MassChallenge Rhode Island has announced the 30 participating startups in its first-ever cohort.
A group of judges chose the organizations from nearly 400 applications, "based on their potential to create widespread impact," MassChallenge Rhode Island said in a press release.
Ultimately, the finalists included organizations from six states and four countries. While the startups represent a wide breadth of industries, the majority of participants are considered "high tech" at 33 percent.
Additionally, 53 percent of the cohort has "at least one female founder," a statistic that MassChallenge Rhode Island says is well above the industry standard.
"This is reflective of our efforts to foster a more inclusive ecosystem, where women from all backgrounds have the opportunity to launch and scale their businesses," the release states.
The program was initially announced in early February. It follows MassChallenge’s foray into the Ocean State in 2016, for its “startup boot camp” program, Bridge to MassChallenge. That event was a “limited testing of the market,” said Andrew Mallon, MassChallenge Rhode Island program director, in a previous Rhode Island Inno report on the initiative.
Finalists will participate in an equity-free accelerator, where they'll have access to MassChallenge’s Boston network and resources. The program will conclude on Oct. 17 at the MassChallenge Awards in Boston. There, "the most promising startups" will complete for shares of $50,000 in equity-free prizes.
“The quality of our inaugural cohort not only demonstrates the potential impact of entrepreneurship, but the strength of the Rhode Island innovation ecosystem as well," Mallon said in a statement. "With support from corporates, mentors and innovation enthusiasts across the state, promising startups from all backgrounds will have an opportunity to successfully launch and scale — making our society more collaborative, optimistic, and effective along the way.”
The Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, FM Global, Rhode Island Foundation, Delta Dental and Verizon Foundation were among MassChallenge Rhode Island's founding partners.
Below the 30 participants are outlined, with descriptions as provided on the MassChallenge RI website.
HIGH TECH
- AdVerif.ai: Netherlands; Stealth
- AirWorks: United States, Massachusetts; Stealth
- CityGrows: United States, California; Stealth
- Flexify.IO: Russia; "Flexibility to store your cloud data where and when you want it with multi-cloud virtualization and no-downtime migration between clouds."
- GoPeer: United States, Rhode Island; "Online platform and mobile app that connects K-12 students with nearby college undergraduates for in-person tutoring lessons."
- Knowsenti: United States, Massachusetts; "Develops 'Tracks,' a platform for curating free, high-quality web content into digital collections for use in libraries, marketplaces and classrooms."
- PARQUERY: Switzerland; Stealth
- Spectrify: United States, Massachusetts; "Diversity recruiting startup providing a data-driven solution to the diversity crisis in tech."
- Tank Vision, Inc.: United States, Massachusetts; Stealth
- The Innovation Scout: United States, Rhode Island; "Machine learning to match startups, research and open partners with corporate business challenges."
GENERAL / RETAIL / CONSUMER GOODS
- LEAF Shellfish: United States, Rhode Island; Stealth
- OysterTracker: United States, Massachusetts; "Makes the global aquaculture industry more profitable with a SAAS-based farm management system."
- RacerX Inc.: United States, Massachusetts; "Helps consumer product manufacturers identify their actual customers by making product registration as easy and worth the effort."
- Smarter Armour DBA: United States, Massachusetts; Stealth
- TripBuddy: United States, Massachusetts; "Carpooling platform that encourages employees within the same organization to carpool together to work."
- WeKey: United States, Rhode Island; Stealth
- Your Heaven Audio: United States, Rhode Island; "Develops CloseUp System, an amplification and recording microphone system for acoustic string instruments which reflects their true, authentic sound."
- Zoni Foods, Inc.: United States, Connecticut; "Makes plant-based eating a part of people's everyday lives by making plant-based foods tasty and convenient."
SOCIAL IMPACT
- Dinner-x-Change: United States, Rhode Island; "Improving a child's confidence, strengthening executive functions and enhancing school experience by starting a family conversation movement."
- SoaPen Inc.: United States, New York; "Promoting better hygiene practices among children around the world through play."
- T-Time Productions: United States, Rhode Island; "Seeks to eliminate the 'curriculum void' students experience by integrating more diverse representations into classroom curricula."
- T-var EdTech: United States, Rhode Island; "Designs and sells devices that teach children of all abilities how to read."
- TextUp: United States, Rhode Island; "Software for social workers that creates cost savings, builds capacity, saves time and improves professional quality of life."
HEALTHCARE
- Eldo: United States, Connecticut; Stealth
- Harmony Development Group, Inc.: United States, Massachusetts; "Indwelling cardiac implant using natural pressure gradients as a passive ventricular assist device for cardiac rehabilitation."
- SmartOR: United States, Rhode Island; Stealth
- VAMPIRO: United States, Ohio; "Creates a dual lumen poole suction with already existing spot suction catheters to enable efficient unobstructed removal of fluid."
CLEAN TECH / ENERGY
- CBC LLC: United States, Rhode Island; Stealth
- PowerDocks LLC: United States, Rhode Island; "Develops aquatic power charging Solutions."
