TRAVERSE CITY — Four companies have been picked to compete at this year’s TCNewTech pitch competition put on by start-up incubator 20Fathoms.
$7,500 is on the line in this competition with $5,000 going to first place, $2,000 for second and the third-place team will get $500.
Here are the four teams competing:
- Lacuum
Lacuum builds autonomous surface vessels for aquatic and shoreline environmental cleanup, removing the need for crews and chemical agents. Their autonomous surface vessels are purpose-built for lake, river, coastal, and shoreline cleanup, and are designed to detect, remove, and manage pollution efficiently, without the need for crews or chemical agents. The Lacuum pitch will be presented by Amer Abughaida.
- Memory Bright
Memory Bright creates digital tools that assist caregivers and families by enriching the time they share with loved ones living with dementia, improving their overall quality of life. Their app combines caregiver- and client-chosen photos, audio clips, and short narratives into an album, designed to spark conversation and connection. The Memory Bright pitch will be presented by John Velis, Mark DeLonge, and Tom Gordon.
- Safety Straw
The Safety Straw product changes color from yellow to red when exposed to a date rape drug, creating a safer, more confident environment for consumers. The Safety Straw pitch will be presented by Jack Rushlow.
- SampleCSI
SampleCSI is a mobile-and-cloud platform that helps law enforcement capture, label, and track crime scene evidence in real time. Each item is bound to authenticated photos (C2PA), GPS/time, and a tamper-evident digital chain of custody, reducing errors and challenges in court. The SampleCSI pitch will be presented by Russell Schindler.
Along with the pitch competition, there will be a start-up expo in the lobby of the City Opera House.
It all happens on Tuesday, November 18, 4:30-7:00 p.m. at the City Opera House in Traverse City. There is no cost to attend, but you will need a ticket. You can reserve them by clicking here.