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The vibe was equal parts nervous anticipation and proud determination as about 20 early-stage startups took the stage at Guilford Hall Brewery in Greenmount West for the latest Techstars Founder Catalyst program showcase.
Hosted in mid-November in collaboration with UpSurge Baltimore’s Equitech Tuesday meetup, the event was more than a demo day — it was a celebration of innovation driven by diverse founders in the Mid-Atlantic region.
The Techstars Founder Catalyst program, first launched last year and sponsored by Stanley Black & Decker, aims to provide entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds with the tools and mentorship to scale their early-stage companies. Over 10 weeks, founders honed their business models, connected with mentors and prepared to pitch to an audience of investors, peers and community leaders.
“This is your show tonight,” said Dina Routhier, president of the tool company’s Stanley Ventures investment arm, to the presenting founders.
Program leader Audra Gibson emphasized the pre-accelerator program’s role as a stepping stone toward future growth. Several graduates of last year’s cohort, including DC-based Goby Homes and Joylet, have since participated in full-blown Techstars accelerator programs — and she hinted that trend is likely to continue.
“Fifteen of the companies presenting tonight are already applying to Techstars accelerators,” Gibson said.
This is not the tools giant’s first interaction with Baltimore: The Connecticut-headquartered company previously collaborated with Techstars and UpSurge on another accelerator and maintained a large facility in Baltimore County.
From AI-powered cameras for satellite data to safety innovations showcased at the NFL Draft, the evening highlighted the breadth of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, from Baltimore to the West Coast, in Techstars’ network. As the presentations wrapped up, the audience voted on awards to honor the standouts of the night.
Read on to learn more about each contender and find out who won.
Techstars Founder Catalyst 2024 showcase participants
BloomCatch
Virginia-based BloomCatch, founded by Ray Magee, helps users identify plants and flowers around them. The startup combines nature and tech to make plant care accessible to everyone. It also participated in last year’s inaugural Fairfax Founders Fund program.
Referred.fyi
CEO Jasmine Chen leverages her experience in corporate recruiting for startups and Fortune 500 companies to streamline hiring referral processes with a scalable platform.
Translunar
Translunar, led by Cody Waldecker, developed an AI-powered camera that transforms satellite data into usable insights. The startup is already securing letters of intent (LOIs) through partnerships with the National Science Foundation.
Cimu
Founder Kaci Xie’s platform, connects users with tailors to simplify clothing alterations. Successful pilots in New Haven and New Jersey tested the startup’s potential to reduce costly returns and improve customer convenience.
SoloSpouse
Kelly Barnett and Clair Norman, co-founders of SoloSpouse, presented a SaaS platform to help widows navigate the financial and emotional challenges of losing a spouse. The Charlottesville, Virginia-based company’s leaders drew from Barnett’spersonal experiences to craft this unique solution.
OncRef
Thomas Coughlin, inspired by his medical research background and his father’s cancer journey, created OncRef to assist oncologists with up-to-date cancer research and developments.
Shanda
Streamlining podcast production, Shanda’s tools enable storytellers to publish podcasts in under 10 minutes. The startup, which participated in DC Tech Studio, aims to make professional audio production accessible to all. Founders Dumi Mabhena and Paul Kassar presented the company at the showcase.
Anapact
Founder Rojay Chase applied his experience as a fighter to create a wearable headgear device and platform that tracks related performance metrics. The Fairfax Founder Fund participant described planned uses in boxing, MMA, football and even law enforcement.
Nadv.Rx
Onyeka Otugo’s AI-enabled platform provides audio discharge and follow-up instructions for patients to address gaps in healthcare literacy.
Findoc
Founded by Altan Arata, this startup developed a workflow coordination tool for financial analysts to reduce tedious tasks by focusing on streamlining research and analysis.
Peachy Day
Sophia Fang’s Stanford, California-based connects migraine patients with neurologists, offering a holistic care model that aims to improve patient outcomes.
Pathway
Childhood cancer survivor and Harvard University junior Eshan Vishwakarma launched Pathway to build a supportive community for cancer survivors.
Cathoven
Using AI, Erdi Tac’s Cathoven turns content like songs or TikTok videos into language-learning tools.
Katch Skills
Founded and led by Laura Maristany, Katch Skills developed a platform that transforms everyday experiences into marketable skills. It aims to help jobseekers better showcase their expertise to potential employers.
Symspace
Symspace uses AI and AR to create 3D models of consumer products, enhancing product visualization and development.
Gambix
Claudius Taylor’s Gambix launched Strata, a business analytics platform for websites, that he said is already attracting high-profile customers.
Deepnosis
Founded by Johns Hopkins University medical researcher and MBA candidate Elham Jamshidi, Deepnosis applies predictive software to analyze pharmaceutical drug interactions while aiming to improve safety and efficiency in drug development.
RegSurety
CEO Dipika Kumar’s licensing platform helps companies in the crypto and fintech worlds maintain compliance with regulatory standards through automation.
BRCE
Tanvi Gadamsetti and Madhav Aggarwal, a pair of high school athletes and current Michigan State University students, founded BRCE to create innovative safety gear for sports. Their shoelaces and other products have already been showcased at the NFL Draft, and the company is working on a pilot with Under Armour next year.
Audience award winners
- Most Original Idea: Peachy Day
- Best Speaker: Tie between Peachy Day and BRCE
- Most Likely to Change the World for Good: SoloSpouse
- Most Excited About Using: BRCE
- Founders’ Favorite: BRCE
- Grit and Growth Award: BRCE
Watch the full showcase below: