Eight finalists have been selected to pitch their business ideas at The Company Lab (CO.LAB)’s annual “Will This Float?” competition. The event will take place Monday, Oct. 16, 6-9 p.m., at River Place, located at 2 W. Aquarium Way. Admission is free.
At the event, each finalist will have three minutes to pitch his or her startup idea before a panel of judges and an audience of local startup leaders, general attendees and potential mentors and business partners. A brief Q&A with the judges will follow each presentation.
Once all the presentations are complete, the judges will deliberate. During that time, audience members will have an opportunity to vote for their favorite ideas, with their collective feedback determining the winner of the People’s Choice Award.
After the judges and audience have reached their decisions, CO.LAB will announce the winners. The top honoree will receive a cash prize of $1,000 and an interactive pass to the SXSW Conference & Festivals in Austin, Texas next March. The first runner up will receive $500 and the recipient of the most audience votes will receive $250. The first and second place winners will also receive a package of free business services to continue developing their ideas. Those packages include:
-- 10 hours of legal services from Chambliss Startup Group or Miller & Martin
-- 10 hours of accounting services from Henderson, Hutcherson & McCullough
-- Three months of access to co-working space at Society of Work
-- A spot in the CO.LAB Accelerator, GIGTANK Accelerator, CO.STARTERS program or Roadmap program
About the finalists
-- Flaming Monkey Flying Circus is a Chattanooga-based artist collective that creates interactive art installations. The group will develop large-scale exhibitions, paying artists a percentage of ticket sales and then exporting their creations and concepts to other cities. Presenters: Raquel Mullins and Kevin Bate.
-- Infinite Closet is an on-demand, micro-storage service that gives urban residents access to their personal belongings without having to maintain physical possession of them. For a monthly price, customers receive plastic storage containers, unlimited pickup and delivery service, and storage space in a secure, climate-controlled environment. Presenter: Kevin Cherrick.
-- InfinityCo is the creator of Interactive Intellectual Room Assistance, guest-room software for the hospitality industry that allows customers to use their phones to control their room’s environment. Guests at hotels and other participating sites can use the platform to adjust the lighting and temperature of their rooms, unlock doors and more. Presenter: JaQuar McMickle.
-- Please Assist Me is a tech-based platform that allows customers to outsource their household chores. The service manages groceries, laundry, dry cleaning, mail, housecleaning and more. Presenter: Stephanie Cummings.
-- SWAYY is a design and manufacturing company that produces fully-insulated hammocks. The company aims to minimize the gear used in overnight camping while also providing comfort for a variety of seasons. Presenter: Seth Hill.
-- The House is a “What’s going on tonight?” app for restaurants and bars. The platform showcases daily happenings and exclusive offers at local spots. Presenter: Matt Patterson.
-- Tryall is a web and mobile platform that allows users to test subscription-based products. The platform helps users find and manage free trial subscriptions, receive personalized recommendations for other free trials, and track expiration dates to avoid incurring charges for products and services the user does not want to purchase. Presenter: Jason Oteng-Nyame.
-- Woorly is a social CRM mobile app that connects small businesses with their existing customers while helping them find new ones. The platform also enables customers to find service providers and rewards them for sharing their experiences. Presenter: Aaron Welch.
Established in 2010, “Will This Float?” has showcased approximately 67 entrepreneurs who have raised nearly $42 million in combined capital. The event attracts about 250 attendees. Several entrepreneurial successes have grown out of “Will This Float?,” including SupplyHog, NODE, RootsRated, Chattanooga Sports Leagues, Granola and Innovasan.
CO.LAB is a nonprofit organization that supports entrepreneurial growth in southeast Tennessee. Visit colab.co to learn more.
Source: CO.LAB