Since launching in June, Denver-based Futurebound has worked to build an innovation ecosystem around early-childhood development in Colorado.
Director Sarabeth Berk has spent recent months learning the landscape, engaging with thought leaders in the space and hosting meetups to support early childhood innovators.
Now, Futurebound has announced the first cohort in its acceleration lab that supports ventures with a focus on solutions for children under the age of 10.
The lab was launched in partnership with Uncharted, a Denver-based social impact accelerator. Over eight months, Uncharted will pair the 18 selected ventures with customized support, including access to pilot sites, investors, mentors, researchers and other partners who can help advance their solutions.
Selected ventures will also receive $30,000 and the opportunity to showcase their solutions at the Futurebound Summit, which will be hosted in Denver from Nov. 12-15.
Berk said Futurebound received over 125 applications to the program, from all across the country and globe. Because the organization has a focus on Colorado, Berk said Futurebound gave preference to ventures that were already operating in Colorado or planned to have an impact here.
“I think what we were looking for were ventures at the leading edge and that were going after problems that are really hard to solve,” she said.
Over the eight-month program, Berk said most of the cohort would be focused on piloting their solutions or connecting with interested investors.
“This is a first in the nation effort, this is groundbreaking work and it’s happening in Colorado,” she said.
Check out the first class in Futurebound’s Acceleration Lab:
Afinidata - Guatemala
Afinidata combines the proven model of home-visits with the power of artificial intelligence to provide a free virtual assistant that helps caregivers to be their child's first educator.
Amira Learning – San Francisco
Amira is a web-based avatar that listens to kids as they read, identifies oral reading errors, provides real-time tutoring backed by neuroscience, and generates data to guide instruction.
Babyscripts – Washington, D.C.
The digital health company is focused on rethinking how pregnancy care can be delivered through the use of internet of things technology to eliminate maternal death and complications.
Bitsbox - Boulder
The startup teaches kids to code by delivering app-building projects in the mail every month. Bitsbox is popular in schools, STEM clubs, and libraries.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x_54UfJqP0
Boogaloo Beds - Denver
The smart beds are designed to improve safety, sleep and sensory regulation for children with autism, cerebral palsy and other special needs.
BrainChild Technologies – Bend, Oregon
BrainChild is helping all children better access regular hearing screenings during the most important time for language development.
BridgeCare – Seattle
BridgeCare is an AI-powered co-parent; a workplace benefit app that helps parents find and afford quality care at each stage of their child's development.
Bright by Text - Denver
The text messaging service helps parents and caregivers make the most of everyday interactions with their children through free tips, games and resources.
Centervention – Durham, North Carolina
The startup provides online games to help students improve their social and emotional skills. These games are fun for students and help educators monitor learning.
Cognitive ToyBox – New York City
The hybrid observation and game-based assessment platform for school readiness saves teachers time and supports instruction.
Early Wins - Denver
The company is building a workforce solution to develop the skills of the early childhood workforce while leveraging public policy to improve outcomes for teachers and children.
Kinedu – Monterrey, Mexico
Kinedu unleashes every child's development at scale by providing parents with tools to understand and encourage development.
Manatee - Denver
Manatee is a digital platform that integrates mental health therapy into daily life with technology that empowers therapists and caregivers and delights kids.
MusiQuest - Denver
The solution is a creative new way to learn music that helps ensure every kid has access to the benefits of musical learning and expression.
Peekapak - Toronto
The company’s award-winning, literacy-based, social emotional learning platform equips educators and families with stories, lessons and interactive learning games to engage students.
Recalibrate - Denver
The company is serving the medical community with a 5-minute saliva test to monitor stress-health in children.
SayKid – Minneapolis
The platform uses voice technology in the form of a plush robot to help kids learn in a safe, natural and engaging way.
Wonder Stories – Broomfield, Colorado
Wonder Stories helps children love reading as much as they love playing on the iPad with an app that provides stories stuffed with mysteries, puzzles and choices.
