Cox Communications has announced the finalists for its #GetStartedRI pitch event.
The competition is a local version of the Atlanta-based company’s pitch events across the country. In Rhode Island, #GetStarted will celebrate its seventh annual pitch night on Oct. 2. at WaterFire Arts Center (RSVP here if you haven’t already).
It works like this: Interested entrepreneurs apply for the competition. If chosen, they will have the opportunity to share their company and vision in front of a panel of judges during the main event. Winners will receive a prize package worth more than $50,000, with $25,000 in cash (this includes mentorship with RevUp Capital, media coverage, Cox Business services, a Hope & Main scholarship if the winner is a food startup and more). There’s also a chance for companies to win an “audience choice” prize of $5,000.
Previous #GetStartedRI champions include companies like Crave Food Systems and The Read Read, as well as last year's winner, Medley Genomics.
Judges include moderator Ken Kraft, senior vice president of marketing and sales operations for Cox Business; Karl Wadensten, president/CEO of VIBCO Vibrators; Shannon Shallcross, co-founder and CEO of BetaXAnalytics; Arnell Milhouse, co-founder and CEO of CareerDevs Computer Science University; and Patrice Milos, co-founder, president and CEO of Medley Genomics.
The free competition boasts time for networking (which begins at 5:30 p.m.), food, drinks, a few remarks and finally, the pitching, which will also include an opportunity for the judges to provide insight and feedback to the participants.
All finalists are outlined below, with descriptions provided by Cox Communications.
- Where: Rhode Island
- What: "Biotica Bio is a biotech company developing a microbiome-based therapeutic platform to treat endocannabinoid deficiencies, beginning with inflammatory bowel disease. Biotica Bio’s proprietary technology, supported by independent research, can address the unmet $8 billion IBD market with a treatment that avoids expensive clinical trials and harmful side effects."
- Where: Rhode Island
- What: "Furrfighters, LLC, has multiple products that solve the problem of removing pet hair, dust and dandruff from clothing, furniture, cars and more. The products were developed by Rhode Island fire fighters and are made from natural materials that are washable and recyclable."
- Where: Pawtucket
- What: "NeQter Labs provides a military-grade cyber security solution which has successfully helped over one hundred customers become NIST 800-171 compliant. Their plug-and-play network compliance engine creates network-wide visibility, protects proprietary information and enhances client’s cyber security posture and NIST compliance needs."
- Where: Westerly
- What: "Retail MarketPoint, Inc. is a retail real estate technology company specializing in site location analytics. Their proprietary BrandScore-System instantly evaluates any commercial location in the U.S. for any retail brand or concept. Any Property. Any Brand. Anywhere."
Tank Vision
- Where: N/A
- What: "Tank Vision has developed a unique tank-monitoring solution that solves the delivery inefficiency problem which costs the fuel industry over $1.2 billion per year. Their technology reduces fuel delivery costs by up to 33 percent and eliminates the risk of fuel run-outs."
- Where: Providence
- What: "Uproot was founded to make healthy, sustainable plant-based milks accessible to everyone. Their current products allow cafeterias and businesses to efficiently serve a variety of plant-based milks from a countertop dispenser."
Disclosure: Cox Communications is a founding partner of Rhode Island Inno.
