The Company Lab, also known as CO.LAB, announced three emerging companies as the winners of its eighth annual “Will This Float?” business pitch competition this week.
Asili Labs took first place for its product, Tryall, winning $1,000, an interactive pass to SXSW, 20 hours of free business services, a spot in a CO.LAB program and three months of access to co-working space at Society of Work.
Please Assist Me, led by Stephanie Cummings, and SWAYY, led by Seth Hill, emerged as the second-place winners. Each earned $500 and the same business service, co-working and CO.LAB prize packages as Asili Labs.
Asili Labs also received $250 and a double Color Cloud Hammock for winning the People’s Choice Award.
“Will This Float?” took place Monday evening at River Place, with more than 150 people attending. It featured business pitches from seven aspiring entrepreneurs from across southeast Tennessee. A panel of five judges selected the winners.
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. Jason Oteng-Nyame of Asili Labs presented.
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.
SWAYY is a design and manufacturing company that produces fully-insulated hammocks.
Established in 2010, “Will This Float?” has showcased 67 entrepreneurs who have raised nearly $42 million in combined capital.
A number of notable 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.
Source: CO.LAB