national venture capital firm gener8tor. The selected companies — FarmerzTool Technology, get2there, Monarch Learning Labs, Quest R&D and Stitch AI — span sectors including agriculture, digital infrastructure, medical technology, advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence.
gBETA Accelerator at Marshall’s iCenter is a no-cost, seven-week accelerator program designed to position early-stage startups for long-term success by helping them refine their business models, gain customer traction and prepare for future investment. Participants receive one-on-one coaching and direct access to gener8tor’s national network of seasoned mentors, investors and corporate partners.
The program launched with a highly competitive application pool from across West Virginia and surrounding regions. The five companies selected represent not only the strength of local innovation, but the potential for national impact. Full descriptions of each startup are provided below.
“At Marshall, we believe in the power of people with big ideas and we're proud to be a launchpad for entrepreneurs who are shaping the future of our state’s economy,” said Tricia Ball, Executive Director of the iCenter. “This cohort represents the purpose-driven founders and innovative ideas we aim to cultivate in West Virginia, and gener8tor has been an incredible partner, providing them with the relationships and resources they need to accelerate their success."
“Our mission at gener8tor is to be the best partner for a community to invest in its best and brightest,” said Eddie Olson, Senior Managing Director at gener8tor. “Through this partnership with Marshall University, we’re doing just that—supporting founders whose ingenuity, drive, and entrepreneurial spirit shine in West Virginia and other overlooked regions across the country.”
This program is made possible through the generous support of Huntington National Bank, a long-standing champion of entrepreneurship and regional development.
“At Huntington, we know that small businesses are drivers of innovation, job creation and opportunities in every community throughout West Virginia,” said Chad Prather, Regional President for The Huntington National Bank in West Virginia. “We’re proud to support this program because it aligns with our purpose: making people’s lives better, helping businesses thrive, and strengthening the communities we serve.”
The program will culminate in a public Showcase Event the evening of Thursday, August 7, 2025, where each startup will pitch their company to investors, business leaders, and the broader community. Please RSVP for the Showcase Event using this link.
For those interested in mentoring these companies or supporting the program in other ways, please contact Eddie Olson at eddie@gener8tor.com or fill out this form. Startup companies and founders interested in applying or learning more about the gBETA at Marshall’s iCenter or similar gBETA programming and resources or applying are encouraged to visit the website.
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gBETA at Marshall’s iCenter – Summer 2025 Cohort
FarmerzTool Technology
FarmerzTool streamlines Livestock management for small and medium-sized farms through a comprehensive web and mobile application. FarmerzTool’s software transforms outdated, fragmented manual record-keeping into an automated, AI-backed digital tool that tracks each animal's complete lifecycle data, performs consumption analysis, provides recommendations and calculates ROI per animal. FarmerzTool eliminates 30% of daily manual farm tasks while reducing manual data logging by 70%, through data-driven insights and automated reporting. Since its MVP launch in April, FarmerzTool has 20+ beta customers and estimates growing to 200+ by the end of 2025.
get2there
get2there transforms how people navigate campuses, venues, and complexes with its smart, mobile-first interactive mapping platform — no downloads, no tech headaches. Visitors, guests and staff intuitively find their way with a quick scan or tap, while the facility benefits from a simple, no-code solution that just works. Since launching in February 2025, get2there has already gone live at a major entrepreneurship conference and secured a second pilot.
Monarch Learning Labs
Monarch Learning Labs helps medical device companies train users on complex technologies through an interactive, simulation-based digital learning platform. Organizations use Monarch to cut training costs, shorten time-to-proficiency and support successful technology adoption at scale – all within a flexible, web-based training environment. Since launching in 2025, Monarch Learning Labs has secured a global medtech leader as its first customer and closed a seed financing round. The company is now positioned for rapid growth within medtech and expansion into additional high-skill sectors.
Quest R&D
Quest R&D manufactures an aggregate gradation machine, which simplifies the process of construction material testing by combining drying, sieving and weighing into one fully-automated system. With minimal human input, the machine delivers fast, accurate results — saving time, reducing errors and improving consistency. The system also produces easy-to-read digital reports, making it simple to share results with project teams and meet industry standards and regulatory requirements. Shortly after inception, Quest R&D received endorsement from the Deputy Commissioner of Highways for the State of West Virginia.
Stitch AI
Stitch AI orchestrates complex workflows for SMBs by reducing the friction of fragmented AI tools by coordinating tasks, surfacing context, and enabling smarter decisions in real time. Since launching in early 2025, Stitch AI is focused on enterprise productivity and operations across multiple industries, targeting their first pilot in Q3 2025.
About gener8tor
gener8tor is a global venture firm and accelerator network that supports startups, workers, employers, artists and musicians across race, place and gender. gener8tor partners with companies, governments, universities and nonprofits to operate programs and conferences in more than 45 communities across 26 states and three countries. Fast Company named gener8tor one of the Best Workplaces for Innovators in 2021 and 2022. The International Trade Council recognized gener8tor as Global Venture Capital Firm of the Year in 2022.
About gBETA
gBETA is a non-equity accelerator that facilitates the growth of early-stage companies through a network-driven program. This accelerator supports five startups per cohort and requires no fees for startups and takes no equity. Since launching in 2015, gBETA accelerator alumni have raised more than $851+M in capital and created more than 5,600 jobs across the U.S. internationally.
About Marshall University’s iCenter
The Marshall University Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (iCenter), established in 2018, serves as a hub for fostering innovation and entrepreneurship within the university and the broader West Virginia community.
