This morning, Techstars Chicago unveiled the 10 startups participating in the next iteration of its renowned accelerator program — and from our vantage point, this class is gearing up to be one of its best yet.
Having edged out hundreds of other applicants, the selected companies are some of the most promising and innovative startups the country has to offer.
The intensive three-month program aims to arm fledgling entrepreneurs with Techstars Chicago’s cache of resources, mentors and perks that range from free office space to $120,000 in funding ($20,000 in seed funding and an optional debt note of $100,000). When applications opened back in January, Techstars Chicago managing director Troy Henikoff told us it’s a package deal worth about a million bucks.
But it’s not just a pool of resources and access to some 150 mentors that appeal to participants. Globally, about 90 percent of Techstars graduates have either been acquired or are either still operating today.
With numbers like those, it’s no wonder companies line up for the chance to work long, hard hours for three months straight.
“The Techstars Chicago program has helped solidify Chicago as a leading destination for technology startups. What started as a small network of people in Chicago trying to help 10 startups has grown into a part of the largest interconnected network of entrepreneurs, mentors and investors in the world,” Henikoff said in a statement. “I’m excited about this year’s class and look forward to watching them develop into the next generation of technology companies moving our ecosystem forward.”
Half of this year’s cohort are native to Chicago, with the other five hailing from cities across the country, including Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, Portland and Cincinnati.
Like in years past, this year’s program will culminate at a demo day at the House of Blues. The private event is scheduled for later this summer on September 29.
Here’s a quick overview of the 2016 class, with startup descriptions via Techstars. Congratulations to the following companies:
- Bright is a tool that helps SaaS companies increase their profitability by instantly reporting the metrics that matter, enabling them to drive better results.
- Brightwork is a developer tool that makes APIs easier to use by enabling them to be hot swappable, requiring no coding or re-deployment of code when switching external services.
- CompleteSet helps collectors track, buy and sell collectibles. The interactive site matches items from sellers to collectors who want to acquire them, be it antique toys, vintage clothing or modern memorabilia.
- ConvertFlow is a suite of tools, easy for marketers to implement, that helps growing companies convert more website visitors through personalized calls-to-action, retargeting ads and triggered emails from third-party apps.
- Fitbot helps personal trainers and fitness coaches save time, increase their reach and earn more revenue through remote coaching.
- Jio is giving parents peace of mind by creating a wearable device so discreet it can easily be embedded into small children’s clothing to provide comprehensive monitoring and notification capabilities.
- LogicGate empowers enterprises to use a drag-and-drop interface to deploy custom business applications linking people, processes and data across organizations without having to write a single line of code.
- Pak’d makes lunch easy for busy families by delivering fresh, custom, pre-packaged lunches direct to your door.
- PartySlate is the destination for anyone planning a party; its photo-rich site provides inspiration, event ideas and access to local event professionals.
- Stationfy is the easiest way for fans to find and watch the great sports moments they most care about and follow their favorite events, teams and athletes.
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