7 companies awarded $25,000 in seed funding and 13 weeks of programing to pitch for an additional $100,000 from the Abell Foundation.

BALTIMORE, MD (March 16, 2018) – The Emerging Technology Centers (ETC), Baltimore City’s award-winning technology and innovation centers, announced today that, for the first time, seven companies have been selected to participate in its Accelerate Baltimore™ (AB) 2018 program. Since its inception, AB has supported 34 companies that have raised $15.7 million in funding and created 95 jobs in the city. The 2018 cohort includes:

At Night Athletic – Illuminated athletic apparel focusing on safety with rechargeable, built-in LED lights and additional safety features, including distress alarm and associated mobile application to text emergency contacts a predefined message and GPS location;

ClearMask – The first full-face transparent surgical mask that makes healthcare more human by facilitating whole-face communication for more compassionate and inclusive connections;

Fleet by MasT – A complete software suite enabling organizations to maximize the effectiveness of their missions by streamlining operations and driving sustained member engagement;

IsItGood – A social discovery and personalized recommendation platform for podcasts that lets users keep up with what their friends are listening to and find their next favorite podcast;

Minnowtech – An application and phone attachment that provides anglers with the technologies for real-time fish measurement with simplified analyses to track, interpret and understand their catch;

Sonavi Labs – A next generation smart stethoscope with on-board diagnostic capabilities that empowers community health workers and physicians alike by improving access to health care in non-traditional clinical environments and by allowing for home and remote patient monitoring.

Well-Kept Beauty – A mobile application helping ingredient-conscious consumers manage their skin health by monitoring and tracking cosmetic ingredients and expiration.

“ETC and Accelerate Baltimore continue to resonate and have an impact on Baltimore; the quality of this year’s applicants was striking and as a result, the Abell Foundation was generous enough to allow us to increase the total to seven companies in Accelerate Baltimore’s seventh cohort”, said Deb Tillett, president of ETC.

“We continue to be impressed by the creativity and ingenuity of these entrepreneurs,” said Robert C. Embry, Jr., President of the Abell Foundation. “They represent further proof that Baltimore is a hub for talent and innovation.”

Each of the seven companies will be awarded $25,000 in seed funding and 13 weeks of programming provided by the ETC. AB aims to close the gap between innovative ideas and the ability to get to market quickly. In addition to the seed funding, these companies will receive access to over 16 mentors, ETC’s Incubate Baltimore program, weekly hands-on sessions with guest speakers and executive coaching from Leslie Woodward. The cohort will also have access to local investor readiness tool Pitch Creator, a course for entrepreneurs to learn and workshop how to create a pitch to investors.

In addition, one AB company will be awarded an additional $100,000 following successful completion of the program. Last year, the additional funding was awarded to Chord, a smart collar that uses only positive reinforcement to keep pets safe within invisible fences, establish indoor boundaries and help train pets. Chord used the funding to finish the prototype, sign up its first pet trainers for testing, establish manufacturing partners and create a “puppy” version of the collar.

"Accelerate Baltimore has become a valuable resource for the development and growth of entrepreneurs and start-ups in the City of Baltimore," said William H. Cole, president & CEO of BDC. "This program provides the right climate for start-ups to succeed, including access to capital and business advisors, which are vital to the process. These small businesses are gaining the tools they need to become sustainable and profitable ventures creating new employment opportunities in the city."

The AB program ends in June with Investor Pitch Night, an event hosted by ETC and attended by angel investors, venture capitalists, the press, and the Baltimore tech community at large. Companies that have successfully graduated from Accelerate Baltimore include Allovue, NewsUp, Arbit, Artichoke, Fusiform, Point3 Security, and Brinkbit, among others.

The AB program is sponsored by local businesses- Miles & Stockbridge, Think|Stack, Elluminis Consulting, Harbor Designs, Capital One and Foodify.

About ETC: (www.etcbaltimore.com)

The ETC, a venture of the Baltimore Development Corporation, is a 501(c) (3) technology and innovation center focused on growing early-stage companies. The ETC provides four programs for entrepreneurs: a tech-focused incubator, Incubate Baltimore; a seed accelerator program, Accelerate Baltimore; a coworking space open to innovative individuals and teams, Beehive Baltimore; and a 9-week idea bootcamp powered by COSTARTERS, Pioneer Baltimore. The ETC promotes economic development, providing business, technical, and networking connections to help these companies grow. Since 1999, the ETC has provided assistance to over 450 companies, 85% of which are still in business, creating more than 2,500 jobs and raising more than $2.4 billion in outside funding.

PRESS RELEASE: http://www.acceleratebaltimore.com/news-1/2018/3/16/accelerate-baltimore-announces-7th-cohort-for-seed-accelerator

ClearMask in the News
Accelerate Baltimore Announces 7th Cohort for Seed Accelerator (PR Newswire)
Accelerate Baltimore brings in 7 companies for next cohort (Daily Record)
These 7 startups are entering Accelerate Baltimore's 2018 cohort (Technically Baltimore)
ETC announces new seven-member, 2018 Accelerate Baltimore cohort (Baltimore Business Journal)

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