Four finalists have been selected by a panel of judges to compete for up to $300,000 in investment funds during the NH Tech Alliance’s (Alliance) 2019 TechOut competition on Thursday, November 14 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Manchester Country Club, 180 South River Road in Bedford. This year’s finalists are Aisling Organics, Chyme, Clairways and Tanosteel.
In its eighth year, the annual TechOut competition identifies talented, tech entrepreneurs and funds them through investment capital awards. The Millworks II Fund will administer the $300,000 investments. To date, $1.1 million has been awarded to startups by Millworks through the TechOut competition. For the second straight year, Brady Sullivan Properties will donate up to 4,000 square feet of office space and design services to the first-place winner in one of Brady Sullivan’s downtown Manchester Elm Street locations.
“For the last eight years, the TechOut competition has helped enhance the New Hampshire tech ecosystem by awarding investment capital to early-stage startups,” said Pete Lachance, co-chair of the Alliance’s TechOut Committee and member of the Board of Directors. “We’re eager to hear from the latest group of innovators and entrepreneurs during the TechOut event who continue contributing to New Hampshire’s GDP and workforce.”
The finalists for this year’s TechOut competition are:
Aisling Organics, presented by CEO Krysta Lewis, is an organic cosmetics company that is a high-performance, safe alternative to conventional cosmetics. The company’s product is formulated with crushed plants and herbs, which makes it last longer on the face and enables the company to offer brighter pigments.
Chyme, presented by CEO Branden Tsetsilas, is a workforce engagement and productivity tool that aligns manager and employee performance feedback, engagement levels and communication preferences. The SaaS platform combines three core HR programs into one platform and is billed on a per-month, per-use subscription.
Clairways, presented by CEO Jeff Beowski, is a wearable lung function monitor that captures important respiratory metrics for people suffering from asthma, COPD, DF or other chronic respiratory diseases. In New Hampshire, one in eight residents live with a chronic respiratory disease. The company’s technology will be used in clinical trials and expand into patient self-monitoring.
Tanosteel Weapon Security, presented by CEO David Tanos, offers a smart gun security solution that will enable a user to secure a firearm onto their belt in a manner that allows for immediate access while also protecting the firearm from unauthorized individuals. Unlike other smart gun security devices, the QUIKLOK™ security holster is usable on all types of firearms.
The TechOut competition will close with live pitches by the finalists, displays of their products and networking opportunities with like-minded innovators, entrepreneurs and investors. A panel of judges determine the winners, which will be announced at the end of the event.
TechOut is open to startups that have been in business for fewer than five years, raised less than $250,000 in funding and have less than $250,000 in revenue. Sponsors include: UBS, Q7, Cook, Little, Rosenblatt and Manson, Sheehan Phinney, Brady Sullivan Properties, Meltwater, Slavic 401k, Clark Insurance, miEdge, the Entrepreneurs’ Fund of New Hampshire, Burnstein Shur, and New Hampshire Business Review.
The TechOut on November 14 is $15 for Alliance members, $20 for non-members and $10 for students. Tickets are available here or by calling 603.935.8951.