Faith-based startup accelerator OCEAN announces third class

 
Oakley-based OCEAN Accelerator recently named the third class of entrepreneurs to enter its business-incubation program. OCEAN is the first faith-based business accelerator in the nation, and is located at the Crossroads Church campus in Oakley.
 
Since its founding in 2014, OCEAN has accepted up to 10 startups each year, taking participants on a five-month global journey where their business ideas receive faith-based mentoring and support.
 
The 2017 OCEAN class will run Jan. 16 through the end of May. While OCEAN has always offered seed investment opportunities, the amount has increased this year to $50,000.
 
Visit OCEAN's website to learn more about the 2017 class of startups, which includes:

• AraJoy Inc. Software: enables drones to film sporting events without a human operator.
• Bundle: a mobile inventory, low-price tracking tool.
• Cloverleaf.me: a visualization and scenario-planning tool for team management.
• ConsultMates: healthcare consulting marketplace and info-sharing tool.
• FLX: financial software for farmland rental contracting.
• Kwema: emergency alert system that connects smart bracelet to a mobile app.
• Owl Labs: a research and development lab that facilitates human-machine interaction. 

2017 participants hail from as nearby as Cincinnati, Illinois and Georgia, and as far away as Sudan, Chile and Australia. The class is comprised of 43 percent female and 25 percent minority founders.