Prizes for the winners
* Top honoree picked by the judges wins $3,000* The second-place business idea picked by the judges wins $1,000* The People’s Choice award winner picked by all attendees receives $500* The judges top and runner up winners also get 10 hours donated each from the law firms of Miller & Martin and the Chambliss Startup Group; 10 hours of accounting help from Henderson, Hutcherson & McCullough; three hours of access to co-working space at the Society of Work, and a spot in the Company Lab Accelerator, the GigTank Accelerator or the Co.Starters program.
Eight entrepreneurs will dive into the startup business world next week to see if their business ideas will float among the sea of competitors vying to gain the attention and money of investors and customers.
The Company Lab on Monday announced the eight finalists who will compete for cash and business prizes in the annual "Will This Float?" competition scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 8, at 6 p.m. at the Chattanooga Zoo. At the three-hour event, eight businesses will pitch their business plans before a panel of three judges and an audience of community members, who will cast votes to determine the prize winners.
"The breadth of this year's 'Will This Float?' ideas truly exemplifies the vibrant nature of Chattanooga's entrepreneurial ecosystem," Jack Studer, executive director of the Company Lab, said in a statement Monday. "From a novel approach to end-of-life planning to a fun new spin on the traditional piñata and tools to help individuals become better versions of themselves, this year's 'Will This Float?' competition will illustrate the overflowing creativity and entrepreneurial spirit Chattanooga has to offer."
The top honoree will receive a cash prize of $3,000, and the runner up will receive $1,000. The winner of the People's Choice Award will receive $500. The first- and second-place winners also will receive a package of free business services donated by local law firms, accountants and office owners.
Established in 2010, Will This Float? is one of the most prominent business pitch competitions in the region. Over the past six years, the event has showcased approximately 60 entrepreneurs who have raised nearly $38 million in combined capital.
A number of notable entrepreneurial successes have grown out of Will This Float? competitions in previous years, including SupplyHog, Variable Inc., RootsRated, Granola and Innovasan.
The finalists selected for this year's Will This Float? competition are:
* 4U2 is a child-centered vending machine that offers items such as coloring books and puzzles kids can complete in doctors' offices and other types of waiting areas. The presenter will be Desia Yamese.
* Allstar Technologies is an athletic training system that utilizes LED lights on a track to provide a customizable pace for runners. The system enables athletes to engage in multiple training modes that allow them to improve their pace-per-mile and compete against previous run times. The presenter is Dan Basler.
* Arrival Events is an end-of-life celebration planning service that works with families to create meaningful memorials designed specifically for their loved ones. As a growing portion of the population moves toward alternative burial methods, Arrival Events will offer flexible services that enable families to plan creative, celebratory memorial experiences in non-traditional venues and formats. The presenter is Tara Viland.
* Bash is a specialized consumer experience that delivers pre-filled themed piñatas for all of life's most memorable events. Bash Piñatas are themed for everyday experiences such as breakups, friendship reminders and more. The contents of each piñata vary depending on theme of the event, such as spa face masks for breakups or glow sticks and candy for celebrations. The presenter is Christine DiPietro.
* EZ RYDR is an app-based service that allows college students to order rides on demand. The company will work with universities to offer the service via a subscription that enables students or parents to pay an upfront fee at the beginning of every semester in exchange for unlimited rides available around the clock. By hiring part-time employees to administer the service, EZ RYDR will be able to subject drivers to stricter background checks and thereby offer safer riding experiences. The presenter is Robby Robinson.
* Lucent Gift is a locally curated gift box for women who are going through a medical treatment or recovery related to breast cancer. The branded gift box will contain items specifically selected to comfort women after surgery, during treatment and throughout recovery. The presenter is Missy Luce.
* Music Therapy Gateway in Communications, Inc. is a software platform that allows users to engage in music therapy without having a music therapist present. Due to the limited number of certified music therapists available to the local populace, this platform will make the benefits of music therapy accessible to a much larger number of people affected with speech, motor and cognition issues. The presenter is Martha Summa-Chadwick.
* SkillBuilder is an online, community-curated platform that allows users to share their routines and procedures for learning specific skills. In the same way people share their individual bodybuilding routines with one another, SkillBuilder users will share the steps and habits they follow to advance their skills in areas such as cooking, dancing, playing music, welding, making furniture and a variety of other hobbies and proficiencies. The platform will include entries for the beginner's path to basic competency, as well as intermediate and advanced routines for the full spectrum of skill building. The presenter is Ustin Zarubin.