Epic, a Texas-based fin-tech company powering the National Loan Payoff Clearinghouse for streamlined loan payoff and lien release, won the inaugural Startup Symposium pitch competition at the recently concluded Agent Summit in Las Vegas.

Epic CEO Brandon Hall was one of eight executives who took part in a series of rapid-fire presentations, each representing a company focused on automotive retail and finance technologies.

“We are honored to have been invited to participate in the symposium and humbled to have won,” Hall said. “This recognition is a testament to the innovation behind our National Loan Payoff Clearinghouse and reinforces the need for a standardized, network-based approach to loan payoff and lien release processing across the automotive ecosystem.”

Startup Symposium speakers attempted to make the case for investing in their companies. They faced follow-up questions from a three-judge panel that included Colonnade Advisors’ Gina Cocking, Quin Garcia of Autotech Ventures, and CDK Global’s Jay Hicks. The tribunal and the agents and executives in attendance were asked to rate each presentation at its conclusion.

“We challenged our judges and the Startup Symposium audience to tell us which of our presenters made the best case for investment,” said Automotive Ventures principal and keynote speaker Justin Charbonneau. “Congratulations to Brandon and Epic for emerging victorious from a field of worthy competitors.”

The Startup Symposium was presented by Automotive Ventures and organized in partnership with Agent Summit and Bobit Business Media’s Dealer Group. Show chairman and Dealer Group President David Gesualdo said interest in the event signals a shift in agency operations.

“Agents find themselves in a role they could scarcely have imagined when Agent Summit started 15 years ago: helping dealer clients navigate an industry that is being redefined by AI,” Gesualdo said. “We are proud to have hosted Startup Symposium and look forward to future collaborations with Automotive Ventures.”

To learn more about Agent Summit, visit the event’s website.