Our Triangle Business Journal Inno Madness competition is here. And we've got 16 local startups vying for the coveted title of 2022 Inno Madness champion.
Inno Madness is our friendly, bracket-style challenge where readers vote to advance companies based on one question: Who would you invest in? Whether you believe in one mission or product slightly over the other or would prefer to back a more established company versus an early-stage startup, how you answer that question is entirely up to you. The bracket is designed to shine a spotlight on 16 innovative, fast-growing local businesses.
The bracket is assembled based on reader nominations, as well as editorial input from the Triangle Inno team. Seeding was determined based on the amount of money the companies have raised from various sources. Meet the participants below and read the contest rules here.
The goal of Inno Madness is to give a snapshot of some of the most-promising tech companies in the Triangle. It is by no means a complete list of the Triangle's best startups, which is a testament to the size of the region's tech scene. It's also not just a list of the 16 most-funded startups in the region.
Instead, the bracket is meant to represent the full breadth and diversity of the ecosystem. In the end, think of the bracket as just a fun look into tech local companies you need to know in 2022. Check out Triangle Inno's startup to watch here.
First-round voting begins now and continues through March 8. Readers can cast one vote per round. We'll open up voting round by round, ultimately crowning an Inno Madness winner.
Let's get into Round 1...
To learn more about each company, click on the name in the bracket above or the list below.
Meet the Players:
Spiffy: Spiffy is an on-demand car care startup that allows users to schedule car washes, details and oil changes from their house or office using a mobile app.
Pryon: Pryon has developed a virtual assistant platform companies use to process large amounts of information, closing the knowledge gaps and improving employee productivity.
Finmark: Finmark develops financial modeling tools intended to make it easier for startups to build models and forecast finances without spreadsheets.
Gemelli Biotech: Gemelli is a biotechnology firm that specializes in the microbiome and IBS diagnostics.
MemberHub: MemberHub offers online fundraising and other tools to nonprofits such as PTAs. https://www.memberhub.com
Tellus Therapeutics: Tellus Therapeutics is using technology licensed from Duke University to develop a treatment for babies born at risk of brain injury.
Cycle Labs: Cycle Labs is a test automation platform built for enterprise applications and supply chain systems such as warehouse management.
Green Places: Green Places looks to simplify sustainability for businesses through a software platform that allows firms to calculate their carbon footprint, set reduction goals and keep track of their progress.
The Convoy: The Convoy aims to allow companies to "pool [their] buying power with thousands of other small businesses" in order to access the kinds of savings typically reserved for national chains.
BlueRecruit: BlueRecruit is a staffing firm created as a "better way for tradespeople to find work," without them having to craft a resume or fill out a complicated application.
Rownd: Rownd is a data privacy platform made for businesses that gives users "control of their data."
HomeCloud: HomeCloud is looking to rethink "a neglected piece of the homebuying process" by digitizing home data and simplifying home management.
Rxperius: Rxperius serves information technology and drug development consulting firms through technology platforms that capture user experiences in real-time via analytics.
Without A Trace Foods: Without a Trace is a snack company that creates packaged snacks without any traces of nuts, wheat, eggs, milk and other common allergens.
Snthesis: Snthesis works to convert research data "into one harmonized, searchable knowledge graph."
Connect Cause: Connect Cause works with nonprofits to improve their technologies.