The Months After the Win: Inside PLNT’s Post-Showcase Growth

PLNT won first place at Colgate’s TIA Showcase this spring. Since then, Porter Comstock ’26 has focused on turning that momentum into product development and early growth.

From Showcase Win to Startup Momentum

For Porter Comstock ’26, the TIA Showcase marked the beginning of PLNT’s next stage. PLNT, Comstock ’26 venture focused on bringing AI-powered plant health and inventory insights to nurseries, won first place at Colgate’s Annual TIA Entrepreneur Showcase this spring. Through his live pitch and Q&A before a panel of judges, Comstock ’26 secured the competition’s $10,000 top prize. But where is PLNT now?

Building After the Win

Since the showcase, Comstock ’26 says the company’s biggest development has been its growing network of early partners. “We’re still building for plant nurseries,” he explains, “but now we have more early development partners.” That growth has translated into tangible progress. Using showcase funding, Comstock ’26 recently purchased a multispectral drone that will allow PLNT to deliver plant health insights directly to customers,  an important step toward transforming the venture into a functional product.

AI as a Growth Tool

When asked what has stood out most since April, Comstock ’26 pointed to AI. “AI tools are fantastic for building code,” he says. “If you’re persistent and challenge the LLM with your own creativity, it can build the product you envision.” As AI tools continue reshaping startup development, Comstock ’26 sees them as accelerators capable of helping founders build faster and test ideas more efficiently. For PLNT, that acceleration has become increasingly visible.

Connections That Compound

Winning the TIA Showcase also brought visibility beyond funding. Comstock ’26 reflected on meeting Lila Sullivan ‘17, co-founder of Flourish and a showcase judge, emphasizing that entrepreneurial relationships do not always generate immediate outcomes. “We spoke and no partnerships or opportunities emerged that weekend,” he says, “but they could in six months, one year, or five years down the road.” His advice to students is simple: 

“Make the connections now, so you have opportunities later.”

Looking Ahead

This summer, Comstock ’26 will continue advancing PLNT through the TIA Entrepreneurship Accelerator alongside advisors and mentors. When asked how he defines success over the next six to twelve months, his answer remains focused: “Building a product that works really well and securing our first customer.” While the showcase may have provided the spotlight, for PLNT, the real story is what’s happening because of it.