Short Pump software firm Covintus Inc. has kicked off the third cohort of its Tech Tank accelerator program with six startup founders from across the U.S.
The participants will go through 10 weeks of virtual programs on everything from protecting intellectual property to optimizing partner relationships. For completing the accelerator, the founders will each receive $10,000 in matching credit for software development, design and advisory services from Covintus. The startups will also participate in a pitch competition, with the winner receiving $25,000 in Covintus credit and the runner-up gaining $15,000 in credit.
The participants include:
- Katie Cleasby — She’s the CEO, co-founder and owner of Ashburn’s Recspert, a two-sided marketplace for families to find and connect with recreation experts.
- Zef Neemuchwala — He’s the CEO of Upland, California’s Be A Maker Club, an online platform that helps make 3D computer models focused on empowering female and BIPOC students to gain entry into STEM and advanced manufacturing careers.
- Vontenea Stokes — She’s the CEO of Charlotte, North Carolina’s Secure Living, a real estate crowdfunding platform for everyday investors.
- Kathy Tonner — She’s the CEO of Chicago’s Tonner Technologies, a developer of digital consent forms marketed for schools and parents aimed at improving accessibility, equity and inclusion across student populations.
- TJ Tann — He’s the co-founder and chief operating officer of Relai, a Richmond startup that offers a sustainable parcel management solution using exchange zones to facilitate and decentralize the last mile of delivery.
- Cara Williams — She’s the CEO of Sharenthood, a D.C. company that provides a parent-to-parent social marketplace where parents create a sharing economy for recommendations, advice and community.
Covintus said the founders were selected from a nationwide application process that focused on early-stage startups with a technology or software product with high-growth potential or with a significant tech challenge.
The company builds software for its customers using on-demand teams, with the ability to pull in people from every stage of the development lifecycle. It began planning its accelerator in 2020 in response to the technology-related challenges it saw startups experiencing.
It says it has pledged more than $1 million in software support through the Tech Tank program since its start. Richmond startups EDai, Nessle and Lulus Local Food have all gone through the program, with EDai taking top honors in the most recent pitch competition.
