The University of Waterloo’s VeloCity Fund Finals are just two weeks away.
The contenders come from diverse backgrounds – biotechnology, communications, computer science, engineering, nanotechnology – and they’re tackling current issues like more accessible vision care, health, food economics and efficient manufacturing, to name a few.
Each startup went through a qualifying interview on Friday to be selected as one of the ten finalists vying for four $25K grants. Next stop – the Velocity Fund Finals where each will deliver a 3-minute pitch to a panel of judges from the business community. It’s all before a live audience, and it will be webcast too.
Here are the finalists:
Code Connect is a plug-in for Microsoft Visual Studio that dynamically visualizes program control flow for developers as they code, making software development and design easier.
ExVivo is changing the way allergies are tested. Their product provides an alternative to existing skin prick methods by moving the reaction outside of a patient’s body. This will give allergists a more rapid way to screen for allergies and offer patients results that are safe, simple and certain.
EyeCheck is a vision diagnostics solution involving a mobile app for taking photographs of the eyes, imaging equipment, and image processing algorithms that combined can provide a quick and inexpensive approximation of a patient’s full prescription, or diagnosis of eye conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration. Ideal for making vision care accessible in regions around the world where it is otherwise not available, affordable or accessible.
Grobo is a personalized app-controlled in-home gardening system that lets anyone grow a successful garden at anytime of the year, regardless of their experience level.
Localmotive is an online marketplace for farmers, bakers, coffee roasters and other producers to sell and distribute small quantities of locally produced food to a larger audience. It features a private online portal for producers to quickly update their offerings; real-time product availability and ordering; and order consolidation for producers.
Maieutic Enterprises is a programmable surface technology that can be used to monitor and correct defects in manufacturing.
MAJiK Systems is a web app where factory managers and machine operators can view their machines’ status, efficiency and errors in real-time.
Tempest Insight is a cloud tool that helps real estate developers choose what type of building to build and how to price them. Tempest does this by analyzing location-based data and generating statistical models.
Ubiq is reinventing the way presentations are given in enterprise organizations by allowing users to wirelessly present from their tablets or laptops to existing projectors and TVs in their meeting rooms.
Vitameter is a personal device that can inexpensively measure a user’s vitamin levels. An accompanying app allows users to track their deficiencies and actively manage their diet.