The city of Elk Grove got 53 applicants for its second annual Pitch Elk Grove startup competition, which offers $17,500 in cash prizes.
The top 16 startups will compete Friday virtually with elevator pitches to narrow the field to the final eight, who will compete in person at a live event May 18.
“With a record-breaking number of applications this year, we were impressed with the high caliber of entrepreneurs and innovative ideas presented. These semifinalists represent the best and brightest in our community," said Darrell Doan, economic development director for the city, in a news release.
Ultimately $10,000 goes to the top pitch, $5,000 is awarded to second place and $2,500 will go to the best pitch from an Elk Grove company. Three of the 16 remaining startups are Elk Grove companies.
Those 16 startups include:
- 4pm AI (Sacramento): An AI sales assistant that automates one hour per day of administrative tasks.
- Adload Technologies (Sacramento): An ad-tech platform with geo-tracked digital screens for the trucking industry.
- Biosense Inc. (El Dorado Hills): A developer of saliva-based glucose sensors.
- Boummeringue (Elk Grove): A return and reinventory platform to manage returns for fast-fashion retailers.
- Core Impact Inc. (Elk Grove): A developer of wearables to provide visibility and real-time data insights for athletes to optimize performance.
- Elven Technologies (Sacramento): A maker of lithium-ion battery safety enclosure for electric transportation.
- EnlitenAI (Tracy): A developer of wearables and an AI platform to personalize seizure treatment.
- Foodom (Folsom): A marketplace for personalized weekly meal prep by in-home chefs.
- HuLoop Automation Inc. (Auburn): An AI-powered automation platform.
- LogRx (Sacramento): A smartphone app that allows first responders to track controlled medications.
- Matrubials (Davis): A developer of antimicrobial peptides from milk for combating severe bacterial infections.
- Neural Lab Inc. (El Dorado Hills): A touchless user interface for any camera and any device.
- PairAnything (Davis): A developer of technology to help businesses sell more through food and beverage pairings.
- QuakeLogic (Roseville): A developer of AI-powered earthquake risk management solutions.
- Ravata Solutions Inc. (Davis): A maker of sensors to quantify embryo health for the in vitro fertilization industry.
- Tiami Networks (Elk Grove): A developer of sensing intelligence for wireless devices.
"It's always inspiring to witness the growth of companies that StartupSac has interacted with, and to see their hard work pay off," said StartupSac CEO Laura Good. Startup Sac is handling the programming of Pitch Elk Grove.
Pitch Elk Grove started last year as an economic development initiative to introduce companies in the region to Elk Grove and its Startup Elk Grove Incentive Program, which launched in 2018 and offers direct cash subsidies to companies based in the city.
The Startup Elk Grove Incentive Program offers cash grants to companies that will support new jobs or technology opportunities in Elk Grove. The city takes no equity in the companies and the money doesn’t need to be paid back as long as the companies remain headquartered in Elk Grove. If the company moves out of Elk Grove, or if the company is acquired, the grant becomes a loan.
