P&G Ventures, the early-stage startup studio within consumer products giant Procter & Gamble, has selected four finalists for its third annual CES Innovation Challenge – and the organization has gone well beyond the traditional Silicon Valley bubble in a pursuit of the company’s next billion-dollar brand.
P&G Ventures is holding the pitch contest virtually Jan. 13 as CES 2021, the world’s largest global trade show traditionally held in Las Vegas, also moves entirely online. The finalists represent a group of entrepreneurs that can best bring new ideas forward, Leigh Radford, senior VP and general manager of P&G Ventures, said.
Following a trend from prior years, none of the four finalists are based in Silicon Valley, Radford said. Three are women. And the candidates continue to push the boundary on the “stereotypical" entrepreneur.
They include:
- Fluo Labs LLC, represented by Chief Strategy Officer Anne-Marie Kovacs and based in San Marcos, Calif. Fluo Labs transforms how people treat seasonal allergies using a patented handheld device that uses light therapy to provide drug-free relief.
- Glimpse Diagnostics, represented by CEO Dr. Courtney Hill, based in Minneapolis, Minn. Glimpse provides families with an accurate at-home ear infection diagnosis with AI intelligence and treatment from home.
- SAVRPak, represented by Chief Technology Officer Bill Birgen, based in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. SAVRPak offers a patented food packaging technology that keeps food fresh and reduces food waste by removing moisture from the air.
- spotLESS Materials Inc., represented by co-founder and CEO Dr. Birgitt Boschitsch, based in State College, Penn. spotLESS is a collection of non-stick coatings designed to use less water and less aggressive cleaners to keep surfaces clean.
The finalists will pitch their products Jan. 13 on the P&G Virtual LifeLab stage. At stake is a $10,000 prize and a chance to partner with P&G Ventures going forward.
P&G, which is responsible for products like Tide, Pampers and Crest, launched P&G Ventures in 2015 in order to find footholds in categories like women’s health, chronic conditions, enhanced sleep, non-toxic home, aging at home, male wellness and personal performance. To date, Ventures has developed at least four new brands, including Opte, a handheld beauty device; and Zevo, a nature-inspired suite of products that kill bugs without harsh chemicals, now sold at Home Depot and Target.
This will be its second Innovation Challenge linked to CES, and its third Innovation Challenge overall. It held its most recent version virtually in June.
