UpTech, Greater Cincinnati’s accelerator for data-driven startups, will host its seventh annual Community Demo Day on January 17th, at the CTI Learning Center in the Northern Kentucky Convention Center.
When Demo Day originally began, it was a way for startups to pitch accredited investors to try to get funding, according to Abby Ober, operations and marketing manager for UpTech.
“We’ve transformed that into more of a community Demo Day,” says Ober. “We believe it’s more important for our startups to get in front of the community they’re in — the community they’re working in — and meet those individuals that are not investors, but they could have those connections that are really beneficial to them in the long run.”
“We’re really looking forward to this group of companies — I think we say this every year — they just keep getting better, which is exciting,” Ober continues.
Six startups will pitch this year, three from the area and three from across the country, including New York, Oakland, CA, and a team that consists of people from Seattle, Austin, and Los Angeles.
“It’s really exciting to see the individuals coming to Cincinnati and realizing the Cincinnati area has the ecosystem that they need and they don’t have to go to the coasts,” Ober says.
“I know that a lot of people really love ‘Shark Tank,’ she continues, laughing. “It’s kind of like a real live ‘Shark Tank’ for them, except no one gets money the day of.”
The six candidates include:
- Convolytics, offering insights on sales calls and suggestions on how to improve those calls
- OrgAnalytix, which helps companies and managers be more inclusive by getting rid of unconscious bias through data visualization
- Plantalytics, a group that creates digital tools to help diversified farmers manage their farm business operations and connect to new local buyers
- Weeve, which reduces turnover at businesses by providing a better way to understand and act on employee feedback
- TruCircle, an organization that helps mental health professionals acquire and retain patients
- Apex Sports, delivering drills, techniques, and tips from national athletes through an interactive online platform
UpTech gathers these national and international candidates through a variety of channels, including using a global platform for accelerators and startups, recruiting through mentors and investors, and alumni of the program.
“The best accolade we could get is for some alumni company to really love what they got out of this company and then go on and suggest it to their friends or individuals they meet in the entrepreneurship community,” she says.
She goes on to explain that UpTech will announce some new and exciting paths that they’re going down in 2019, and the attendees will be the first to see the first glimpse of what the company’s looking to be this year.
She couldn’t, however, go into further detail aside from the fact that there will be a new direction and programing, but those who attend the event will be privy to the changes.
“We’re doing a little pivot,” she says, “and we’re really excited to share that.”
For more information about UpTech, visit their site. To learn more about the January 17th event, or to reserve your free ticket, click here.
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