Flagstaff’s REV LAB wins Moonshot Pitch Competition with a New Take on Marine Propulsion

By Kyle Macdonald, COO of Silicon Oasis

A Flagstaff-area engineering venture is advancing to the statewide Moonshot pitch finals after taking first place in the organization’s Sept. 8 Northern Arizona competition.

Jeffrey Downard’s REV LAB is developing a new class of marine propellers that uses paired blades arranged fore and aft. The company says the design is intended to improve speed, thrust and efficiency compared with conventional propeller configurations.

REV LAB’s initial focus is the outboard marine market. According to Moonshot, the technology has already been presented at the Marine Technology Expo in Amsterdam, while manufacturing partner PowerTech! has nominated the design for an industry innovation award in marine propulsion.

The Flagstaff win comes with $2,500 in local prize money and access to Moonshot’s entrepreneurial support network. More importantly, REV LAB now advances to the statewide finals in Phoenix on Oct. 24, where local winners from across rural Arizona will compete for additional capital and visibility.

The company is a useful reminder that Arizona’s startup economy extends far beyond the Valley.

Flagstaff has a distinctive combination of engineering talent, university research, aerospace activity and founder infrastructure. Programs such as Moonshot can help convert that technical capacity into companies by giving entrepreneurs structured pitch preparation, mentorship, capital exposure and a pathway into statewide networks.

If Arizona is serious about becoming a top-tier technology ecosystem, that network has to connect Phoenix, Tucson and the state’s smaller innovation centers rather than operating as separate islands.

REV LAB’s next test will be commercial: proving that its propulsion technology can translate from engineering concept and industry recognition into customers and scalable manufacturing. But earning a place in the state finals is another signal that promising technology companies are emerging across Arizona.

Article of Reference:
https://www.moonshotazpitch.com/flagstaff