Big Ideas for new start-up information technology companies are both fragile and powerful. Big Ideas require equity investments; UpTech provides $100,000 in seed capital. Big ideas require time to mature; UpTech provides six months of Business Accelerator support. Big ideas require Applied Research to develop Intellectual Property, UpTech provides research support from NKU’s College of Informatics. Big ideas require Mentorship to help them grow, UpTech provides a legal, financial, and marketing Mentorship Team. Big Ideas require a livable, workable place where ideas and talent and capital gravitate to; UpTech provides the keys to the Northern Kentucky, Greater Cincinnati area.
UpTech Winners Announced
UpTech, Northern Kentucky’s super business accelerator, has announced its first round of winners: eight startups that will receive a $100,000 investment along with office space, professional support services and applied research assistance from Northern Kentucky University.
The eight winners are aligned to the applied research capabilities of NKU’s College of Informatics: health information technology, cloud computing virtualization, business analytics, digital media, and cyber security. The companies were vetted through a rigorous selection process that included an online application, live presentation, interviews and screenings.
The winners are:
7 Moose Games, a software developer offering 3D simulation products geared towards the health, oil and gas, mining, academic, manufacturing and public safety industries. The company specializes in the “gamification” of business and training software.
CitiLogics, a developer of real-time data fusion software that helps water utilities lower energy costs, reduce water leakage, improve service reliability and enhance the quality of tap water.
Crowdspark, an on-demand content platform that allows users to create online contests.
InstrumentLife, an Internet-based business application with a social media interface that connects musical instruments with owners, retailers, repair shops and schools.
MakeupHaulic, a website dedicated to aggregating beauty-related vlogs into a searchable interface.
OneMorePallet, a website that provides small shippers the ability to purchase excess capacity from Less-Than-a-Truckload carriers at a significant discount.
Student Designed, an online tool that allows businesses and universities to connect through a marketplace where businesses outsource projects for university professors to review and assign to their students as class assignments.
Text and the City, a mobile marketing company that combines text messaging, a conventional website and mobile website to connect users on a hyper-local basis.
More about the winners
7 Moose Games
7 Moose Games offers 3D simulation products geared towards the health, oil and gas, mining, academic, manufacturing and public safety industries. The company specializes in the “gamification” of business and training software.
“Our goal is to use game engine technology to create extremely effective simulations which illustrate inherently complicated and/or dangerous subjects,” the company said in its UpTech application. “Oil and gas, public service and health, armed forces and game industry professionals are a few examples of the industries which have expressed interest in our products.”
The company was founded by Brett Carter and Susie D. Roth and is based in Covington.
web site: 7moosegames.com
CitiLogics
Citilogics is a developer of real-time data fusion software that helps water utilities lower energy costs, reduce water leakage, improve service reliability and enhance the quality of tap water.
“We develop models, analytics and software that help our clients better operate and manage their large-scale urban water infrastructure investments, and deliver a wide range of services from complex engineering and data analyses, to full functional software custom software solutions,” the company said in its UpTech application. “Our current focus is data fusion software that will revolutionize efficiency and effectiveness in the water industry by reducing energy costs, controlling leakage, improving service reliability and enhancing water quality.”
The company was founded by Jim Uber and Stu Hooper and is based in Cincinnati.
web site: citilogics.com
Crowdspark
Crowdspark is an n on-demand content platform that allows users to create online contests. “Crowdspark … is the SurveyMonkey or EventBrite of contests,” the company said in its UpTech application. “Contests are an engaging marketing tool and an effective way of identifying top talent. Crowdspark … allows anyone to design and manage and online contest.”
The company is owned by Elizabeth Edwards and is based in Cincinnati.
web site: crowdspark.com
InstrumentLife
InstrumentLife (IL) is the go to resource for people who make, sell, service and play musical instruments. IL is a web and mobile service offering fun player features and business Apps to more than 200 million musicians and organizations worldwide. Together IL members can connect, protect and promote their musical instrument experiences.
web site: instrumentlife.com
MakeupHaulic
MakeupHaulic is a website dedicated to aggregating beauty-related vlogs into a searchable interface. “Social networking is now the most popular online activity, ahead of emailing, Internet searches and gaming,” the company said in its UpTech application. “The ‘vlog’ phenomenon, in which women share details of their product purchases, is rapidly changing the way women interact and shop. And retailers are taking notice.”
The company was founded by Brinda Chatterjee and is based in Cincinnati. It has an existing business relationship with NKU’s Chase College of Law.
web site: makeuphaulic.com
OneMorePallet
OneMorePallet is a website that provides small shippers the ability to purchase excess capacity from Less-Than-a-Truckload (LTL) carriers at a significant discount.
“Similar in concept to PriceLine.com, LTL carriers can increase their profitability without damaging their standard rates by using OneMorePallet as a broker of excess capacity,” the company said in its UpTech Application. “The shippers and carriers save time and become more profitable. OneMorePallet makes money by charging a transaction fee for each successful order, collects the money via credit card upon placement of the order and pays the carriers upon delivery.”
The company was founded by Bill Cunningham and is based in Cincinnati.
web site: onemorepallet.com
Student Designed
Student Designed is an online tool that allows businesses and universities to connect through a marketplace where businesses to outsource projects for university professors to review and assign to their students as class assignments.
“Once the work is completed, the business takes ownership of the work just as if a contractor had completed it,” the company said in its UpTech application. “Student Designed will replace email, phone calls and any ad hoc communication between the parties, and substitute a streamlined, commission earning process. This will save the university time and allow them to complete more projects.”
The company was founded by Adam Treister and is based in Cincinnati.
web site: studentdesigned.com
Text and the City
Text and the Cityis a mobile marketing company that combines text messaging, a conventional website and mobile website to connect users on a hyper-local basis. The company’s goal is to re-invent the way people receive information and interact with their local community through mobile communication.
“We want to provide meaningful, valuable and relevant information on a hyper-local level in every community across the U.S. and beyond,” the company said in its UpTech application. “We have developed a unique way for people to get accurate and timely information in the palm of their hand.”
The company is owned by Shawn Blain and based in Medina, Ohio.
web site: textandthecity.com
The UpTech Advantage - Applied Informatics
The Partnership between UpTech and Northern Kentucky University's College of Informatics is a serious competitive advantage for your business's Big Idea. As an UpTech company you will be able to engage in applied research, develop the intellectual property, and collaborate with faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduates. This is a formal arrangement; each company will receive two student interns, plus a graduate assistant for each five companies. Also, companies will have access to an UpTech lab at the College of informatics and access to the state of the art facilities.
This partnership is a first in Business Acceleration programs – we are looking for people with ideas who can take full advantage in leveraging this opportunity. Focus areas at the College of Informatics are:
- Health Informatics – Consumer Health Innovation
- Cyber Security and Assurance
- Media Informatics and Data Visualization
- Cloud Computing and Virtualization
- Business Intelligence
201204 Judging Day
Griffith Hall Digitorium UpTech Applications Judging Event
Griffin Hall, the $53 million home of the College of Informatics.
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Distinguished panel of judges with front row seats
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Discussion
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Applicants interview for future podcasts
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