Advance Casper Start-Up Challenge Ignites Entrepreneurship

Courtesy of Advance Casper

The Advance Casper Start-Up Challenge is a community-driven competition spearheaded by Advance Casper to support local entrepreneurs in developing their business ideas from concept to launch. 

Finalists receive expert mentorship and tailored growth support while prepping for a Pitch Night. There, they present to industry leaders for a chance to win seed funding. The 2025 winners include three distinct organizations – Quip Network, FavorApp and PsyOS.AI – all of which are viable businesses that are set to make significant contributions to the local Casper economy. 

Quip Network 

Postquant Labs was founded in 2024 after the co-founders, Colton Dillion and Richard Carback, read about Google’s latest quantum processor, Willow. After plugging together multiple Willow chips, Google reported that they got exponentially better performance than they expected, indicating that future advancements may be faster. 

“Google’s surprising result made us think that cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum might be in danger sooner than people expected – a quantum computer could hack into people’s wallets and drain their funds,” Dillion says. 

Postquant Labs was originally founded to design and distribute wallets that use quantum-resistant cryptography to protect people. Its newest mission is to build the Quip Network, which is focused on post-quantum cryptography to protect digital assets. 

“Cryptocurrencies are incredibly versatile tools to distribute power, and they represent our best chance at removing the threat of violence from dispute resolution and commerce,” Dillion says. “Casper is perfectly positioned to be a node on the first quantum repeater networks that pass quantum states between data centers.” 

PsyOS.AI 

Founded in 2025, PsyOS.AI was born from a moment of clarity while Dr. David Martorano was preparing for a telehealth speaking engagement and working on his book, The Artificially Intelligent Clinician. With 25 years in behavioral health and 35 years in technology, he recognized society had reached a critical inflection point in which AI could transform mental health care. 

“Working with AI experts, we developed a revolutionary architecture that fundamentally changes how health information is stored and processed,” he says. 

The company’s core competencies center on delivering enterprise-grade behavioral health electronic health records solutions that are faster, more affordable and more secure, while maintaining exceptional user-friendliness. 

Martorano’s wife, Annie, serves as president, bringing business acumen and deep local connections, while David serves as the expert, combining clinical expertise with technical innovation. 

Martorano says Casper offers unique advantages. “As I see it, AI is perhaps the most transformative technology of the last century,” Martorano says. “Communities that embrace and harness it will thrive. Casper is choosing to lead, and PsyOS.AI is proud to be part of that leadership.” 

FavorApp 

When Jesse Owens’ mother, Lisa, was diagnosed with terminal cancer, Jesse and his wife, Bailey, moved Lisa to Casper to provide for her end-of-life needs. There were instances where Lisa required help with things such as opening lids, cleaning and other basic needs. 

“She didn’t know anyone in town and had no way to ask for help,” Jesse Owens says. “We made FavorApp in her memory so nobody will be left feeling helpless and neighbors in a community can help as needed.” 

The goal: Create an all-free open marketplace where users can post things they need help with, and then people in the community can help. 

“Favors can also be posted as paid favors – for example, moving, home repairs, dog poop removal, dump runs,” Owens says. 

They plan to bring nonprofits on board as well. 

“We want to show you don’t have to live in a large city to be successful,” Owens says. “With the right approach and strategy, you can be comfortable in your smaller city while pushing your ideas into larger landscapes.”