Katherine Olives
For many of our students, it doesn't stop at the Final Pitch. Today we're pleased to announce the ten startups that will participate in our Accelerator this summer. Check them out below:
Design & Disorder is a multi-pronged technology for the deaf community and those with hearing loss, combining a stylish wearable with sensors in the home to help individuals identify & locate sounds. Not only will these individuals feel safer (theyll hear a door opening, the water running, etc.), but it will allow individuals to establish more independence. One of the co-founders, Heba Attia (a Psychology major), has a personal experience with this that drives the team forward. Shes joined by Marvel Delva, an Architecture major, and Elmi Jimenez, an Electrical Engineering student, both equally determined to bring this idea to life.
The Coach is 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. 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. They won first place in the Kaylie Hardware Prize, worth $50,000, and they'll use the funds to make more devices.
Luxz is tackling another big problem in society€“the issue of sexual violence. This team is building an organization that helps survivors of sexual assault reclaim their lives through a combination of support groups, non-traditional therapy (meditation, yoga, art, etc.), and career services. Much of the current support for survivors focuses on legal and medical services, but the team at Luxz knows first hand that rape and sexual assault can completely alter someones life. So far theyve held workshops & will host a Take Back the Night event on campus. The team is made up of Jewish Studies major Ashley Persaud and Biology major Devjani Paul.
MoneyMiles is 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. MoneyMiles took home the first place prize in the Zahn Technology track, $25,000.
SheFFA is 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. SheFFA took home the second place prize in the Zahn Social Impact track.
STEM Hive is 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 Brandinf& Integrated Communication grad student Penelope Herrera, Biochemistry major Karla Jacome, Biology major Carolina Perez, and Computer Engineering major Daniel Gaston. STEM Hive won first place in the Standard Chartered Women+Tech4NYC Prize.
Floramind is an educational organization that develops tools to educate, empower and guide teenagers towards positive mental health & well-being. They host in-person workshops that cover the stigma around mental illness, mental health knowledge, self-care strategies, and how to seek for help. The founders are CCNY students Danny Tsoi, Khandker Ahamed and Mahmoud Khedr, three experienced entrepreneurs who are deeply passionate about solving the youth mental health crisis across the world. Theyve had experience working in organizations like the U.S. Marine Corps, Accenture, Teach For America, Facebook and Google€“along with building and running their own startups. So far, theyve developed partnerships at two schools, hosting 15 workshops impacting over 270 students. Theyve won awards from the New York Business Plan Competition (1st place, Social Impact) and Echoing Green/Barclays (Social Innovation Finalist), have been recognized as Forbes Under 30 Scholars, Clinton Global University Fellows, Colin Powell Fellows, and completed Y Combinators Startup School. Right now, theyre looking to get introductions to high schools and colleges that may be interested in bringing FloraMinds programs and workshops to their schools. Theyd also love introductions to CSR / Corporate folks who may be interested in sponsoring the work theyre doing so they can do it at more high schools.
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 and Willkie Farr & Gallagher will mentor startups throughout the program.
The Accelerator kicks off the week of June 10th with investigative meetings with investors. If youd 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!