Worcester chamber announces pre-accelerator program cohort
Photo | Timothy Doyle
Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce headquarters
The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with nonprofit Venture Forum and incubator and coworking space WorcLab have named the twelve small businesses which will participate in its StartUp Worcester pre-accelerator program.
The participants were chosen by a committee based on the innovative nature and scalability of their business proposal and how relevant the program benefits would be for their needs, according to a Wednesday press release from the chamber.
The participants are:
- ChillyDoggy – Joshua Davidson – A prototype portable AC unit that prevents harm to pets in hot vehicles and other closed spaces
- EnduringWishes – Vladimir Charlemagne – A secure and private digital vault for storing important estate planning documents and family memories
- Exo-Lytics – Daniel Zimmer – A proprietary method for manufacturing exosomes, extracellular vesicles that can carry proteins used to heal and improve other cells
- External Ventilator Pod – Rachel Chan – A medical device to help obese patients with underlying lung issues during hospital stays
- EzBusy – David Echavarria – AI-powered, no-code web design
- GMG Mobility Systems – William Gunn – Hybrid powertrains for the trucking industry using EV-inspired design to reduce logistics costs and greenhouse gas emissions
- Gompei’s Analytica – Danilo Ruberti – Expert data analysis using proprietary software services for businesses and organizations to make informed decisions
- Pananosis Laboratories – Joseph Yu – Better early detection methods for cancer screening using single molecule sequencing
- Pedi-U – Daniel Salvadore – An app for transforming a child’s inpatient experience in hospitals by creating meaningful connections and bonds between patients
- SnowGo – Christian Lopez – An app that makes it easy for homeowners and business owners to order professional snow removal services
- TabsApp – Christopher Villamarin – An app that optimizes the bar experience for both business owners and customers by ordering drinks online
- Trivflic – Thomas Haigh – Gamified online trivia and social media platform designed to build a sense of community
The program lasts from September until May. Participants receive a free one-year membership to the chamber, free workspace at WorcLab in Worcester, and possibly funding and access to mentor networks from Venture Forum. Both organizations are based in the Printers Building at 44 Portland St.
The nine-year old program will for the first time offer monthly workshops led by experts in a variety of topics.
“Over the past year Venture Forum engaged with entrepreneurs of all types to identify where the gaps are in the local entrepreneurial ecosystem,” Venture Forum Executive Director Zachary Dutton said in the press release. “It led us to discover that while we have a breadth of resources in the area for entrepreneurs, there is a need for better coordination and synergy. There should be a clear path from idea formation to pre-seed to success for startups while staying local in the Worcester area, and StartUp Worcester is the starting point for many of our local entrepreneurs.”
Venture Forum received $200,000 from Massachusetts Technology Collaborative in May to help build a startup community in Central Massachusetts.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story said that WorcLab was based on Franklin Street and Venture Forum was based on Main Street. That is incorrect. Both organizations are currently based out of 44 Portland St.
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