Startup Next, the pre-acceleration program run by Techstars, kicked off its new Toronto cohort last night at the MaRS Discovery District. The six-week, free program provides local entrepreneurs extended time with select mentors to help get their business in order while still building their product. BetaKit is proud to be a sponsor!
Last night’s session wasted no time getting into the nitty-gritty of what makes a business succeed or fail, with each startup taking a beating from the mentors’ pointed questions. While no entrepreneur was spared from the deluge of constructive criticism, those bruises will turn into muscle with the right amount of work over the course of the program. Event partner the The Working Group was also on hand to help supply the correct amount of pizza and adult beverages to help the medicine go down, as learning is always more fun on a full stomach.
Below you’ll find descriptions of the seven companies that comprise the newest Startup Next Toronto cohort. You’ll certainly be hearing more about them in six weeks!
Sprked
Sprked is a discovery and curation platform for video games (“Songza for games”).
Dayboard
Dayboard is a task management system for teams based around a user’s most important tasks.
Furnex
Furnex is a startup that allows customers to buy and sell lightly used furniture in their local community, through a curated, web-based marketplace.
IVVI
ivvi is a Toronto-based technology startup whose aim is to scour, sort and curate the very best, top trending internet videos and conveniently deliver them to user’s mobile devices.
Loop Lab
Loop Lab takes care of uncomfortable temperature differences throughout your home.
Protractr
Protractr is the new way for homeowners to plan and execute their renovation projects hassle free.
Predikat
Predikat helps mobile B2B/C mobile app businesses with a high customer/user churn, identify which users will churn, when and why.
Reforges
Reforges is a consumer hardware company that has designed, patented, and built V.O, the first ever all-directional magnetic power adapter for all electronics.
Image courtesy Nathan Monk.
