Ten finalists have been named to compete at the upcoming Fall 2014 Velocity Fund Finals on November 27th. Velocity, an entrepreneurship program from the University of Waterloo, is giving the chance for these startups to potentially win some needed investment and also earn workspace at the Velocity Garage or Velocity Foundry. The total prize money up for grabs is over $100,000.
Similar to previous years, the finalists will have three minutes to pitch their startup idea to a panel of judges for a chance at scoring four grand prizes of $25,000 each. In addition, this year Velocity has upped the ante for the Velocity Fund awards to $5,000 from $1,000, where a total of three startups will be awarded prizes for the startup who present the best pitch or most innovative idea.
The $25K judges includes:
– Mike McCauley, Google
– Karamdeep Nijjar, iNovia Capital
– Jean-Sebastien Cournoyer, Real Ventures
– Ted Livingston, Kik
The $5K Judges includes:
– Wayne Chang, Conrad Business, Entrepreneurship & Technology Centre
– Geoff Malleck, University of Waterloo
– Steve McCartney, Communitech
“The University of Waterloo and Waterloo Region are home to innovative people and ideas, and the Velocity Fund Finals is a great opportunity for us to introduce local startups, and showcase their remarkable potential,” said Mike Kirkup, director of Velocity. “The number and quality of the companies and products that we have seen in the areas of hardware, software, and life and materials sciences this year are a testament to the talent and creativity of the young entrepreneurs here at Waterloo.”
The finalists for the grand prizes of $25,000 are:
1. Code Connect – Make complex software projects easier to understand using Code Connect for Visual Studio to display code as it will be executed.
2. Doppel – Precisely quantify individual movement patterns by means of a smart garment that provides athletes with noticeable feedback when it detects detrimental movements.
3. EyeCheck – An endeavour to provide high-quality, low-cost vision care to millions of people currently underserved by care in their region.
4. HearthStats – Hearthstone players can easily track wins and losses and gain insight into strengths and weaknesses for future play.
5. Maieutic – Designing a revolutionary die-casting technology called a programmable surface, which can change shape at the touch of a button.
6. MBLOK – A smart memory device that aims to personalize VPN and cloud for offline access on the go.
7. Perceptiv Labs – Perceptiv SHIFT is an intelligent camera motion control platform for cinematographers that is capable of tracking arbitrary objects. It enables a range of dynamic and immersive shots.
8. Pout – Connect to a new type of style community that empowers people to celebrate their individuality and personal style.
9. Suncayr – Sun safety is simplified with Suncayr’s UV-responsive marker, which will be used to draw directly on skin and then provide a visual cue when sunscreen needs to be reapplied.
10. Vitameter – A personal handheld device that determines an individual’s vitamin levels within minutes. Each test is inexpensive and provides people with the information needed to manage diet and supplements.
The finalists for the Fall 2014 Velocity Fund $5K are:
1. Aminolyze – A biotechnology startup developing devices to monitor protein requirements to help people fuel healthy active lifestyles.
2. Ansik Inc. – A mechanical reinforcement for worn out gas-charged struts.
3. Kue – A caffeine product that gives people a burst of energy before they wake up through a timed-release capsule.
4. Moocow Unicycles – Dedicated to providing the unicyclist community with strong, ergonomic parts.
5. Reno – A device that uses body heat to charge smart devices.
6. CareChair – A wheelchair that morphs into a bed to reduce the risk of injury with moving individuals with physical and mobility impairments.
7. SafeTech – A hardhat integrated with geofencing technology and alarm systems to manage the safety of industrial workers in hazardous conditions.
8. Treetu – A code search engine that will simplify development.
9. Lani Inc. – A payment and management system for 3D Print Centres.
10. InstaRent – A rental housing search engine to fit all of your living requirements.