The 2023 Dayton Inno Madness competition is entering Round 3 of voting. What started with 32 local startups vying for this year's title of Inno Madness champion has been tightened down to four companies remaining,
Inno Madness is our friendly, bracket-style challenge where readers vote to advance companies based on one question: Who would you invest in? Whether you believe in one mission or product slightly over the other or would prefer to back a more established company versus an early-stage startup, how you answer that question is entirely up to you. The bracket is designed to shine a spotlight on 32 innovative, fast-growing local businesses.
The bracket is assembled based on reader nominations, as well as editorial input from the Dayton Inno team. Seeding was determined randomly. Meet the participants below and read the contest rules here.
Related: 10 Dayton-area startups to watch in 2023
Fourth-round voting begins at 11:00 a.m. March 17 and continues until 11:59 p.m. March 21. We'll open up voting round by round, ultimately crowning an INNO MADNESS winner on March 31.
Let's get into Round 4 which has two company matchups...
Meet the Players (listed alphabetically):
6888 Kitchen Incubator
Founders Dabriah Rice, Charlynda Scales and Jamaica White will introduce the two-story kitchen incubator inside the Dayton Arcade. It will occupy 10,000 square feet this fall. The shared-kitchen concept will offer training, leadership support and commercial kitchen space. The multi-phase project began with business curriculum development for OH Taste’s Sharpen the Axe (STA) Program, covering a wide range of topics related to running successful food business. The second phase will include the design, build-out, and full operation of the commercial kitchen and storage space.
Website: https://www.6888kitchen.org/
ADIDRUS
Adversarial Detection, Inference, and Deceptive Response for Unmanned Systems (ADIDRUS) is another local spinoff company from Galois, based in Oregon with a location in Dayton. The company has also spun off Niobium Microsystems and Tangram Flex locally. ADIDRUS is a cyber solution to protect against attacks to Unmanned Aerial Systems in military and civilian applications. The company is joining the Entrepreneurs' Center's ESP portfolio.
Aeroseal
Aeroseal is a Miamisburg-based duct and air-sealing technology company. It services residential, commercial and corporate clients. Its non-toxic, water-based product is used to seal all holes in air ducts in vents to properly direct air flow. The company is currently under the leadership of CEO Amit Gupta. The clean tech company has over 600 contractors globally. It continues to make new products with the ulimate goal to reduce carbon emissions from buildings by 1 gigaton per year.
Website: https://aeroseal.com/
AIMM
At Advanced & Innovative Multifunctional Materials (AIMM), the company takes ordinary porous materials and makes them antimicrobial. This has enabled the firm to concentrate on two initial thrusts: water purification and a self-disinfecting N95 mask. For water purification, AIMM is developing a filter that removes contaminants and disinfects without harsh tasting chemicals, resulting in clean water–all powered by gravity. For the self-disinfecting N95 mask, AIMM is prototyping an outer layer on the standard N95 mask that is antimicrobial–enabling the mask to be safely reusable.
Website: aimmlabs.com
Anchored With Excellence
Anchored With Excellence is an educational consulting firm founded by Dee Thomas. Thomas offers professional development training for daycare centers and educators; leadership and transformational coaching for women; wellness plans for women; mentoring for school-aged girls; tutoring. Anchored With Excellence has serviced clients in Alabama, China, Louisiana, Michigan, New York, and Texas. Thomas says she'd like to impact more schools and families and build more relationships with school districts, school leaders, educators, and families to provide a safe space to build confidence and gain hope.
Website: https://anchoredwithexcellence.com/
Bowerbags
Founded by Jamie Bowerman, Bowerbags provides interactive modular carrying solutions to help active people get through their busy day. The company is busy itself launching new product lines and fundraising to grow and scale. In late 2022, Bowerbags received $100,000 from Ohio Third Frontier Commission for the development and commercialization of a modular carrying solution for the military and first responders to help them reduce injuries caused by heavy weight loads carried on the job.
Website: https://www.bowerbags.com/
CAL Analytics
CAL Analytics is a small business focusing on the development of aviation and autonomous systems. Located in Beavercreek and founded in 2010, CAL Analytics has expertise in navigation systems, remote sensing, signal analysis, and information fusion. The company's mission is to provide agile and rigorous R&D to bring new technologies to the world. The company's products include a Contingency Management Platform for airspace monitoring, weather data and built-in data translation.
Website: calanalytics.com
CJD Innovations LLC
A limited liability company created to design and develop innovative products for a wide range of consumer needs. CJD Innovation’s flagship product, the Wet Wipe Wizard, is a U.S. patented device which automatically dispenses wet wipes. The startup is a finalist for the University of Dayton 2022-23 Flyer Pitch Competition in the ESP/Tech Track. The final round of the pitch competition will be held April 22.
Website: cjdinnovations.com
District Market
The grab-and-go community food market opened in late 2022 and celebrated a grand opening early this year. District Market features a variety of foods from local entrepreneurs on a temporary leasing rotation intended to help entrepreneurs step grow and step toward their own storefronts. The 1,200-square-foot marketplace is located at 200 Wayne Ave. District Market has room for six restaurants and seven vendors. The concept was founded by Tae Winston.
Website: https://districtmarket.substack.com/
Enable Injections
Medical device maker Enable Injections, which is developing a palm-sized wearable disk called enFuse that could prove an alternative to traditional IV administration, plans to open a new “innovation center,” a 7,000-square-foot facility in West Chester Township. The space is temporary while the company hunts for its new headquarters. Enable currently has around 200 employees with additional facilities in West Chester and Franklin, in addition to its current 40,000-square-foot Evendale headquarters. Enable is moving quickly toward commercialization for enFuse, a wearable drug-delivery device. The enFuse has the potential to replace traditional IV therapy, with several differentiators that could catapult Enable into a multibillion-dollar enterprise, its CEO Mike Hooven says.
Website: enableinjections.com
EVentures
EVentures is a Cincinnati startup that expanded to the Dayton market in 2022. The electric vehicle rental dealership has found early success, says co-owner and co-founder Dana Briggs. The startup currently has 28 cars in their shared fleet between offices with intention to expand inventory in 2023. Briggs said EVentures has just signed a lease for its third location in Forest Park. The location will focus on clients who are seeking long-term rentals. The renting process itself is intended to be convenient with phone app capabilities and remote check-in. Vehicles can be rented starting at $75 per day, increasing depending on the model selected.
Website: eventures.rentals
Global Neighbor Inc.
Global Neighbor Inc., founded by Jonathan Jackson in Xenia, develops directed energy flora control using light energy to kill weeds around your house and make weed seed non-viable in agriculture fields. Plans are to introduce a new battery operated handheld weed control product to complement our Weederase product and to offer first commercial sales of the weed seed destroyer as an aftermarket product for a combine to make weed seeds non-viable at harvest. The company tests units in the U.S., Canada and Australia. Over the years, Global Neighbor has raised multiple millions of dollars and has been supported by contracts including U.S. Air Force and U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Website: g-neighbor.com
GoHypersonic Incorporated (GHI)
Dayton-based GoHypersonic Incorporated is a technology research and development company in hypersonic propulsion systems. The organization is seeking funding from the Dayton Region Priority Development & Advocacy Committee to support building a $24 million defense-based test center. The facility would create 22 jobs. GoHypersonic Incorporated will be a vertically integrated innovator of hypersonic technologies and developer of advanced military systems which supports the defense of our country; and by 2030, GHI will have developed one to two unique military systems and successfully completed four to six flight tests of those technologies, according to the company.
Website: gohypersonic.com
Handy Hats
Founded by a University of Dayton student while still in college, Handy Hats is a stylish hat line with discreet pockets for small items like credit cards, cash, keys and identification. The hat line includes baseball caps, winter hats, bucket hats and other styles. Creator Danielle Ruffulo also gives back to the community. In 2019, Handy Hats was the first place winner in University of Dayton's Flyer Pitch Competition.
Website: myhandyhats.com
Infinity Labs
Dayton-based technology company Infinity Labs is a growing defense startup. Their work centers around modeling and simulation, cybersecurity and advanced research and development. The company has a significant amount of intellectual property through Internal Research and Development (IRAD) investment since their founding in July of 2020. The company has received multiple millions of dollars in Small Business Innovation Research grants from the federal government to develop and transition transformational concepts into commercial capabilities. The company is developing new products now.
Website: i-labs.tech
Lisa's Quick Clean
Lisa Webb is founder of Lisa’s Quick Clean, a woman-owned cleaning business with residential and commercial contracts. The licensed and insured companies boasts competitive pricing, body cameras on all cleaners, and criminal record checks on all technicians. Services include deep cleanings, maintenance cleaning, pressure washing, organizing, move-in and move-out cleans, among other services.
Website: lisagetsitdone.com
Lunnie
A brand focused on postpartum products to make moms feel pretty and powerful, specifically through the production of a nursing bra which launched in March 2022. Lunnie is now prepped to grow its product line and launched a nursing bra in local store Shoppe Smitten in Oakwood. Founded by Sarah Kallile, Lunnie's nursing bra is meant to be a chic, everyday bra for comfort, made from high quality, sustainable fabrics with a leak proof component, manufactured by Columbus Apparel Studio.
Website: lunnie.com
MinedXAI
Thi Dayton-area startup led by CEO Morley Stone and Founder Ryan Kramer focuses on "reimagining explainable artificial intelligence offerings to build autonomous and continuous learning cognitive architectures to exploit and interact with data," according to its website. The technology firm is an explainable artificial intelligence (AI) company with proprietary technology that architects a company’s data to discover actionable insights that were previously buried. The software's forecasting ability allows users to more effectively accomplish business objectives with a high return on investment.
Website: www.minedxai.com/
Motor
Motor, which provides a consumer electric vehicle (EV) adoption platform for electric utilities, recently opened a location in downtown Dayton. The startup plans to help expand EV education and infrastructure across the region. Recent funding from AES and Mitsubishi will further future expansion. The startup was created to fill the demand gap between people currently driving EV and where the world needs to be by 2030 to hit global initiatives for emission standards. The Arlington, Virginia registered startup has operations in Indianapolis and, as of Jan. 31, Dayton. Motor offers clients a low commitment subscription service platform Motor Drive. The platform has 24/7 concierge and popular models of Tesla, Audi, Nissan and others. Subscriptions start at $749.
Website: trymotor.com
Niobium Microsystems
Niobium Microsystems Inc. is a Dayton technology firm specializing in silicon chip design for application-specific integrated circuits. Niobium develops high performance microelectronic components to enable the secure collection, processing, and distribution of critical data. Niobium offers the world’s fastest complete fully homomorphic encryption (FHE) accelerator. Niobium is a 2021 spinout from Galois, Inc. and sister-company to Tangram Flex. The company has additional offices in Columbus, Portland, Oregon and San Francisco, California.
Website: niobiummicrosystems.com
Open Bay Autos
Open Bay Autos is a unique DIY shop to accommodate affordable car repairs for locals and a dream workshop for car enthusiasts. The startup was created by Kameron Seabrook, age 24, during the pandemic. The company is scaling from a need-based mobile car detailing and repair service to pursue mobile app capabilities and a DIY brick-and-mortar in 2023. The company currently operates as a mobile car detailing business. Mechanics are scheduled for a visit and appear to fix and detail cars under a subscription platform.
Website: openbayautos.com
Parcell
Parcell provides simple, automated solutions to securely transfer items from one person to another, according to its website. Products include smart lockers, auto-inventory kits, smart boxes, and retrofit smart locks. Parcell develops Smart Asset Control solutions for military and industrial applications. In early 2023 Parcell will deploy its first nonmilitary Smart Tool Crib at an industrial facility in the Salt Lake City area. The Dayton company, co-founded by Erica Waite, is developing a prototype smart toolbox that will be field tested at a Department of Defense facility in Q3 of 2023. It's also continuing to build out its software platform to incorporate more robust features.
Website: parcellplus.com
Saga Surgical Solutions LLC
Producer of SwiftStitch, an automatic suture medical device to merge the reliable seal of sutures with the efficiency of staplers to improve anastomoses. The startup is a finalist for the University of Dayton 2022-23 Flyer Pitch Competition in the ESP/Tech Track. The final round of the pitch competition will be held April 22.
Sentinel Occupational Safety
Founded in 2020, Sentinel Occupational Safety provides hardware and software solutions for mobile personal health and safety risk monitoring. It was built on a foundation of five years of research and development and more than $10 million in investments from private and public entities. The company’s flagship product, SafeGuard®, uses patented intelligent guardian technology and wearable sensors to provide acute and chronic health and safety oversight of at-risk individuals and teams. In the last two years, the company has expanded its reach, working with both commercial and defense organizations. In 2023, they are releasing a public version of SafeGuard® with more products introduced in the coming months. The team will also announce new strategic partnerships this year.
Website: sentinelofsafety.com
Skuld LLC
Skuld LLC in Springfield provides casting and affordable 3D printing for low volume custom metal parts. The company takes a hybrid approach for 3D printed parts in metal that is 10x faster, 10x more accurate, and 10x cheaper than alternatives. The company is working on Department of Defense-funded projects related to aluminum and nickel alloys to prove the material properties are the same as conventional metals. The firm also has commercial projects related to HVAC, rapid tooling, automotive lightweighting, replacement parts for antique cars, and new sporting goods designs.
Website: skuldllc.com
Taste-T-Love
Taste-T-Love is a provider of a healthier, fresh baby food option to mothers who might want to make their own without the time, patience or know-how. Founder Kourtney Terry developed the concept out of her own need for a healthier, more affordable baby food. The startup has a contract with Dayton Children's Hospital and is pursuing other markets. Taste-T-Love’s main product line of baby food uses no unnecessary preservatives or additives and instead creates a freezable product which can be stored up to four months. They also offer lactation snacks and toddler meals. The main line features a convenient squeezable packaging which Terry said has attracted additional clientele from toddlers and teens to adults and the elderly. The startup is a finalist for the University of Dayton 2022-23 Flyer Pitch Competition in the Main Street Track. The final round of the pitch competition will be held April 22.
Website: tastetlove.com
The Blooming Circle
The Blooming Circle is a digital health and wellness advocacy education and navigation system. It is designed to create and maintain inclusive communities of care to be utilized by medical, health, and wellness providers, and Black, Indigenous and Women of Color seeking care in the Greater Dayton community. It is called the Blooming Circle because the goal is to grow (bloom) the number of people and resources dedicated to advocacy for women of color. The startup is a finalist for the University of Dayton 2022-23 Flyer Pitch Competition in the Nonprofit Track. The final round of the pitch competition will be held April 22.
Traveling Pendants
Founded by Lesley Jones, Traveling Pendants is inspirational jewelry designed to travel! Here's how it works: Each pendant has a unique, hand-stamped number on the back. Use the number to register your pendant and share your story to our online log to support others in our community needing strength. When you’re ready, pass your pendant on to someone who needs it more than you. They too can add their story to the pendant’s log using the trackable number on the back of the pendant. Follow along as your pendant travels, creating a chain of love and support. The jewelry is handcrafted in the U.S. with heirloom-quality silver. In 2023, the startup will leverage network effects to grow the community. Additional designs will launch in the third quarter of 2023. The startup is a finalist for the University of Dayton 2022-23 Flyer Pitch Competition in the Main Street Track. The final round of the pitch competition will be held April 22.
Website: travelingpendants.com
True Concepts Medical Technologies
True Concepts Medical Technologies (TCMT) is a medical device innovation company that delivers novel solutions based in clinical experience. Our devices are designed by clinicians for clinicians with a focus on areas that have significant morbidity and mortality such as sepsis and sudden cardiac arrest. Our mission is to save lives and reduce healthcare costs of care with intelligently designed solutions that reduce or minimize the opportunity for human error. The company was founded by Michael Hopkins.
Website: trueconceptsmedical.com
UNLISTED
UNLISTED in Dayton is a real estate software that helps interested homebuyers connect with the owners of off-market properties. The startup makes one-on-one connections possible through the private platform. The company's objectives for 2023 include refining product-market fit, expanding nationally, growing revenue and advancing the product. In 2022, UNLISTED won $40,000 and first place in the Polsky Center’s 4th annual Alumni New Venture Challenge, a business plan competition open to all University of Chicago alumni. The startup was created by Dayton entrepreneur Katie Hill. The startup is a finalist for the University of Dayton 2022-23 Flyer Pitch Competition in the ESP/Tech Track. The final round of the pitch competition will be held April 22.
Website: unlistedhomes.com
WakEDrive
WakEDrive is a startup offering a complete motor, battery, control, and integration solution to boat manufacturers as well as an aftermarket modification for existing boat owners. This integrated solution takes full advantage of the benefits of an electric drive to give a perfect boating experience. WakEDRive (Watersports Active-Kontrol Electric Drive) Technology allows you to add the most powerful watersport drive train on the market to your existing boat. Custom controls and installation in any exiting in-board hull, according to the website. The startup is a finalist for the University of Dayton 2022-23 Flyer Pitch Competition in the ESP/Tech Track. The final round of the pitch competition will be held April 22.
Website: wakedrive.net
WolfTech CyberSecurity
Founded in 2021 by Randall East, WolfTech CyberSecurity is a technology firm offering cybersecurity solutions to other companies. WolfTech offers leading security solutions for organizations of all sizes. The company has offices in downtown Dayton. Randall East has over 30 years of experience at technology companies. WolfTech utilizes cloud infrastructure, and strives to make cyber security affordable and user-friendly.
Website: wolftechcyber.com
