MassChallenge Texas announced $500,000 in equity-free funding for five startups at its awards ceremony Thursday evening.
The awards were the culmination of MassChallenge's latest accelerator class, which included 74 startups from around the world. The startup organization, which launched in Texas two years ago, announced its finalists last month.
Here's a look at the winners MassChallenge shared:
$150,000 Diamond Winner TRAXyL, Inc: (Warrenton, Va.) TRAXyL is dramatically reducing the cost of broadband communications by “painting” optical fiber onto the road surface.
$100,000 Diamond Winners Collective Liberty: (Washington, D.C.) Collective Liberty facilitates anti-trafficking collaboration across industries and stakeholders to create ground-breaking, data-driven approaches that work. Mens Gold Boxx: (Austin) MensGoldBoxx is a Big & Tall ecommerce revolution. Intuitive customer profiles make finding your fit and style easy. Technology built to be licensed. teleCalm, Inc: (Allen, TX) teleCalm's phone service can be life-changing for seniors living at home and those in senior living. Keep your elderly loved ones connected longer and protected.
$50,000 Gold Winner Olifant Medical: (San Antonio) Olifant Medical has developed a stylet technology that overcomes the current barriers to successful tracheal intubation.
MassChallenge also announced its Alumni in Residence recognition for two alumni: Sam Lillie, CEO and founder of Vinder, and John Higley, CEO and founder of EQO.
The accelerator also honored two top experts: Ada Ryland, founder of Ada Ryland Consulting, and Kenan Rappuchi, founder and chief acceleration officer at Sellerant.
Finally, the Distinguished Community Leader Award went to Robert Pieroni, director of economic development of Central Houston, for his efforts in helping the Austin-based accelerator expand its presence to Houston.
