#launchtn

Last Friday, Launch Tennessee announced the 12 startups who have advanced from the regional Southern Series events and will compete at the inaugural 36 | 86 competition in June for the $36,000 grand prize. 

Here are the 12 selected companies: 

Arlington, VA

Airside Mobile is changing how travelers travel by using mobile technology and expert process design to eliminate lines during day-of-travel. Airside Mobile Passport is the only app authorized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection that enables travelers to bypass long Customs lines. (Arlington, VA)

Babyscripts is reimagining how pregnancies are monitored by introducing the internet of things to prenatal care. Through both a mobile app and the delivery of two connected devices, Babyscripts is delivered to pregnant mothers by their OBGYNs and used to improve patient engagement and satisfaction, while directly increasing provider ROI. (Washington, D.C.)

EQUITYEATS is the first equity crowdfunding platform dedicated exclusively to restaurants, bars and coffee shops. EquityEats fundamentally transforms restaurant economics by providing each entrepreneur capital they need and hundreds of passionate “investomers” (investors + customers). (Washington, D.C.)

Virgil Security, Inc., provides software developers with password-free authentication, strong encryption, and verification of data, devices and identities that is quickly and easily integrated into their products – often in just hours – with no prior cryptographic knowledge or training required. (Manassas, VA)

Columbia, SC

aPersona transparently protects public-facing web services for pennies per user. (Raleigh, NC)

Echovate helps companies’ replicate top performing employees through next generation data-science, redefining candidate screening & selection. (Charleston, SC)

FotoSwipe allows users to  instantly share photos and videos across multiple smart devices (iPhone, Android, iPad, tablets, etc.) with the swipe of a finger. (Raleigh, NC)

Good Done Great customizes employee engagement and corporate philanthropy platforms for global brands, delivering targeted and measurable impact. More than 1.2 million employees currently use GDG’s innovative tools to align their time and treasure with personal charitable goals and over 60,000 non-profits benefit from their broad philanthropic reach. (Charleston, SC)

Atlanta, GA

Florence Healthcare is changing the way new drugs are brought to market by accelerating clinical drug trials with a new type automation software. (Atlanta, GA)

PartPic has developed an enterprise solution that revolutionizes the part identification and purchase process by allowing consumers to take a picture of the part, upload to PartPic’s database and within seconds receive the correct part as well and help to facilitate the purchase. (Atlanta, GA)

Rivalry is a team accountability software enabling sales coaching within sales organizations across the world. From Fortune 10 companies to early-stage startups, Rivalry’s software helps sales reps perform the right behaviors of the sales process to help them close more deals, maintain positive morale and retain training. (Atlanta, GA)

RootsRated is a media platform that connects users with the best outdoor experiences, hand-picked by local outdoor retailers and their networks of local experts. They harness the collective expertise of high-level active outdoor enthusiasts and then share it through exclusive stories and destination reviews—curated city by city—about the best trails, runs, routes and more. (Chattanooga, TN)

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We were thrilled to be a regional partner and part of the judging panel for the DC and Columbia events. Our team was impressed by the winners of the competition as well as the talent throughout both the Columbia and Arlington events. 

This quick note from the organizers about their mission/goal for the competition highlights why these type of events are so important for startups, entrepreneurs and investors. 

“The mission of The Southern Series was to provide an opportunity for regional startup celebration and to identify the very best entrepreneurs located throughout the Southeast.”

The $36,000 will be a great grand prize for any of these companies, but more importantly the exposure and connections made (for all competitors) is invaluable in our opinion. That said, if you were not able to make one of the regional events, we strongly encourage you to register for the main event June, 8th.  Besides hearing from the competing startups, there is an incredible lineup of speakers for the conference. 

Will we see you there!? 

P.S. Here were a few quotes we enjoyed from the events:

"Startups finish in SF. Some of our best companies start in the southeast. That's why the southeast matters to investors" @paulsingh