The Journey: From Application to Finalist

The road to the summit began with a vision: to tackle recycling contamination at the source and empower organizations with real-time data and smarter waste management. When the Charlotte Hornets and Bank of America opened applications for their 2025 Innovation Summit, we knew the Topper Stopper™, our patent-pending, plug-and-play solution for recycling bins, was ready for the spotlight.

After submitting our application, we were excited to learn that we’d made it through the initial review. This meant access to invaluable entrepreneurial training from the UNC Charlotte Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, where we honed our pitch and deepened our understanding of how to scale impact.

Making the Cut: The Final Round

The competition was fierce, with innovative, minority-owned businesses from across the region vying for a spot in the finals. Thanks to the support of our community and the strength of our mission, Topper Stopper™ was selected as a finalist. We advanced to the live pitch event at the Spectrum Center, home of the Charlotte Hornets, where we presented our vision to a panel of judges and a crowd of supporters.

Our pitch focused on the real-world challenges of recycling, contamination, inefficiency, and lack of actionable data, and how Topper Stopper™ directly addresses these issues. By retrofitting existing recycling bins with smart technology, we help organizations reduce contamination, collect real-time data, and incentivize better recycling habits through gamification and rewards.

And the Winner Is… Topper Stopper™!

The moment our name was announced as the winner was unforgettable. The $25,000 investment from the Charlotte Hornets, along with the exposure and connections gained through the summit, will accelerate our mission to transform recycling in communities, businesses, and venues everywhere.

What’s Next for Waste Wise Innovation

Winning the Charlotte Hornets 2025 Innovation Summit is just the beginning. We’re committed to expanding the reach of Topper Stopper™ and our suite of solutions, including TS Analytics™, EcoLedger™, and more, to help municipalities, businesses, and organizations optimize recycling, reduce waste, and build a truly circular economy.

We’re grateful to the Charlotte Hornets, Bank of America, UNC Charlotte, and everyone who supported us on this journey. Together, we’re innovating a cleaner future. It was a very special surprise to receive the amazing news of winning this year’s competition from the Charlotte Hornets’ Head Coach, Charles Lee. Thank you all for this truly memorable and exceptional journey!

Briana Bloodworth is the Chief Marketing Officer at Waste Wise Innovation, where she applies a unique background in psychology and education to drive strategic marketing and brand engagement. A graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, Briana leverages her deep understanding of human behavior to craft campaigns that encourage sustainable habits and foster community connection. Her expertise in communication and strategic management is central to scaling the Waste Wise mission, ensuring that the company’s innovative recycling solutions resonate with diverse audiences while making a measurable impact on global sustainability goals.

As advocates for sustainable practices, Waste Wise Innovation leverages its advanced technology and deep expertise to lead in this endeavor. Through our membership with the Green Sports Alliance, we’re dedicated to driving meaningful change. Our goal is to implement forward-thinking strategies that reduce waste, enhance recycling efforts, and promote sustainability throughout sporting events and venues around the globe.

Embark on this transformative journey with us, where passion meets purpose. Through the universal platform of sports, we aim to cultivate a more sustainable, pristine world for future generations. Together, we will achieve significant victories for both our planet and the sports we cherish.

WE ARE EXHIBITING AT THE 2024 GSA SUMMIT

Join us at the Green Sports Alliance Summit June 11th – 13th. Visit our booth to discover how our recycling technology and data solutions can prevent contamination of the recycling and collect valuable data about the materials collected. We look forward to meeting you there!
#PlayToZero #GreenSports #Recycling #Sustainability #GSASummit

Jailyn Bloodworth is the Chief Operations Officer at Waste Wise Innovation, where she integrates business leadership with a deep commitment to environmental stewardship. Holding an M.A. in Communication and Business Leadership from High Point University, Jailyn oversees the operational strategies that bring the company’s sustainability technologies to life. Her background as a community health worker and executive leader provides a unique perspective on holistic, human-centered solutions, ensuring that organizational growth aligns with social and environmental responsibility. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, she focuses on scaling eco-conscious initiatives that harmonize business objectives with the global transition toward a circular economy.