Nine companies have been selected to compete for a $25,000 prize package in a Shark Tank-style pitchfest during Glendale Tech Week. The pool of companies was narrowed down based on a comprehensive review of the nearly 40 companies that submitted applications.
The companies that will be competing from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm on Thursday, October 12 at the historic Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd, include:
APIUM: Apium is a swarm robotics company that creates robotic systems for distributed ocean operations, such as data collection and oil spill cleanup, and creates technology (hardware and software) to help other companies swarm.
FISCHER IMAGING: Fischer Imaging, which is developing “MammoCAT,” an imaging technology that significantly improves the detection and diagnosis of early breast cancer with a staged, evolutionary product launch strategy.
HOHM: HOHM is a custom engineered, completely soundproofed, 55 sq. ft. sleeping unit, designed to provide individuals with comfort, privacy, and a quick escape from the hectic environment.
PARTHIAN ENERGY: This is the first battery sensor created to detect and stop any battery short.
BOOTSTRAP LEGAL: Bootstrap Legal is a legal-tech/fin-tech startup that applies AI to the legal industry.
LUPN: Lupn is a communication platform for schools and cities built to aggregate and curate news while strengthening communities.
HELLO CHEFFY: Hello Cheffy is a web-based system where customers can find reputable chefs.
WANA FAMILY NETWORK: Wana Family Network is an online community for babysitting exchange where families with children connect to trade free childcare.
DISHDIVVY: DishDivvy provides consumers a platform to access local cooks in their community, and tap into the delicious home-made meals these cooks are making on a daily basis right in their neighborhoods.
The selection process involved a preliminary review of applications, followed by an in-person coaching session. The final judging will occur the day of the Pitchfest, as each company gets 7 to 10 minutes to present their company before a live audience. The list of representatives that have or will participate in the selection, review and judging process includes:
Zareh Sinanyan, Glendale City Councilmember
Ara Aslanian, CEO of Inverselogic
Ana Quintana, Principal of Black Diamond Ventures
Silvana Toledo, Founder of Collab&Play
Armen Vartanian, Founder of Oceanview Capital Partners
Mike Velazquez, Certified Public Accountant at Sadd Velazquez Higashi Shammaa
Julie Jauregui, Vice President and General Manager at Caruso Affiliated
Alex Bruno, Founder of Bruno Group Inc.
Juan Diaz, Vice President, Treasury Management Officer of Community Bank
Jon Kraft, Founder of LiftOff
Darlene Sanchez, Acting Assistant Director of Community Development for City of Glendale
The $25,000 prize package includes:
$5,000 cash, including $2,500 from Black Diamond Ventures and $2,500 from Community Bank
$5,000 in services for Collab& Play, a Glendale based co-working space
$5,000 in legal services provided by Bruno Group, Inc.
$5,000 in services for creation of a marketing video produced by GTV-6
$2,500 in accounting and business plan services provided by Sadd Velazquez Higashi Shamma
$2,500 in valuation, investment structuring services and negotiations from Oceanview Capital Partners
The Pitchfest is one of many events lined up for the City of Glendale’s second annual Glendale Tech Week. This event supports the Glendale Tech Strategy, which was adopted by the Glendale City Council earlier this year as a way to develop the ecosystem of technology and innovation in Glendale.
“With support from my colleagues, I initiated the Glendale Tech Strategy as a way to diversify and strengthen our economy,” Councilmember Zareh Sinanyan said. “The Pitchfest allows us to highlight the innovation that is happening in and around Glendale, and to make the connection with local resources that are available in our community.”
A detailed scheduled can be found on www.glendaletechweek.com. General admission passes are $75 and $35 for student and senior citizen admission. Tickets can be purchased here.
A special thank you to Glendale Tech Week’s Platinum sponsors Downtown Glendale Association and USA Link System; Gold sponsors Kroll, Glendale Water & Power, Glendale Community Services & Parks, Applied Earth Sciences, Lanair, Service Titan, Glendale Parks & Open Space Foundation, Black Diamond Ventures, Adventist Health Glendale, Community Bank, Oceanview Capital Partners, and Sadd Velazquez Higashi Shammaa; and Glendale Arts for sponsoring the Sunset Cocktail Reception.