We are entering the quarterfinals of Inno Madness. Just eight teams left. They've survived the first two rounds of voting and are now one step closer to the sweet, sweet title of Inno Madness champion.
The competition asks voters "which company they would invest in," drawing queries from around the region and sorting out the early exits from the "to the moon" future unicorns. Its goal is to highlight some of the most promising and innovative pre-Series A startups in the bay, and is by no means a comprehensive list of all the companies the area has to offer.
The bracket was assembled based on reader nominations, as well as editorial input from the Bay Area Inno team. We split the bracket into two regions: Those in Silicon Valley and the South Bay, and those in the San Francisco and East Bay areas. Beyond that, the seeding was random.
This round will only last week, ending Tuesday, April 12, at 11:59 p.m. Read the contest rules here.
Meet the Players:
SAN FRANCISCO REGION
Chameleon Biosciences Berkeley
Treatments for genetic disorders hold a lot of promise but won't be effective if they trigger an immune response from the very patient it's meant to help. Chameleon Biosciences' founder has an extensive career in biotech, and the company is developing a way to deliver gene therapies while preventing an immune response.
Glyphic Biotechnologies San Francisco
Along with DNA, protein sequencing can unlock a wealth of information about how our bodies work. It's a field of study called proteomics. The founders created Glyphic to make the sequencing process faster and more accurate.
Lioness Oakland
Women's sexual health, and pleasure, are still taboo in many places and Lioness wants to empower women to understand their orgasms by arming them with data via a smart vibrator. And importantly, its founding team includes two women.
Rubi Laboratories Sausalito
Twin sisters are developing a way to spin rayon out of carbon dioxide pulled from the atmosphere in order to make biodegradable textiles that could help the fashion industry lower its carbon footprint.
SILICON VALLEY REGION
Buzz Solutions Palo Alto
Buzz Solutions has developed AI software that analyzes images captured by drones and helicopters to detect faults and other anomalies along power lines. The technology is used to help power companies repair their power lines, helping prevent wildfires and power outages.
Ebb Carbon San Carlos
Ebb Carbon is pioneering a new approach to ocean-based carbon removal. The company's proprietary electrochemical system enhances the ocean’s natural ability to safely store excess atmospheric carbon dioxide, while reducing ocean acidity.
ParkStash San Jose
ParkStash helps drivers find parking in garages, parking lots and even in homeowners' driveways. The app lets property owners lease out their parking lots and driveways and provides drivers with live occupancy information, helping them reduce the time they spend circling for parking.
Respira Labs Mountain View
Respira Labs has created an AI-enabled device to measure the acoustics of patients' lungs. The small, portable device provides a way to detect worsening symptoms in patients suffering from COPD, asthma or Covid-19.
