We started with a field of 16 companies. We end with one winner — and no losers.
Let’s face it: Inno Madness is a little bit goofy. We put together a bracket of local startups in head-to-head matchups and then had people vote based on which company they’d most want to invest in. The point was to have some fun and a few laughs in friendly competition while highlighting the Capital Region’s startup scene in a different way.
So, let’s take a moment to recognize the entire field of companies one more time before we crown the winner! The full list is below.
There are a lot of interesting ideas fermenting among these local startups — everything from literally growing new sustainable products to expanding access to mental health care to creating game experiences that blend the real world with the virtual. We can’t wait to see what bubbles up next.
But, first ... the business at hand: Crowning the inaugural Albany Inno Madness champ.
The final matched two downtown Troy startups: No. 7 seed Nuvalence and No. 8 seed UCM Digital Health.
Could Nuvalence serve cloud-based victory as a service?
Would UCM Digital Health provide a front door not just to health care but also a championship?
And the winner is…
UCM Digital Health!
The health care startup won 65% of the votes in the final to take the title. Congrats to founders Keith Algozzine and Michael Bibinghaus and the entire team there.
And thank you to everyone who took the time to vote in this year’s Albany Inno Madness! Be sure to keep following Albany Inno’s coverage of local startups and the region’s innovation economy. There’s much more to come.
The Albany Inno Madness 2022 field
Ecovative uses mycelium to develop sustainable replacements for products including meat and leather.
Velan Studios is a video game developer that has released two titles so far: Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit for Nintendo, and Knockout City for EA Games.
MyForest Foods Co., a spinoff of Ecovative Design, makes a bacon substitute from mycelium.
Aptihealth is a behavioral health telemedicine platform that connects patients to psychotherapists.
Inspect Point has created a software platform to help fire protection companies more easily manage building inspections.
Levrx has developed a digital platform that shows which medications are covered under a patient’s health plan and which pharmacy sells them for the lowest cost.
Nuvalence focuses on professional services in the cloud computing industry and plans to expand into three new offices and two new cities.
UCM Digital Health is a medical triage telemedicine platform meant to keep patients from visiting the ER when it's not necessary.
Vyv makes an LED light whose very specific wavelength on non-UV light can kill microbes on surfaces.
Network Next integrates its software into video games to improve connectivity and reduce lags.
Golde makes superfood powders and beauty products that are sold at retailers including Target.
Vara Safety makes a mounted gun holster that unlocks with a fingerprint.
United Aircraft Technologies is developing a sensor device that can hold vehicular wires in place without the use of tools.
Dang! is an indie video game studio that recently released its first game, Boomerang X, available on the Nintendo Switch.
Catapult Games is a studio currently developing a game for police training.
Ventur is developing a platform to more easily connect home buyers and sellers with residential real estate agent without going through a middleman.
