AccelerateBaltimore™ is an initiative of Emerging Technology Centers, Baltimore’s award winning incubator, and the Abell Foundation. Today it presented the inaugural class of it’s new program with Demo Day 07-25-2012. The goal of Accelerate Baltimorel is to close the gap between innovative ideas and getting to market by providing the seed capital, resources, mentors, potential partners and a coworking space.
The program has gotten significant financial support from the Abell Foundation which provided initial funding for the initiative of a little over 100K in late 2011 to get things started. Since then it has been heralded as just what the Baltimore technology community needed to give it a further boost of energy. Baltimore is increasingly becoming a hub for technology and the competition to keep talent and ideas in the region is becoming more pressing. Initiatives such as Accelerate Baltimore underline the region and its major players, and shows commitment to fostering and nurturing new and positively disrupting ideas in the tech sector that have the potential to be huge contributors to the local economy in many ways and further encourage others down the path of tech entrepreneurship.
There were over 40 applicants for only a choice 4 slots.
Lucky program participants over the past few months have gained access to:
- $25,000 funding
- Free space at Emerging Technology Centers during the program,
- Access to mentors, investors and potential partners
- Legal and accounting help
- Networking
Tonight the ETC and The Abell Foundation, as well as the 13 mentors who have shepherded the four participating companies who have demonstrated high growth potential, and the ability to successfully launch a product in 12 short weeks will celebrate the inaugural class with “Demo Day” a private event at the ETC which sold out. The companies’ chosen have received a range of “game changing” benefits over what was an intense period spanning a few weeks to launch a product into the market. It is interesting to note that only one of the mentors is a woman, that would be Deborah Tillet – the President – of the Emerging Technology Center, where the program is based. Ms. Tillet herself has significant experience as both an entrepreneur in general, and in the tech sector.
Two of the company’s in the program are led or co-led by women, which is encouraging as one of the things that women in the technology sector often complain about is there are not enough women in the room. Doesn’t seem like that will be the case in terms of the start-ups presenting tonight.
MyCity4Her Founder & Editor in Chief Monyka Berrocosa had this to say about the program “Anything that helps good ideas and people move forward to make things reality, technology focused or otherwise – is vital and important for any community that wants to thrive. I think programs like Accelerate Baltimore are relevant, important and most timely. Business evolves at a quick speed and the quick to market aspect of this allows people to capitalize on momentum, maximum critical assistance and gain valuable start-up support furthering their chances for success. Sadly many a brilliant concept falls through the cracks because people don’t have the resources they need, the connections, or sufficient capital and focus to make them happen. That’s why programs like this are so very important. Kudos to the ETC and the Abell Foundation for seeing the need and filling it.”
The two women led concepts of four being presented are:
(Formerly Hoopla now ) KITHLY, helps solve the problem that a lot of busy professionals have – keeping up with their important relationships, both professionally and personally by acting as a digital concierge and taking all the work out of planning activities so people can focus on nurturing those key relationships. Kithly is led by DevinPartlow, CEO/Lead Developer and Stacy Weng, Co-Founder / Strategist.
UNBOUND CONCEPTS software products provide publishers and educational technology companies effective, cost-saving, efficient solutions in how they select, create and sell content material through their proprietary platform that determines reading levels and features of text – in addition to restructuring text to meet the needs of the reader. Unbound Concepts is led by Katie Palencsar, CEO & Founder.
The other two concepts being introduced include:
NOBADGIFT.COM – The cure for the bad gift. This is a crowd gifting solution that allows people to create wish lists for any day or event.
NEWSUP, which is a game for reading the news that matters to you. NewsUp features personalized news, trivia, and real-life rewards in a highly engaging mobile environment while driving revenue for brands and publishers.
Additional program sponsors and supporters include: ARHD, L.E. Goldsborough & Son, INC, Millennial Media, SC&H Group, LLC , tr Klein & Company and Storyfarm media. Milennial Media is a former graduate of the ETC and Storyfarm Media is a present ETC Company.
Accelerate Baltimore is located in the Emerging Technology Center, where MyCity4Her, Inc (our parent company) is housed as well. For more information about the ETC (Emerging Technology Center) click here.