A Tampa startup focused on helping trade workers won first place at a national veterans pitch competition.
TradesFactor, which creates a "digital passport" containing trade workers' certifications data and experience, won the Bunker Labs Veterans in Residence Pitch Competition. Roughly 70 entrepreneurs from 23 veterans in residency programs across the nation competed for the grand prize of $5,000.
"The entrepreneurs who participated in this pitch competition are inspirational, and, given the challenges of 2020, have demonstrated what it means to adapt and overcome," Bunker Labs CEO Blake Hogan said in a statement. "Congratulations to Mike on his well-deserved win. TradesFactor makes a positive impact on people and the economy, and we're excited to watch the company continue to grow."
In addition to its digital passport offering, the TradesFactor platform uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to predict worker availability, assess productivity and more, which companies can use to find skilled workers. It was founded in 2015 by Michael Zanetti.
The company competed against four others for the grand prize, two of which are also from Tampa:
- April Caldwell, co-founder and CEO of Tampa-based fayVen
- Bryan Jacobs, CEO and founder of Tampa-based Reveille Meals
- Brendan Aronson, CFO of Philadelphia-based Paintru
- Joey Mac Dizon, founder and CEO of Newark-based Mobile Cigar Lounge
Chicago-based Bunker Labs was created in 2014 to help give veterans the resources to become entrepreneurs. Bunker Labs teams up with nonprofits across the nation, such as Tampa-based Action Zone, to provide a more localized resource hub and give offerings like business education classes. Bunker Labs announced in March 2019 it would be opening a local hub in Tampa and it now resides in Ybor City's Sofwerx.
