Local startup Pennez was the top finisher at Monday’s second annual Pure Pitch Rally, a showcase for Kansas City’s most promising companies.

Rebecca Dove and her team have developed Read2Think, an AI-based app that gauges how well children read.

Dove presented her business to a room full of local investors, 27 of whom served as judges. Each judge – or “land shark” – pledged to give $1,000 to the pitcher of their choice.

Pennez took home $8,000, along with a year’s worth of space at Plexpod and credits for Amazon Web Services.

Dominique Davison and PlanIT Impact received $6,000. PlanIT Impact is a new tool for modeling the impact that an architectural and engineering design can have in its proposed neighborhood. (Davison is also a principal at DRAW Architecture + Urban Design, a past winner of the 25 Under 25® Award.)

Susan Tyrell pitched her company, Premier Elder Solutions, which helps family caregivers coordinate their efforts and store their loved one’s essential data in a safe but accessible place. The judges gave Premier Elder Solutions $5,000.

Five other startups competed in the Pure Pitch Rally, which was part of this year’s Techweek Kansas City.

Audiios creates narration-based products, such as its first product, Audiiosomm, for A/V restaurant menus.

H3 Enterprise develops educational content, including its first big creation, Healthy Hip Hop.

Prestio is an online platform for buying, financing and trading new or used vehicles.

TicketRX’s online service helps drivers find attorneys who can help them with traffic violations.

WiGo Trips is a marketplace that makes it easier for travelers to plan group trips.

Karen Fenaroli, CEO of Fenaroli & Associates, is the driving force behind the Pure Pitch Rally. Sponsors included BKD, Polsinelli, Coffee Lunch Coffee, Circle Sideways, the Kansas City Area Development Council, Morningstar Communications and Project United Knowledge.