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91���� Tech Runway® Reveals its Seventh Venture Class

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91���� Tech Runway® hosted its  on Tuesday, May 7 at the , revealing its seventh class, known as “Venture Class 7.” This annual Launch Competition provides the most promising startups and talented entrepreneurs in South Florida with an opportunity to join a year-long program that brings the competition winners “best-in-class” instruction, mentoring, resources, networking, assistance, office space, and other vital programs.�� 

Among the 21 companies joining Venture Class 7, eight of these will receive a $15,000 cash investment award.�� With a total of $120,000 cash awarded, 91���� Tech Runway’s competition is the biggest “purse” in the state.�� 

The 21 winners representing community, faculty and student tracks were selected by a panel of 16 judges, including successful entrepreneurs, technology investors, entrepreneurship professors, economic development professionals, philanthropists, and commercial bankers.��   This year’s eight cash investment award winners are:

• GoGig: an anonymous professional networking platform that helps match currently employed, passively seeking, job candidates to new hiring companies through career desires and cultural fit metrics.
• Alertgy: a truly non-invasive, continuous glucose monitor (NICGM) and alert system.��
• GeneYes: VALIDATE (Virtual Agent-Linked Intelligent Disease Assessment Tool Engine) provides a full-bodied, highly animated, two-way conversational virtual agent for patient-reported data collection and genetic testing clinical decision support.
• CarShipIO: an integrated platform and two-sided marketplace for the auto transportation industry.
• OREVCO: the OREVCO Real Securities Exchange (ORSE) is the world’s first U.S.-focused commercial real estate securities exchange, empowering investors to trade commercial real estate assets as efficiently and inexpensively as equities.
• Sharks take a Bite out of Infection!: an antibacterial, reusable bandage that prevents the migration of multiple strains of deadly bacteria into the wounds of post-operative, hospital-based patients.
• 20Lighter: a holistic, lifestyle transformation solution incorporating cutting edge health-related and quality of life outcomes, empowering clients with industry-leading results that translate into happier and healthier lives.
• Champions Empowering Champions: a not-for-profit changing the educational, professional, health, and cultural outcomes of college students who have experienced foster care or homelessness, through innovative programming built on interdisciplinary, evidence-based research.

In addition, 13 more companies were awarded based on various tracks including, community, student and faculty.��

• Community track: CyberFit, 0Bank, Reuse Pac Inc., Secret Sequence
• Student track: Custom Component Kits, FaZed Audio, NERD Delivery, Sweep Storage, Micah 6:8
• Faculty track: Deep Science, DeeTex, Equal Water, NetFly

“91���� Tech Runway received a record number of 170 application for the Launch Competition this year. The 21 winners selected by our expert Judges Panel truly represent the cream of the crop,” said , managing director of 91���� Tech Runway®. “Every year the level of entrepreneurial talent represented, and the sophistication of the business concepts submitted jumps up several levels, and this year was absolutely no exception.��We can’t wait to begin working with this new class of entrepreneurial leaders.”  

In addition to the investment awards received by the top third of the incoming class, all Venture Class 7 winners join a robust community of fellow entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, instructors, and top-level support professionals. They will be provided with co-working, skills training, and expert business mentoring, all at no cost. Nearly 50 highly-vetted MIT program-trained mentors, instructors, and staff serve as mentors, trainers, and support professionals.�� 

Competition winners will complete a rigorous five week “I-Corps” training module, requiring them to complete 40 “customer discovery interviews” and attend industry conferences and trade shows.�� Additionally, they will complete a 12-session course of instruction focused on specialized topics tied to Stanford’s Lean LaunchPad curriculum.�� Classes cover customer development, value proposition, distribution channels, capital raising, and other subjects critical to entrepreneurial success.��

Prior to announcing the Launch Competition winners for Venture Class 7, 14 other companies in from the graduating Venture Class 6 gave live elevator pitches, shared their accomplishments during the year-long program, and offered demos of their companies’ products from an exhibition area.�� 

91���� Tech Runway^® is a public-private partnership formed to incubate and accelerate early-stage technology-based companies, under the purview of 91����’s . It also has provided financial support, entrepreneurial education, free workspace, investor introductions, expert mentoring, marketing assistance, student interns, and a close-knit entrepreneurial community for 72 early-stage companies since its launch.��

In four years, 351 jobs and 165 internships have been created; 79 91���� students have been employed; more than $64 million in revenue has been earned; and more than $63 million in capital has been raised from all sources.

The 2019 Launch Competition presenting sponsors include Arnold L. and Barbara D. Cohen; Burdette Beckmann Inc.; the Fleisher Family Foundation; the City of Boca Raton; and Palm Beach County.�� Platinum-level sponsor include the law firm of Duane Morris. Gold-level sponsors include Bank of America; TD Bank; SunTrust Foundation; Kaufman Rossin; the Chester Foundation; Ryan and Connor Lynch (Plastridge Insurance); Marti Latour; and the George Elmore Family Foundation. Silver-level sponsors include Florida Power and Light, Prototype House, and Rhys L. and Dr. Lorna Williams.��Bronze-level sponsor include the law firm of Locke Lord.

For more information on 91���� Tech Runway®, visit .��

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Tags: research | community | technology