Techstars Chicago 2018 Recap
Techstars Chicago 2018 has come, and gone. With multiple pitch events over past couple weeks (Community, Angel Days, Private Investor ) — all culminating with our Demo Day on Thursday evening, Oct 4th, at 1871 + After Party @ Marshall’s Landing. Some have described this cohort as the “Perfect 10”… and who am I to disagree??
Huge THANK YOU to all those that attended and supported Techstars Chicago — in particular, our Mentors! Over 150 Mentors came into program for 500+ meetings — many have remained in frequent contact, drove investor or customer introductions, or became investors or customers themselves. We have a truly special community here in Chicago, that continually embodies the Techstars value, #GiveFirst.
As I often say… The best way to help a founder is to become, or introduce them to, a customer, a hire, or an investor. Below are summaries and demo day videos of all 10 companies from Techstars Chicago 2018 — the “Perfect 10” — I encourage you to watch, share, and reach out!
2nd Kitchen
2ndKitchen enables any business without a kitchen to serve food using a custom and integrated menu from nearby restaurants. It’s a win-win-win where businesses add food to their menu, customers enjoy great food delivered to their seat, and restaurants serve additional dining rooms in their neighborhood.
We have begun deploying with bars and breweries in Chicago, and in the future, will expand across geographies and verticals such as hotels, complexes, offices, and more. Want to discuss how we’re giving a new option for businesses to serve food? Send us an email at founders@2ndkitchen.com or visit us at a location near you.
Nick Anastasiades, CEO
Arik Gaisler, CTO
Jon Elron, COO
founders@2ndKitchen.com
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Clyde
Clyde builds tools to instantly enable a business to sell extended warranties at the point-of-sale to increase customer loyalty and drive passive revenue. We make the same tool that big box stores utilize accessible to any business, as well as create a superior experience for our customers. Onboard Clyde to your store in 3 minutes and manage your program through our app for online, B2B, and in-store sales. With Clyde, your customers get coverage and your business makes passive, risk free revenue with little to no additional work.
Brandon Gell, CEO
Josh Scaglione, CTO
Nick Scaglione, Engineer
Jereme Holiman, VP Ops & Growth
founders@joinclyde.com
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Hurry Home
Hurry Home is a new homeownership model for people who want to buy — allowing them to build ownership with each monthly payment. Starting with the 20% of housing stock across the United States that banks no longer service because of regulations and profit structure, we are making homeownership more accessible and providing a passive investment for alternative investors.
Jada Mclean, CEO
John Gibbons, CTO
founders@hurryhome.io
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Kai
Kai empowers human coaches to scale like never before. Powered by augmented intelligence (humans and machines working together), our technology enables a coach who formerly could only serve 10s of clients to now effectively serve 100s. For the coach or coaching organization, this means access to a market they previously could not serve; for the consumer, it means access to coaching regardless of income level or life situation.
Jonathan Smith, CEO
Jane Decker, COO
Dan Rye, CTO
founders@kai.coach
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Neopenda
Neopenda is innovating medical devices for high-growth emerging markets. We create end-to-end solutions that enable high quality patient care and nuanced data insights for stakeholders. Our first product is a wireless wearable neonatal vital signs monitor designed for resource-constrained health facilities. The affordable system enables more responsive & appropriate care for critically ill newborns, and ultimately helps reduce preventable newborn mortality.
Sona Shah, CEO
Teresa Cauvel, CTO
founders@neopenda.com
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Optivolt Labs
Optivolt Labs has developed an optimized solar integration platform for machines and devices that use lithium ion/polymer batteries. Our first product is a high-efficiency solar integration kit for commercial drones that significantly increases the range and flight time of the drone. Our system enables industrial drones to become truly autonomous and self-charging by eliminating the need for back-up batteries and human operators.
Rohit Kalyanpur, CEO
Paul Couston, COO
Daniel Kofman, VP Engineering
founders@optivoltlabs.com
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Rheaply
Rheaply enables professionals to trade, donate, or easily share surplus inventory or assets within their organization, and better collaborate with their colleagues. For every enterprise, Rheaply’s Asset Exchange Manager (AxM) creates an internal circular economy which helps save money, reduce unnecessary waste, and increase collaboration. By building a shared economy for surplus resources, clients of Rheaply’s — from Northwestern University to Google X — can transact or donate surplus assets or easily collaborate on Rheaply’s AxM.
Learn more at Rheaply.com or Garry’s recent blog post → The fight to sustain the beauty and power of scientific research re-starts now
Garry Cooper, CEO
Tyler Skelton, COO
Peter Tucker, CTO
founders@rheaply.com
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Speeko
Speeko uses automated voice analytics to help improve your communication skills. By listening to how you speak, our mobile app gives objective feedback on things like pace, pitch, and word choice and offers interactive exercises so you can learn how to more effectively deliver your message. Speeko is on a mission to reimagine traditional communication training by bringing science to the art of communication, starting with sales organizations to drive results across phone and in-person conversations.
Nico Aguilar, CEO
Anthony Pham, CPO
Will Field-Thompson, CTO
Cameron Faerber, CDO
founders@speeko.co
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Trala
Trala is a Juilliard-approved app that teaches users how to play the violin. Trala can teach you your first song in 30 minutes and a song like Amazing Grace in 30 days through step-by-step, clear lessons that incorporate instant feedback on every mistake. Compared to private instructors, the Trala app is 1/5th the price, teaches 5x faster, and is accessible anytime in the comfort of one’s own home.
Start learning violin today! Download the Trala App Here.
Samuel Walder, CEO
Vishnu Indukuri, CTO
Lauren Solberg, Design
Harvey Morris, Director Marketing
founders@tralaapp.com
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Vacation Fund
Vacation Fund is the best benefit for today’s workforce. The program allows employees to direct a portion of their paycheck into a separate Vacation Fund Account, and allows employers to match a portion of the contribution. Not only does this make employees’ dream trips more financially attainable, but it encourages them to periodically take time off to disconnect, rejuvenate, and experience something new.
Erica Pearson, CEO
Abhinav Mathur, CTO
founders@vacationfund.io
If you would like to meet any of these companies or have any feedback please let me know by emailing me at logan.lahive@techstars.com or DM’ing me at @loganlahive.