6 Innovative Startups. 4 Venture Capitalist Judges. 1 Winner.
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Whose pitch has what it takes to be named this year's Startup to Watch?Â
Join us for Tech in Motion's "Startups to Watch"Â showcase event to hear live pitches from up and coming entrepreneurs that are disrupting their industries. Tune in to hear their ideas, learn how to craft a compelling pitch, get inspired, and even weigh in yourself!
- Each startup will have 5 minutes to pitch LIVE to a panel of top Venture Capitalists, followed by 5 minutes of Q&A
- Each pitch will be ranked by the panel and the top 3 with the highest scores will move on to the final round
- Our top 3 will have 5 more minutes to pitch, followed by 5 minutes of audience Q&A
- The startups will be ranked again and a winner will be named a Top Startup to Watch!
Benjamin David Novak is an active angel investor in early stage technology companies located on the East Coast of the United States. In addition to being an angel investor, Ben is a partner and venture capital lawyer with Morgan Lewis where he represents technology and life science companies, angel investors, venture capital funds, and private equity firms. He is an active member of the venture community, serving on numerous advisory boards and regularly speaking at tech events, judging venture conferences, and lecturing on technology, entrepreneurship, and investing at colleges and universities.
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Dr. Christy K. Sheehy is an acclaimed entrepreneur and healthcare visionary with over 15 years of technical expertise in optical and ophthalmic engineering. As the Founder and CEO of C. Light Technologies, Christy leads a team of renowned scientists and business strategists on a mission to innovate AI-driven solutions that enable proactive healthcare. In May 2023, C. Light received FDA 510(k) clearance on their hardware device, the Retitrack, a revolutionary retinal eye-tracker that enables quantification of oculomotor function, including fixational eye motion. Christy has direct clinical research experience with neurodegenerative patient populations at top research institutions including UC Berkeley and UCSF, and her postdoc work - linking fixational deficits to neurodegenerative disease progression - has been published in numerous scientific journals. In addition, Christy has secured C. Light’s placement across several incubators and accelerators including Berkeley SkyDeck, Stanford’s StartX, NIH's C3i program, and the NASDAQ Leaders of Tomorrow program. She’s raised over $8M in funding from venture capital funds, angel investors, and grants to accelerate her team’s vision of developing eye-tracking solutions that promote longer, healthier lives.
In connection with her work at C. Light Technologies, she has been awarded: Rising Star Founder of the Year (Bronze by Women Tech Network, 2022), Most Innovative Woman in Healthcare (Silver Stevie Award, 2022) and Best female entrepreneur (Gold Stevie Award, 2023). Her company has been awarded: the Best Tech Start-up in North America (2022 Timmy Awards) & the Most Innovative company of the year (Gold Stevie Award, 2023), while their novel product, the Retitrack, was awarded the highest distinction for Achievement in Science & Technology by the Stevie's Women in Business Awards (Gold, 2022). Dr. Sheehy is also an accomplished pitch competition winner, with her most recent win of 1st place at the International LG Nova Pitch Competition ($15,000)!
Helen Liu is a co-founder of Seven Industries Capital, a deep tech-focused venture fund. Ms. Liu is also a partner at Third Wave Ventures, where she has been responsible for investor relations, capital raising, and deal flow generation across technology sectors. Based in Los Angeles, Third Wave manages venture investments focused on deep tech companies in semiconductors, solid state display and lighting, solar energy and other clean energy, machine vision and AI, wireless communication and IoT. Helen has more than 20 years of combined experience in venture capital and large-scale software development. She is highly adept at sourcing/managing venture projects, recruiting/coaching top-talent
Debjani has extensive experience launching and growing high-impact products. Debjani is currently a Product Lead at Stripe, where she’s been responsible for key product lines, financial infrastructure, AI innovations, go-to-market strategies, and P&L. She has deep fintech expertise covering payments, global money movement, foreign exchange, risk management, and compliance. In her previous role at Microsoft, Debjani built next generation productivity and collaboration products tailored for the Enterprise and Education market segments. Debjani is a mentor for product managers and for startups. She enjoys solving complex problems to make a difference.
Startup Wars is a groundbreaking platform designed to expedite real-world entrepreneurship training. We bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, offering a risk-free environment for learners to immerse themselves in entrepreneurial activities. This platform not only facilitates experiential learning but also tailors the journey to individual interests and majors, ensuring relevance and engagement. We're transforming the way entrepreneurship is taught, making it accessible, practical, and aligned with each learner's unique entrepreneurial path.
Indy Technologies is a SaaS platform for freelancers and small businesses. We offer easy back-office management, CRM, and professional development solutions. Indy helps you manage your entire business. Send proposals, sign contracts, track billable hours, create invoices, and receive payments all in one place.
Startup Wars is a groundbreaking platform designed to expedite real-world entrepreneurship training. We bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, offering a risk-free environment for learners to immerse themselves in entrepreneurial activities. This platform not only facilitates experiential learning but also tailors the journey to individual interests and majors, ensuring relevance and engagement. We're transforming the way entrepreneurship is taught, making it accessible, practical, and aligned with each learner's unique entrepreneurial path.
Our journey began in the early 2000s as security practitioners, engineers, and analysts. Through our diverse experiences, we grasped the complexity of facing adversaries in the industry. We understand that security is a collective responsibility, not an individual burden.
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Having worked on both sides—as practitioners and solutions providers—we founded IntelliGuards with a clear goal: to offer clients a fusion of Technology, Expertise, Robust Processes, and Actionable Intelligence, providing comprehensive security solutions they need.
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IntelliGuards is pioneering a groundbreaking security tech service, setting a new industry standard. We not only provide advanced technology but also the expertise, sparing your team from the need to learn new systems.
Sam is dedicated to empowering women as they navigate life's various stages. Frustrated by the need to use multiple platforms for different services and supports, clients can now find everything they need in one place. Sam offers a bespoke team of professionals curated to match specific needs for private coaching and advisory sessions. This service is complemented by a dedicated concierge and an exclusive community platform, all accessible through a single mobile app. Sam creates an ecosystem of support, making it a one-stop shop for personal and professional development. Always toward better.
The first and only App designed to help couples during labor and childbirth, to ensure a healthy and positive birthing experience.
Studies have shown that women receiving consistent emotional and physical support during their labor experience safer births with less medical interventions like C-Sections, and higher birth satisfaction. These benefits are again compounded when the birthing mother's partner is involved.
This is DudeDoula - the game-changing app designed to revolutionize the childbirth experience for couples by placing a spotlight on the man's pivotal role in Labor and Pregnancy support. Whether you're navigating a home birth, hospital setting, or anything in between, DudeDoula is your trusted companion every step of the way.
With DudeDoula, you'll find all the tools and guidance you need to confidently support the birthing mother, allowing you to focus on being her rock without the stress of figuring out what to do next. From pre-birth preparations to postpartum care, DudeDoula ensures you're equipped with everything you need to make the experience smooth and unforgettable.
Here's what makes DudeDoula stand out:
 •  Labor Mode: Simply hit "Start Labor" and let DudeDoula take care of the rest. Receive timely reminders on your smartwatch and smartphone, guiding you through essential tasks like ensuring the birthing mother stays nourished, hydrated, and comforted with affirmations.
 •  Contraction Timer: Track the progress of contractions effortlessly, helping you gauge her labor's progression and provide support accordingly.
 •  Checklist: A comprehensive checklist tailored to each stage of the labor process, including valuable postpartum reminders, ensures you never miss a beat.
 •  Affirmations: Find inspiration and comforting words to uplift the birthing mother when you need it most, ensuring she feels loved and supported throughout the Labor process.
 •  Help Section: Access a wealth of information and actionable steps to tackle various scenarios and challenges that may arise during labor, providing you with confidence and clarity in any situation.
DudeDoula isn't just for "Dudes" - it's for anyone committed to ensuring a positive birthing experience for their partner. Whether you're a seasoned pro or new to the journey of parenthood, DudeDoula is your indispensable ally in the delivery room.
I'm Ryan Gordon, and with a background in psychology and a deep passion for AI and neural networks, I'm confident that our social listening platform will thrive in the market. Drawing from my experience in affiliate marketing and leveraging automations to drive social media traffic, along with my active involvement as a retail trader in both traditional financial markets like stocks and options, as well as crypto trading, I bring a diverse range of expertise to the table. These varied experiences serve as a robust foundation upon which we've conceptualized and are executing our innovative solution. We're dedicated to developing cutting-edge models, finely tuned to deliver unparalleled capabilities in analyzing and
understanding social media data. Our platform will provide actionable insights that
surpass anything currently available in the market