A dozen startups, many from around the region, will be part of The Company Lab’s recently rebranded GigTank accelerator program.
GigTank 365, now year-round, begins its summer session with teams convening in Chattanooga later this month.
Early this year, the program narrowed its focus to three tracks: healthcare, 3D printing and SDN (software defined networking).
“We were looking to make that connection between medicine and high-speed networking” said Mike Bradshaw, the nonprofit organization’s executive director. “A couple startups here in town need help right now, and GigTank is the appropriate vehicle for them.”
Meanwhile, 3D printing was already a strength for GigTank, helping startups Feetz, Branch Technology and 3D Ops take off.
Several startups this session are sponsored by local businesses, and the connection between entrepreneurs and established businesses is crucial, according to Co.Lab.
“The strongest part of the program has been the mentor program,” Bradshaw said.
Among the locally supported teams: One-to-One Telehealth, a telehealth company working with EPB Fiber Optics and One-to-One Personal Physicians Network; and UTChattSat, a space-infrastructure company and recipient of the UTC-GIGTANK Fellowship led by Dr. Daniel Loveless; and TelemeterED, which is working on a gigabit-enabled, 4k-microscope-learning experience piloted at the Chattanooga STEM School in partnership with Public Education Foundation.
GigTank 365 still has a general gigabit business track. Two local companies – Mod-Ergo Systems and Squad Fund – will take part in the summer session of Co.Lab’s accelerator, which runs concurrently with GigTank 365 in three cycles throughout the year. Those companies will learn alongside GigTank 365 teams and share the same mentor network and startup resources.
GigTank, launched in 2012, is an accelerator for startups developing high-bandwidth business applications and is open to entrepreneurs from around the world. Startups work with corporate partners, industry experts, investors and established businesses to grow their product or service.
Most teams will be in Chattanooga from May 16 through July 29, while free housing is available at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
This year, the program will culminate with a night during which participants will pitch their companies to an audience of investors and local startup supporters. The traditional Demo Day will be during Startup Week Chattanooga in October, with top startups pitching their companies to an audience of investors, media, corporate partners and the larger community.
7 local startups among 12 selected teams
The Co. Lab. selected 12 teams to participate in GigTank 365.
Collider (Chattanooga) is bringing to market a high-speed industrial 3D printer for production-grade plastics. The company’s hybrid technology and material capabilities come together to deliver end-use parts, highly functional prototypes and production quality tooling to the world of manufacturing.
Docity (Chattanooga) is a HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform that connects providers with their patients. The product allows people to meet with their providers through their personal computer or mobile device, for a monthly fee. It also gives providers more efficiency by providing simple tools for scheduling and coordinating with patients.
Fetch (Birmingham) is a talent-driven hiring platform that matches talent with employees in a transparent and unbiased way that is affordable. The platform allows for both employers and talent to create profiles and match with each other based on interests and needs.
injii (Hoboken, NJ and Atlanta) is an online media startup that helps charitable causes raise awareness and donations through original artists performances. injii is a network for social good; the company is about making a difference in the world through an open-ended media stream similar to scheduled TV broadcasting. injii is about everyone coming together in real time to connect with phenomenal content and get involved in great causes.
iPrint 3D (Chattanooga) is a 3D printer manufacturer that specializes in streamlining the orthodontic and dental office. Many orthodontists and dentists have to send their electronic records to laboratories to have orthodontic appliances and tooth patterns printed. This is very costly and time consuming and postpones starting treatment while waiting for appliances for tooth patterns to be returned from the laboratory. Using the iPrint 3D printer, the orthodontist or laboratory is able to print in its own office, saving time and money while giving control to the doctor.
Mixtroz (Nashville and New York, N) is a mobile app that combines the importance of physical presence with the power of technology to form stronger, more sustainable networks. It is the only tool that solves the current ineffectiveness of building and sustaining strong and meaningful networks formed exclusively by a “click” online or by brief, often awkward, personal introductions. The app allows individuals in large settings to connect in smaller, more intimate groups for face-to-face introductions.
One-to-One Telehealth (Chattanooga) is a company that instantly connects patients with their local One-to-One Personal Physicians Network. EPB Fiber Optics, a local cable and internet provider, facilitates the connection between the two with its high-speed internet. This delivery platform will improve the quality of care delivered and will also increase access to healthcare for a spectrum of individuals.
Pass It Down (Chattanooga) is a new digital storytelling platform that makes it easy for families to capture their most meaningful memories. This mobile-optimized platform utilizes hundreds of questions created by oral historians to guide users in telling their story through text, audio, video or photos.
Rendever (Cambridge, Mass.) has developed a virtual reality platform to provide an immersive form of stimulation for senior citizens living in elderly care facilities. Rendever’s platform can take residents on global travel experiences, connect them with family members at important life moments like weddings or graduations with a 360-degree camera, and engage them with cognitive therapy programs the company is developing with Massachusetts General Hospital.
TelemeterED (Chattanooga) is creating a model for STEM educators to implement high-speed broadband technologies in the classroom. The company will develop a scalable, easily-replicable curricula and frameworks for educators to introduce high-speed broadband technologies into the classroom to promote, engage and enhance the students’ learning experience.
UTChattSat (Chattanooga) designs and develops low-cost small-satellite systems for addressing critical space-infrastructure needs and researching important emerging technological problems related to the space sciences. The company uses off-the-shelf electronics and innovative modeling techniques to address operational capabilities in the harsh space environment. Additionally, UTChattSat is developing cost-effective 3D-printed models and programmable electronics systems to enhance middle and high school classroom project-based learning initiatives.
Xcellent Life (Nashville) is a healthcare technology company that provides an artificial intelligence-powered cloud platform that captures a comprehensive set of health factors from biometric sensors, mobile applications and software systems. Using artificial intelligence, Xcellent Life helps health care practitioners improve outcomes and proactively protects consumers’ wellness through real-time human diagnostics.
Source: Co.Lab
Contact Mitra Malek at mmalek@timesfreepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @MitraMalek.