Foundry Cup, a forum designed to bring people and ideas together around a specific tech focused theme each year, has announced the eight finalists moving forward with the challenge. Now in its second year, Arlington, VA, based Eastern Foundry is bringing the community together to find new solutions for portable power. More specifically, portable power that supports emergency first responders, the military, and developing communities who need off-grid power.
“We are really looking forward to this year’s competition after last years success,” said Andrew Chang, cofounder and managing partner of Eastern Foundry. “Foundry Cup 2015 winner, Qntfy, and runner up Sound Off were both approached by Johnson & Johnson and General Dynamics after the competition because they were so impressed with their offerings. Clearly, we have an amazing opportunity to help grow these businesses and have a real impact on their futures and expose the government to a group of innovative solutions that they probably wouldn’t see otherwise.”
During Foundry Cup’s inaugural event last year, they focused on identifying solutions regarding PTSD. With 14 competing teams, they received training and support from McKinsey & Company, Veteran Affairs, and DoD. The winning team went home with $10,000, and has since seven new employees.
This year is no different from last, as the finalists will gain direct access to government thought leaders, in-depth training, access to special networking events, and finalize everything with a demo day. Set for March 25 in Arlington, the finalists will present their products and services to a panel of judges who will then choose who goes home with the grand prize. The runner up will receive $5,000 and attendees will vote for a people’s choice winner who will take home $1,000.
“We can’t wait to see what these finalists bring to the table,” said Geoff Orazem, cofounder and managing partner of Eastern Foundry. “Energy issues are, and will remain to be, a huge issue in this country. By giving this opportunity to showcase creative solutions to our energy crisis, we are helping to move the needle in the right direction towards a more sustainable future.”
Foundry Cup Finalists
Besstech: A sustainable battery company rethinking battery manufacturing
Energy Intelligence: Creating emission-free electricity from the braking power of vehicles
Goal Zero: A renewable portable solar panel energizing anything, anywhere
New Wave Combustion: Constructing modular, multi-purpose gas turbine engines
Reshma Atri: Building portable biogas plants for remote locations
SilLion: A long-lasting, simple and scalable “drop-in” technology for Li-ion batteries
SIVA: Harnessing kinetic energy to power mobile devices
Tectonica: Person worn power and data management distribution system
You can RSVP for Foundry Cup here.