Katherine Olives
Were still feeling excitement from yesterdays Demo Day. Hundreds of supporters visited CCNY startups as they shared their MVPs and prototypes with the community.
Startups seen yesterday have developed their ideas in our Lean Startup Bootcamp for the past semester, and Demo Day marked the first of two events that will determine which teams win prize money totaling $150,000. While the fun was happening outside on campus, judges carefully deliberated inside. The pressure was on. After much thought, the judges selected two teams from each of the four categories €“ hardware, social impact, women & tech for NYC, and technology. These eight finalist teams will pitch again in front of an audience later this week at the Final Pitch.
The Kaylie Hardware Prize:
The Coach – an interactive, automated boxing device that trains you & makes working out fun. The Coach team is dedicated to fitness and believes its the best preventive medicine. However, they know working out isnt always easy, and it certainly isnt always fun. Their goal is to bring an engaging boxing HIIT workout into the home to fit busy lifestyles, almost like a Peloton for boxing. We cant wait to see it in action! The Coach is made up of Mechanical Engineering majors Okiermute Oyiborhoro and Mahutin Paul, Computer Engineering major Krongchai Praponpoj, Computer Science major Nicholas Weatherley, and graduate student Granville Parker.
WiseWatch – a stylish and customizable tracking device for individuals suffering from dementia. The bracelet will give caregivers and family members peace of mind, while also allowing people with dementia to gain more independence. This idea was inspired by one of the cofounders personal experience with his grandmother, and those of us who have experienced dementia know how terrifying it is to have your loved one wander off, vulnerable. The WiseWatch team is made up of Mechanical Engineering majors Nikolas Arsenlis and Norphel Sherpa, Computer Science majors Danish Faruqi and Thomas Ly, and recent grad Bethold Kobe Owusu.
The Zahn Social Impact Prize:
Beyond the Margins – focuses on bettering education for marginalized groups. For the past month theyve held workshops for middle schoolers in the NYC area, introducing them to a variety of different topics to supplement their education. Their goal is to help students go beyond the margins of the page and explore things that theyre passionate about. Beyond the Margins is led by Arielle Gallegos, an International Studies and Anthropology major; Jasmine Martin, an Advertising and Public Relations major; and Francisca Vallejo, a Mechanical Engineering major.
SheFFA – a local, community-driven social enterprise dedicated to eradicating female genital cutting, is another competitor in the Social Impact track. Theyre working with young activists and community organizers to educate individuals on the effects of female genital cutting, with the hopes of eradicating the practice both here in the US and abroad. Theyre also working with doctors who specialize in reconstructive surgery to help more survivors access the surgery. The SheFFA team is made up of Biology major Arielle Brutus, Nonya Khedr, and Political Science student Shza Zaki.
The Standard Chartered Women+Tech4NYC Prize:
Olacare – a customizable sexual & reproductive health app for the LGBTQ community. Having experienced healthcare that didnt consider issues outside of a heterosexual cisgender life, the Olacare team decided to create a more inclusive experience. Through Olacare, users can take control of their sexual and reproductive health, as well as find doctors who are either part of the LGBTQ community or are allies. The Olacare team is made up of Brivia Bobby, a Biology major with a minor in Psychology; Anthony Bravo, a Computer Engineering major; Tyler Jimenez Perez, an Electronic Design & Multimedia major; and Natascha Krishnanand, a Spanish & French double-major.
STEM Hive – a non-profit organization dedicated to engaging young girls in STEM fields! The idea was born at a Hackathon here at CCNY when the founders realized that they werent the only ones who questioned careers in STEM even after loving science and robotics all their lives. STEM Hive is on a mission to make sure that girls never lose their interest in STEM and pursue careers in the field. Theyll use a combination of near-peer mentorship, workshops, skill-building curriculum, and more to keep young girls engaged in STEM. The team is made up of BIC student Penelope Herrera, Biochemistry major Karla Jacome, Biology major Carolina Perez, and Computer Engineering major Daniel Gaston.
The Zahn Technology Prize:
MarkGen – a platform that uses machine learning algorithms to handle multivariate relationships to simulate market data and provide accurate risk assessments for financial products. They plan to help financial analysts better predict market patterns, but perhaps theres a possibility that this could help your everyday at-home trader! The students working on this project work closely with several professors across departments including Michael Grossberg, Kevin Foster, and Hank Nguyen. The MarkGen team is made up of Computer Engineering majors Andriana Aivazians, Eddie Chen, and Marin Muso.
MoneyMiles – a fitness app centered around runners. Through running competitions and personalized analytics, their goal is to encourage everyone to get out and run more! Although entering a crowded space, the MoneyMiles team is excited to focus on the motivations of runners, and they spend a lot of time talking to runners to truly understand what they need. A group of fitness junkies themselves, the team believes in the power of exercise to relieve stress, stay healthy, and make friends. The MoneyMiles team is made up of Computer Environmental Engineering student Jennifer Duong, Computer Engineering student Simranjit Kaur, Computer Science student Bhavesh Shah, and Anim Xhafa.
To support your team and find out who takes home the grand prizes, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@ZahnCenterNYC) on the evening of May 9th. Well go backstage with the startups, and announce the winners by the end of the night. Well also announce the winners that YOU selected for the Audience Choice Award, and the startups who will continue on in our Accelerator Program!