Katherine Olives
We told you the excitement wouldnt stop at the Final Pitch! Today, were thrilled to announce the ten startups that will participate in our Summer Accelerator:
Among Allies €“ a nonprofit organization that helps victims of workplace sexual harassment find resources and offers workshops on the topic for small businesses
CakeWLK €“ an app that connects college students with new friends via safe, reliable, publicly shared walking routes
Exostride €“ an exoskeletal knee augmentation to reduce workplace knee injuries & fatigue
FreeFoot €“ an assistive device for those with gait disorders like Foot Drop
Khamis + Co €“ an app that connects like-minded individuals to travel together
Listen! €“ a nonprofit organization building an e-learning tool that uses gamification to teach basic vocabulary and language for children in refugee camps
Skinno €“ an app that uses machine learning to decipher skincare ingredients for consumers
Sporta €“ a centralized platform to connect leagues, teams, and players
Sprtlook €“ an app that connects high school athletes with coaches
WebNest €“ a marketing management platform that helps grassroots organizations & nonprofits grow and engage with their memberships
During the Accelerator, each startup will receive a $10,000 stipend so that at least two members from each team can dedicate 40 hours a week to the program. This is made possible by a generous sponsorship from CCNY alum Howard Morgan, Co-Founder of First Round Capital. Startups will work towards individual milestones with specific end goals that could include acceptance into a top tier accelerator program or seed/angel round investment. Theyll receive access to expert mentors and will gain introductions to closed-door meetings with senior advisors, investors, and business partners specifically chosen to meet their needs.
There will also be an educational component to the program in the form of daily workshops, as well as tailored consulting from Zahn staff. Startups will spend the summer conducting further market research and finishing their prototypes, all while developing a clearer understanding of their business from a financial perspective. Each team will receive individual help applying for grants, contracts, and other competitions. Experts from BNY Mellon, Wilkie Farr, and Google will mentor startups throughout the program.
The Accelerator kicks off the week of June 11th with investigative meetings with investors. If you'd like to be a part of that, please email katherine@zahncenternyc.com with your interest.
Well share their progress live on social media throughout the summer, so make sure you follow us @ZahnCenterNYC for updates!