There’s more at stake in this year’s 43North competition.
For the startups, there’s more competition. The organization doubled its applicant pool this year, getting submissions from 720 founders across the world.
Meanwhile, rather than awarding a $1 million grand prize and seven $500,000 prizes, as the competition has done for the last few years, this year’s contest will give out five $1 million prizes.
That gives added kudos – and perhaps pressure – to this year’s batch of 15 finalists, who will pitch in front of judges at Seneca One on Oct. 19 before eight to 10 of them move on to pitch the following night at Shea’s Performing Arts Center. Admission is free, and tickets go live today on 43North's website.
The finalists span from London to Clarence, with one startup based in the Buffalo area and one based in Rochester. About 60% of the finalists are software-related businesses, according to Kevin Siskar, 43North vice president of portfolio and selection.
More than half of the finalists are women-led and two-thirds of the finalists’ founders are not white.
“Giving that access and opportunity that those founders don’t always have, that’s something we’re very proud of and we proactively seek that out every year,” said Maura Devlin, 43North vice president of marketing, strategy and public relations.
Let’s meet the finalists:
- Agape Wellness: The Rochester-based relationship wellness company uses personalized questions to spark meaningful conversations. The startup got funding from Launch NY in 2020.
- Aravenda: Based in Vienna, Virginia, the company is a business-to-business software for resellers.
- AMPAworks: The Santa Monica, California-based startup has a camera that uses computer vision artificial intelligence to have full inventory visibilities in hospitals, clinics, surgery centers, pharmacies and medical device companies.
- CaHill Tech: The Clarence-based business created an app-based mobile training tool for companies and workers in the construction industry. The startup entered the three-month Techstars Iowa accelerator program, which also includes a $120,000 investment, in July. CEO Carley Hill, who grew up in her family’s West Seneca-based business called Union Concrete and Construction Co., launched the business in 2019. As of July, she raised about half of a $1 million seed round and had about nine employees and served more than 40 customers with a 100% retention rate.
- Delee: The Laredo, Texas-based startup has developed technology that can isolate and analyze circulating tumor cells from blood.
- Lilu: Based in New York City, the business builds tech-enabled products aiming to make early motherhood more comfortable and less stressful for new moms.
- M Aerospace RTC: The Austin, Texas-based business created an affordable large-scale, metal 3D printer.
- Magpie: The New York startup uses artificial intelligence technology to improve inventory management, asset/price discovery and transaction timing for sellers of collectible assets.
- Mod Tech Labs: The Austin company helps enterprise companies by digitizing the real world using photos to create universal 3D content at scale.
- Otrafy: Based in Chicago, the startup is an artificial intelligence-powered software as a service supplier management platform that can automate compliance and identify risks.
- Phood: The New York company integrates with universities’ card services to create a connection between students’ flex dollar accounts and the gig economy.
- Seshie: The Penn Valley, Pennsylvania-based startup helps teams book live, virtual modern-day workshops – also known as seshies – based on employee data and insights.
- Tampon Tribe: The Los Angeles business designs sustainable and functional period products for active women.
- Twipes: The London-based bio-tech materials company has developed a material that can break down in water in three hours and biodegrade in a landfill in seven days.
- TYBR Health: The Houston business makes a surgical spray that protects tissues while they heal to improve after-surgery outcomes.
