By SUSAN LAHEY
Reporter with Silicon Hills News
Photo courtesy of Spot on Sciences
Founder Dr. Jeanette Hill who has a PhD in organic chemistry and worked for years in the pharmaceutical industry, told the packed audience that 80 percent of healthcare decisions are based on diagnostic tests. But it’s very difficult for homebound, rural and economically disadvantaged people to get to labs where they can get blood drawn. But with Spot on Sciences’ unique flower-shaped form to collect the blood, it dries much faster than traditional sample and can remain stable at room temperature for years. A QR code at the back is used to identify patient information.
Spot on Sciences received the $3,000 cash prize—tripled from 2012’s prize—a Dell Ultrabook laptop and American Airlines points worth three round trips. The company also won 2,000 extra points because it was the audience’s favorite as well.
The next favorite was Yard Bar, a combination dog-park/restaurant venue where dog owners can bring their dogs, relax in a comfortable atmosphere and order food and drinks while Yard Bar staffers keep the canine peace and scoop the poop. Yard Bar would charge $150 for an annual membership or $3 a day.
Other contestants included:
Brobe: A garment designed for women who have had mastectomies, but which can be used after any kind of surgery—including breast augmentation. The garment has pockets in the breasts for ice packs, allows for medical drainage tubes and otherwise accommodates surgical patients.
Eye in the Sky: A marketplace for musicians to sell their work, find gigs and and create events without going through record companies.
Foxy Soft: An interactive online game mixing traditional gaming activities such as fighting battles, going on adventures and building and decorating homes with sex.
Itography: A company that lets retailers gamify their online and mobile ads for greater effectiveness and social sharing, rewarding players with prizes from the retailer.
Gellify: A marketplace that wants to be the Yelp, Craigslist and Angie’s list where party and event planners and producers can find venues, food, photographers, musicians and more.
Purse and Clutch: A company that purchases and resells purses made by impoverished people in developing nations for lower prices than many fair trade shops.
ReQwip: An online marketplace for used sporting equipment that provides a resource both for consumers and resale retailers to display goods online.
RideScout: A company that aggregates information about public transportation, ride share opportunities and commercial transportation companies in one site, charging only the commercial vendors.
Each contestant got one minute to present and two minutes for questions from the judges.
Prior to the competition, Josh Baer from Capital Factory interviewed Jason Seats, managing director of TechStars Austin about that organization’s plans to open an entrepreneur class out of Capital Factory. The program is one of several, including TechStars classes in Boston, Boulder, Chicago, New York City, Seattle, Wash. and London, that provides $18,000 in funding to participants, with the option of a $100,000 convertible debt.
“I would love to recruit Austin companies but I like to work with half regional and local and half imported teams,” Seats said. “One of the goals and objectives is over time to become an importer of tech startups in the area.”
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