TRAVERSE CITY – In an effort to expand the inclusiveness of the event, TCNewTech opens its platform to non-tech and tech companies alike to pitch their startups to a robust TCNT audience. Five startups competed to win $500 by audience vote. Jodie Schanhals, President and Founder of MeetingMaker, LLC, won the audience’s vote after delivering the evening’s final pitch.
The MeetingMaker App that Jodie developed is a mobile app helping individuals in recovery and/or required to attend court-mandated meetings. The MeetingMaker mobile app “reimagines accountability” by allowing users to verify attendance at meetings safely, accurately, and privately. Thus, eliminating the need for an antiquated, cumbersome, embarrassing, and wasteful practice of utilizing paper signoffs.
Other pitches that were shared:
Samuel Rosinski, CEO of 42° | Fresh Coast Extracts, presented his company, a cannabis processing contract manufacturer, which has seen a meteoric growth track over the last two years. Boasting an impressive 3.5 million individually packaged units and over $34 million in revenue since its inception.
Jack Lankford discussed Evergreen Young Adult Social Club/Evergreen YASC, a charitable organization providing space for activities to promote social, emotional, and physical health. They encourage their members to be engaged and informed residents in the Grand Traverse region. Evergreen YASC aims to take a holistic approach by helping young adults in the Grand Traverse region experience fulfilled lives.
Burgess Foster pitched MIDIGITEL and the company’s wearable glasses, with built-in bone conducting speakers and microphones. Burgess outlined his vision for the product and his company. His ultimate goal is to conduct an IPO or initial public offering, raising funds to effectively compete in this demanding space. Burgess pitched remotely from Metro-Detroit’s Grosse Pointe Woods, in Lower Michigan.
Richie Gunn presented his latest concept, Lost City Designs, which creates mobile, engaging, and interactive miniature golf creations. He uses his background in architecture to create fantastically creative installations. Richie brought an interactive animatronic prototype to showcase some of the possibilities of his unique mini-golf experiences.
Additional Event Highlights:
Michael Spath, from Kapnick Insurance shared a Quick Tip about why startups need insurance. The segment was sponsored by a local company, RJG, INC.
Keri Amlotte, from 20Fathoms, provided a quick update about some of the new developments over at 20Fathoms. Including expanding workspaces, bringing in Brew as their new coffee sponsor, introducing new programming for new and early-stage entrepreneurs, and finally, bringing awareness to their Women in Tech event on Aug 24th.
Michigan’s Creative Coast provided updates about their Fresh Coast Quarterly Club meetup on August 18th, from 5-7 pm, at West Shore Bank.
TCNewTech extends its thanks to all of our generous sponsors, who keep our events free to attend and present! Show them some love: Main Sponsor, 20Fathoms and Supporting Sponsors, Susan Soffredine Rauser with State Farm Insurance, Michigan’s Creative Coast, AccessPoint, and Profit Clean. The Meg Zammit Group for sponsoring our time on WTCM Talk 580 and Cambium Analytica for this month’s Pitch Prize and our Quick Tip Educational Sponsor, RJG, an injection molding company.
