6 Finalists to Compete at ‘Shark Tank 2021’
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Youngstown Business Incubator today announced that six finalists will pitch their startups at its 2021 Shark Tank fundraising event Oct. 28 at Waypoint 4180 in Canfield.
The finalists were selected from 60 applicants who were competing to secure investments from the “sharks.”
The applicants and their startups were reviewed and judged based on what entrepreneurial concepts best represented aspects of the incubator’s mission, says Colleen Kelly, YBI head of fundraising and development.
After four were chosen, there was a tie in voting for the fifth spot. Rather than choosing one, the committee agreed that both earned the opportunity to present their pitches at the event, which begins at 5 p.m.
The startups, which cover a wide range of industries, and their fields represent Youngstown and Northeastern Ohio. The six are:
HIP MED, founded by Youngstown State University football standout Tim Johnson, is a 3-D printed brain crown designed to protect the brain from concussion. The patented technology monitors brainwaves. It is a spinout from Johnson’s HIP [head injury protection] youth football league.
Smalltalk.tech was founded by Dean Koch of Cleveland. The startup enables parents to introduce their child to a foreign language and unlock developmental benefits starting in infancy. According to its website, pre-orders open Nov. 1.
GERAS Home Solutions is a startup that uses home automation solutions to improve safety and visibility in assisted living centers. It was founded by Devyn Bellamy of Youngstown.
FELOH Natural Haircare, founded by Camille Heard of Cleveland, is a social marketplace and community for beauty products. It connects users with independently owned beauty brands.
SupplyNow Food Sourcing is a one-stop procurement procurement platform that enables clients to manage existing distributors and explore market prices using auction technology. It was founded by Aaron George from the Cleveland/Youngstown area.
NeverEnding Inclusive Gaming Avatar Design, founded by Jamie Van Doren of Cleveland, provides a unique option for people to express themselves by creating, publishing, and monetizing content playing as a video game.
YBI’s 2021 Shark Tank event is made possible through numerous contributions. The main sponsor
sare Medical Mutual, Vince & Phyllis Bacon, Humtown Products, Phantom Fireworks, and Commercial Metalforming.
Sponsorships and tickets are still available but are selling fast, according to Kelly. Sponsorship inquiries should be directed to Colleen Kelly at [email protected]. Tickets can be purchased at https://ybi.org/sharktank/.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
