MassChallenge Texas, the local branch of a global startup accelerator network, will look a little different this year. In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the organization is going virtual -- with plans for in-person programming when its leaders feel it's safe to do so.
But that's not the only change. The organization, now in its third year in Texas, has added a safety and security track to focus on startups with national defense and public safety at their cores.
Of the 58 startups selected for its 2020 cohort, 65% have a female founder. At least 16 companies are based in Austin, and five others are based outside the United States. Industry-wise, 43% of the startups in the cohort count themselves as health care or life sciences. Another 31% are high tech, 22% are retail and consumer goods, with 2% identifying as either cleantech and energy or social impact.
“Today’s entrepreneurs will have a fundamental impact on how efficiently the world recovers from the current economic crisis, and the game-changing startups in this year’s Austin-based cohort are poised to do just that,” Mike Millard, managing director of MassChallenge Texas, said in a prepared statement. “I am incredibly impressed by the founders’ abilities to navigate their businesses through the coronavirus crisis, leveraging the intersection of business and technology to create solutions across agriculture, internet of things, medical devices, manufacturing, and more."
MassChallenge Texas launched in 2017, and it has worked with hundreds of startups across the state since then. The accelerator provides equity free funding for selected startups. Last year, it announced $500,000 in funding for five startups at its awards ceremony in October.
This year, the organization offered up to $750,000 in equity free cash prizes.
Below are the startups selected for the new cohort, with descriptions provided by MassChallenge. The startups will showcase their products during a virtual event July 16 and 17.
Energy
● NALA Systems (North Carolina) - NALA's patent-pending, chlorine-tolerant low fouling reverse osmosis membranes will dramatically reduce the cost of making pure water.
Retail
- 360VR Technology (Delaware): 360VR Technology is an information platform that increases safety, operational efficiency and reduces risk by integrating 3D models with building information.
- AdaptaFit (Texas) – AdaptaFit has created a patent-pending, easy to install magnetic kit to replace buttons and zippers and make getting dressed easy for those with limited mobility.
- Applied Bioplastics (Texas)
- At Ease Rentals Corporation (Texas) – At East Rentals is similar to Airbnb but for the military. The platform guarantees all listings will meet federal lodging requirements; ensuring federal employees can receive reimbursements.
- Biomineral Systems LLC (Indiana)
- BlyncSync Technologies (Oklahoma) - BlyncSync is an IOT platform that is helping prevent accidents in the trucking industry through biometric wearables and behavioral analytics.
- Chronically Capable (Washington D.C.) – Chronically Capable sources flexible jobs and resources for the chronically ill.
- En Solución Inc. (Texas)
- Equine Smartbit LLC (Missouri) – Equine Smartbit embeds sensors into a horsebit to monitor horse biometrics in real time and continue basis through its mouth.
- Locker Lifestyle (Illinois) Locker Lifestyle creates wearable lockers so you can workout, travel and adventure with confidence. Stash your cash, keys, ID and more.
- Power Polymer, LLC (Texas) – Power Polymer protects lives, minimizes economic loss, and creates revitalization and sustainability in complex multi-hazards environments.
- Renzoe Box (Texas)
- The Etho (Texas) - The Etho is an online marketplace for highly curated, ethically-made goods from international artisans and high-end designers.
- UAV-IQ Precision Agriculture (Puerto Rico) - UAV-IQ's service deploys drones over farms and orchards, and uses proprietary hardware systems calibrated to release beneficial insects and mites which feed upon pests plaguing crops to provide pesticide-free protection.
Health care and life sciences
- Brazen, Inc. (Texas) - Brazen is a women's health company building precision medicine for periods.
- Briocare (Texas) – Biocare is revolutionizing elderly care and aging in place using smart voice technology.
- Code 1 Medical Devices (Florida) – Code 1 Medical Devices is a novel airway device designed to prevent the aspiration of stomach contents into the lungs.
- EM Device Lab, Inc (Texas) - EM Device Labs is reinventing abscess treatment with the Quickloop Device. Quickloop cuts the procedure failure rate in half, is less painful and eliminates follow-up visits.
- Medical Elution Devices (Texas)
- GaitIQ, Inc. (Texas)
- HiPR Innovation, Inc. (Texas)
- Microbial Pulse Diagnostics (Colorado) - Microbial Pulse technology reduces the time to identify the right antibiotic for urinary tract infections from two days to two hours.
- Levate LLC (Oklahoma) - The Levaté Wheelchair Lift allows users to easily reach a shelf or countertop, transfer out of their wheelchair, or have an eye-level conversation.
- NemoCare Wellness (India) - NemoCare addresses the need for an affordable, continuous monitoring system for detection of Apnea, RD and Hypothermia in neonates in low resource settings through a wearable device and a connected intelligent platform.
- Onexio Biosystems (Wisconsin) - Onexio’s microDUO provides drug discovery researchers a simple, affordable and high-throughput cell co-culture device.
- Sano Chemicals Inc. (Texas) Sano Chemicals is involved in development of novel treatments that improve women's health and the health of immunocompromised patients.
- Strap Technologies (Texas) – Strap Technologies developed a wearable device that helps blind people moving around independently. The equipment replaces the outdated white cane and is designed to vibrate in the presence of an obstacle.
- Syntr Health Technologies, Inc (California,USA)
- TeVido BioDevices, Inc (Texas) - TeVido processes patient’s own skin cells to restore lost skin color caused by scars and disease.
- Thinks Works (Texas)
- Vigilant Software (Texas) – Vigilant software is a healthcare SaaS company that automates the workflow of drugs drawn at point-of-care as opposed to pharmacies.
- Xpan Inc. (Canada) - Xpan’s less invasive yet expandable universal port aims to maximize the safety & efficiency of minimally invasive surgery.
High tech
- Civic Champs (Indiana)
- Class2Class Inc . (Texas) - Class2Class is the first all-in-one platform to help instructors and administrators connect, create and manage Virtual Exchange courses.
- ClassNotes (Pakistan) - ClassNotes provides educational resources and data centric services to students around the world to help them prepare academic examinations and standardized tests.
- CSS Worldwide, Inc (Texas) – CSS is a workplace safety analytics company that uses sensing technology to identify safety issues before they become costly accidents.
- CUE Audio (Tennessee) - CUE Audio uses high-frequency, inaudible audio signals to transmit data.
- DanceFight (Texas) - DanceFight is a mobile competition platform. Record yourself dancing to a song, challenge a friend and let the world determine a winner.
- Emerging Technology Ventures Inc (New Mexico) - SkyAI delivers timely, actionable intelligence for condition-based maintenance to optimize aircraft availability in tactical environments.
- EyeTrac LLC (Texas) - EyeTrac has developed novel face guard technology for contact sports, which can detect concussions accurately on the field in real time.
- FairHire (United Kingdom) - FairHire is a blind hiring platform that champions name-blind profiles, meaning job seekers are chosen on merit alone, without any bias, be it unconscious or conscious.
- From The Future LLC (Texas) - EM Device Lab enables physicians to provide quick and effective abscess treatment.
- Global Security Advancements (Texas) - Global Security Advancements helps individuals, families and organizations manage firearm safety through education, training, and a firearm safe storage system that alerts owners of unintentional use, combined with the ability to secure and subsequently locate the firearm utilizing GPS.
- HackNotice (Texas)- HackNotice is the easiest way to find out when hackers steal your data or leak your identity.
- Hashing Systems (Texas) – Hashing Systems helps users build blockchain-powered apps in as little as 30 minutes.
- Hauoli (Texas) - Hauoli is a novel motion tracking technology using acoustic signals to revolutionize user interface.
- Muxy (Texas) - Muxy is an Emmy winning software startup focused on making live video an interactive experience for viewers and the broadcasters.
- OpenStaff (Texas) - OpenStaff is a temporary employment network for early childhood education. A simple, fast and inexpensive way to connect centers and teachers.
- RealKey (California) – RealKey is an automated mortgage processing SaaS platform with only one touch - no conditions from underwriting - through document-centric and network-effect.
- ShardSecurity (Texas)
- TWO12 (Texas) – TWO12 is creating a private stock market for every startup.
- Vitro Technology Corporation (Texas) - Vitro’s zero trust IoT gives customers access to remote, real-world data while securing remote devices and enforcing zero-trust policies for data access control and audit.
- Vybe Software Inc. (Texas) – Vybe Softward launched Leia, an app that leverages AI to build custom, beautiful, responsive websites in under 60 seconds for any business.
- Weeve (Texas) - Weeve helps people leaders build happier and higher-performing teams by providing an empathetic AI chatbot platform that helps organizations identify and solve employee issues 18x faster.
- Writer Duet (Texas) - WriterDuet is a real-time collaborative platform for writers, filmmakers, game developers and other creative teams.
Social impact
● Merivis (Texas) - Merivis is a non-profit, volunteer-driven veterans’ service organization that focuses on preparing veterans for a career in Salesforce technology, through training, mentorship, and job-readiness guidance.
Editor's note: The first version of this story included Texas startup Sendspark. While the company was included on MassChallenge's list, a co-founder said the startup had decided not to participate.
