Houston-based software company Softeq Development Corp. selected five startups for the Softeq Venture Studio fall 2021 program.
The full-stack software development firm's Venture Studio brings early-stage technology founders to Houston for a three-month program aimed at scaling their businesses. Selected startups also receive a $100,000 cash award and development services in exchange for equity in the company, Softeq Venture Studio said.
The five startups for fall 2021 will participate in the program in Houston from October through December. The firms will be provided office space at Fuse Workspace in CityCentre, near the Softeq corporate headquarters in the Energy Corridor. Dallas-based Fuse Workspace opened the coworking space in CityCentre last spring.
"Historically, most tech startups had a founder with development skills. However, we’re now seeing more and more business people, doctors and other professionals start companies, and they need a strong engineering partner to develop their products," said Softeq founder and CEO Chris Howard. "We take it several steps further with the Venture Studio providing technology business consulting, development services and much-needed cash. We’re a vested partner, so we also help secure follow-on funding for continued growth."
These are the five startups in the fall 2021 cohort and where their founders are based:
- Atlas Coaching (New York, New York) — a marketplace connecting female sports pros, celebrities and coaches with fans seeking to improve their game with digital training
- FitLift (Bellevue, Washington) — a mobile app and wearable device that track motion to improve strength-training techniques and reduce injuries
- GetScouted (San Francisco, California) — a verifiable source of athlete performance statistics and analytics using biometric analyses
- Home Outside (Vermont) — an automated platform for landscape design
- Orcana (Los Angeles, California) — a medical technology firm using augmented reality and artificial intelligence to provide operating room support for surgeons and surgical teams
Applications for Softeq Venture Studio's winter 2022 cohort are open and run through Dec. 11. The program will be held in mid-January through March 2022.
Last year, Softeq launched the Softeq Innovation Lab for corporate intrapreneurs and innovators to scale and commercialize their concepts.
Founded in 1997, Softeq is a global provider of custom software engineering services. The firm is headquartered in Houston at 1155 Dairy Ashford Road. This summer, Softeq was one of dozens of local firms named to the 2021 Inc. 5000, a list of the fastest-growing companies in the United States.
