TechStars Boston, ranked the #8 top startup accelerator in the United States, is launching 13 startups today.
The teams are coming off of three months of intense product building, business growing, and mentoring. They were offered up to $18,000 in seed funding plus a $100,000 convertible note.
This is the first year that TechStars has held two sessions in Boston, after launching in the city in 2009. “As our Boston program grows we have seen increasing demand from entrepreneurs and investors. There are so many applicants that we can accept only 1% of those who apply,” wrote managing director Katie Rae.
Here are the 13 startups taking the stage today:
- BetterFit Technologies: Technologies that personalize medicine by incorporating information not only about the drugs you take but also about your history and conditions. Their consumer product, BetterFit Text, sends text messages to patients asking if they have common side effects or issues, so doctors can monitor patients between appointments. Led by Julia Winn, who struggled with depression as a side effect of birth control pills.
- Careport Health: A platform where hospitals, patients, and care providers can connect to make hospital discharges more efficient. Founded by Harvard medical students Lissy Hu and Jessica Hohman.
- CoachUp: A marketplace to find sports coaches. The coaches have verified experience and have passed a sex offender registry check. Cofounded by Jordan Fliegal, a former professional basketball player, and Arian Radmand, a sailing instructor.
- Dashbell: Software that helps independent hotels manage bookings more easily. Cofounded by Paige Brown and Alex Torrenegra, who have both worked on travel startups before.
- Fashion Project: A marketplace for high-end fashion and accessories that are donated. A portion of the proceeds go to charity. Cofounded by Anna Palmer and Christine Rizk, who have both started nonprofits.
- Fetchnotes: A productivity app that lets you take short notes with hashtags to organize your life. Cofounders Alex Schiff and Chase Lee took a leave of absence from the University of Michigan to do TechStars.
- ImpulseSave: An online savings account that helps you save money toward particular goals, like an iPad or a vacation. Cofounded by Phil Fremont-Smith and John Mileham, who both straddle the music and technology industries.
- NBD Nanotechnologies: Technology that can collect condensed water from the air, mimicking the Namib Desert beetle. Cofounded by Miguel Galvez, who used to work at TechStars; MIT PhD student Andy McTeague; and Deckard Sorensen, a biochemist.
- Ovuline: An app that helps women get pregnant, allegedly almost three times faster than the national average. It recommends actions to take and fertility supplies to buy. Led by Paris Wallace and Alex Baron, both Harvard graduates, with an advisory board of fertility doctors.
- Saverr: An app that helps you save money on groceries. When you scan your receipt, it gives you coupons on the things you buy. Cofounded by Eyal Yair, Eyal Molad, and Eylon Ohevya, who are from Israel.
- Urban Hero Sports: A way to “turn a concrete jungle into a playground” with “hero gear,” like a backpack springboard. Cofounded by Arron Acosta and Blake Sessions, who both studied at MIT.
- Wymsee: Software for TV and film that helps brands measure and improve their reach. Cofounded by Brett Beaulieu-Jones, Alex LoVerde, Dan Stefanis, and Jeff Impey, who all went to Boston College.
- Zeppelin: Cloud-based software for teams to view metrics, see suggested actions, and collaborate. The team, led by Davorin Gabrovec and Vlada Petrovic, is from Slovenia.
Demo day is from 3:30-8:00 pm today in Boston. To join the 2013 TechStars Boston session, fill out an application.
