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This year’s Demo Day for the MIT delta v cohort looked very different from past years — no mainstage, no crowded event hall — but the innovative ideas and collaborative spirit could still be felt as budding entrepreneurs presented their startup ideas to an online audience.
Introducing the inaugural virtual Demo Day from his own remote office, Bill Aulet, managing director of the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship, applauded the 15 teams and support staff that helped put together the unprecedented event.
“It was so great to see the teams at MIT rise up for our first ever virtual accelerator [and] to see the Trust center team rise up and deliver a product that was as good or better than we’ve done in previous years,” Aulet said during the September 17 event.
This is the ninth delta v cohort, which runs through the summer. While all of the teams worked remotely due to the pandemic, nine of the teams represented the Cambridge, Massachusetts group, while the other six represented the New York City cohort. This is the fourth year for the Manhattan-based accelerator.
“Entrepreneurship can be taught; it can be learned,” Aulet said. “You can take control of your life and make the job you really want.”
Here are the 15 startups to watch:
Aimvest Technologies is a wealth management platform that allows financial planners to set targets for clients and manage risk in real time.
AuraBlue combines a wearable sensor and cooling mattress pad to predict and reduce hot flashes caused by menopause.
Contack uses its machine learning algorithm to help recruiters choose candidates with a strong return on investment.
E-fish is an e-commerce site connecting fishermen and harvesters with customers and providing “dock-to-door” delivery.
Earned Credit Project is a platform designed to help families that make less than $40,000 a year set and manage financial goals.
Floe uses an automated sensor to check for ice buildup on roofs, pumping de-icing fluid to the problem areas.
MomMe makes a wearable therapeutic for new mothers recovering from vaginal tearing after giving birth.
MYAVA uses avatar technology to allow female shoppers to try on clothing virtually without going to a physical store, saving customers and retailers the time and money spent on returns.
NRICH Invest helps college students learn how to invest.
Preloved is an online store for preowned baby clothes and toys.
qBraid is a cloud platform for writing and learning quantum code and computing.
Respezy is a risk assessment app for students that predicts potential health safety issues — such as a positive COVID-19 diagnosis — by using a person’s environment and activities to score their risk of infection.
Thiozen recycles hydrogen at oil refineries to cut down on fossil fuel emission.
Torso makes a women’s camisole with wireless, seamless support.
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