Hardshell was selected as a finalist in the 2026 Galant Challenge Showcase at the UVA McIntire School of Commerce, pitching live at the Galant Challenge Showcase on April 23 at Shumway Hall alongside other ventures from the UVA community.
The Galant Challenge Program is one of the most significant university-sponsored venture funding events in the country. Since 2012, the program has deployed more than $37 million in seed and early-stage capital to emerging ventures. The 2026 Showcase connected finalist companies with the VC Collective, a network of 35+ organizations representing more than $2 billion in cumulative capital, as well as UVA alumni investors, students, and community members.
Firms selected as finalists pitched for more than $6 million in investment capital at the 2026 event, which was a featured part of the 14th annual Tom Tom Festival in Charlottesville.
Learn more about the Galant Challenge Program →