Published on September 26, 2022 by Morgan Black  
Lions Den 2022

Samford University will partner with Cedarworks Inc. to present the 9th annual Lion’s Den pitch competition aimed toward advancing the Kingdom through Business-as-Mission (BAM). The 2022 event will be held in Samford’s Wright Center Thursday, Oct. 13 at 4 p.m.

Since its inception in Birmingham in 2014, the event has hosted a diverse community of entrepreneurs from around the world. The 2021 event included over 325 attendees from 10 countries, 82 cities and 25 states. The 2022 Shark Tank-style event will feature three Business-as-Mission companies presenting their business plans to a live audience and a judging panel of “lions.”

Quantum Interface

Quantum Interface (QI) is a technology company with 37 active patents either owned or licensed. QI generates revenues through products, servicing and licensing, although the core product is a company-built immersive interactive interface (QIVX - Quantum Interactive Virtual Experience) that was released this year. The interface has been adopted by the U.S. Air Force and is moving into more Department of Defense (DOD) areas as well as other sectors. QI also builds flagship AR/Mobil products for large biopharmas, which primarily include Merck and Takeda. The company stewards what God has provided on a minute-by-minute, thought-by-thought basis, seeking direction from Him. QI partners with other technology companies on spiritual integration and using QIVX to create new ways to share the Word. Twenty percent of company ownership is dedicated to ministries that are sharing the Word, to deliverance, and to praise and worship. The culture of the company is one of acknowledgment and thanks to God, where employees and staff openly speak of Him to customers and stakeholders.

SALT

SALT is a dating and relationship app with a vision to connect Christians globally and support them as they build Godly and loving long-term relationships. SALT aims to equip and empower Christians on their relationship journey. More than an app, SALT creates helpful/advice content, runs online events and devotions/Bible studies to build community and encourage users. It is currently live in over 20 countries globally and will be launching in the U.S. in 2022. SALT targets the more than 40% of couples who now meet online (vs 2% in 1995). There are over 200m+ single Christian adults globally who want to meet someone who shares their faith. It can be hard to meet someone outside your church circle and online dating is now considered the new normal. SALT enables Christians to truly live out and grow in their faith as they prepare to date and build a long-term relationships. It combines a Jesus-centric product with a commitment to creating leading technology, content and solutions.

Surv

Surv is a monthly membership platform that enables loved ones to age in-home, caring for their basic health and honey-do list needs, serving the 65+ age demographic in America adn 10 other markets globally. Surv is value-forward, taking pride in finding the best workers in order to allow its customers to feel safe, and intentionally emphasizes the relationship building aspect of allowing someone into your home. Surv provides this by offering a trusted brand, rigorous interview and background check procedures, local oversight, and tight team relationships. Christians and non-Christians work together to serve others selflessly, often stepping into rather sensitive situations like divorces, downsizes and death, building valuable relationships between workers, often spawning community Bible studies and addressing the loneliness often found with older individuals living alone.

Learn more and purchase tickets for this year’s event.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.