MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. – February 6, 2017 – Singularity University (SU), a global community using exponential technologies to tackle the world’s biggest challenges, today announced its new slate of startups accepted to its Startup Accelerator program. Selected from hundreds of applicants, eight companies were accepted to build moonshot innovations under the guidance and mentorship of SU’s expert faculty and diverse network of advisors.The primary goals of SU’s Accelerator program are to network, expand, and accelerate young startups to enable them to achieve success along a longer-term trajectory than other typical accelerator programs. “We’re so excited to welcome this new cohort of companies to our Accelerator,” said Pascal Finette, VP, Startup Solutions at SU. “From cancer and elder financial health to alternative energy and data security, our startups are building what matters. At SU we make it our job to find the people who can attack big problems and then give them what they need to succeed.”SU provides its Accelerator startups with curated boards of advisors comprising business and industry experts, and access to an unparalleled network of mentors. The current Accelerator round will run from February 6th through March 31st, culminating with its popular Demo Day pitch event where founders debut their innovations to the world.The SU Accelerator Program is unlike any other. SU invites annual submissions from global startups looking to use exponential technologies (such as AI, robotics, and digital biology) to attack the world’s most difficult problems and improve the lives of millions of people. Once SU selects the best founder teams, it then forms a customized set of resources from its global community who will work with them over the long-term, helping them accelerate their time to launch and impact. SU provides all the tools as well as access to its community of companies, development organizations, SU faculty, Innovation Labs, and the brilliant minds of Silicon Valley to help each company rapidly prototype its ideas and turn them into real-world solutions.“Our magic sauce of custom boards and tailored introductions fuels the founders’ ability to accelerate milestones and drive toward long-term, widescale impact,” said Monique Giggy, Director of SU’s Startup Accelerator. “The lasting value comes not only from the program itself but also from the intensity of the shared experience that really bonds them with their fellow founders.”In selecting startups for the Accelerator, SU looks for companies with committed founder teams, viable products, demonstrated market traction, a clear financial path to sustainability, and the potential to impact many lives through their innovative application of exponential technology. If you believe you could provide value for one of these amazing startups below, consider applying to be a mentor at Singularity University and indicate the companies you’re interested in helping.The selected companies are:
Founded by Arnaldo Betta and Plínio Targa - Provides an innovative, noninvasive system to monitor patients’ intracranial pressure (ICP) and share real-time medical data to facilitate treatment of pathologies involving the Central Nervous System. www.braincare.com.br/
Founded by Troy Hickerson and Dan Byler - Inspires people to become more physically active and convert the number of calories they burn into food donations for severely malnourished children, through corporate sponsorship programs such as Workplace Activity Challenges and the UNICEF Kid Power Program. http://caloriecloud.org/
Founded by Olivia Ramos and Uri Wolfovitz - Leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to digitize and automate real estate development, from all calculations needed for design and construction to 3D modeling that incorporates zoning and building codes, to energy usage estimates, and even financial pro-formas. http://deepblocks.com/
Founded by Jason Marsh and Greg Moyer- Develops sharable user-generated presentations within Web Virtual Reality (VR) designed to imbue data-intensive stories with 360-degree emotional values for each data point in order to surround audiences with new insights via any browser, phones using Google Cardboard™, and any VR device. http://flow.gl/
Founded by Evin Ollinger and Minda Cutcher - Connects seniors’ finances online to their adult children or eldercare agencies and analyzing transactions to determine a fixed-income budget, identify savings opportunities, provide fraud review, and pre-qualify credit, loan, insurance, government programs and benefit opportunities. http://www.joingolden.com
Founded by Yaron Vorona and Richard Krueger - Iota Security prevents cybercrime on mobile and IoT devices by allowing companies to detect threats on their end-users' devices. Currently working with global banks to prevent a root cause of fraud.https://www.iotasecurity.com
Founded by Jahan Pestonjamas and Sanvardeep Oberoi - Harnesses hemp-based natural fibers into nanosheets, providing a cost-affordable, environmentally sustainable alternative to graphene-based nanosheets currently used in supercapacitors designed for mobile batteries and hybrid vehicles.
Founded by Duleek Ranatunga and Michael Kim - Provides a low-cost, personalized cancer treatment to increase patients’ survival rates using tumor engineering hydrogel, which grows an individual’s cells so they can be subjected to drugs and drug combinations, thereby determining which medicines and dosages will have the greatest impact.ABOUT SINGULARITY UNIVERSITYSingularity University (“SU”) is a global learning and innovation community using exponential technologies to tackle the world’s biggest challenges and build an abundant future for all.Our collaborative platform empowers individuals and organizations to learn, connect, and innovate breakthrough solutions using accelerating technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, and digital biology. Our offerings include educational programs, conferences, innovation workshops, corporate and startup accelerators, social impact programs, and online news and content.Our global community spans more than 110 countries and includes entrepreneurs, corporations, development organizations, governments, investors, and academic institutions. With over 370 impact initiatives, the SU community is driving positive change in the areas of health, environment, security, education, energy, food, prosperity, water, space, disaster resilience, shelter, and governance.A certified benefit corporation, SU was founded in 2008 by renowned innovators Ray Kurzweil and Peter H. Diamandis and is partnered with leading organizations such as Google, Deloitte, Genentech, and UNICEF. SU is headquartered at NASA Research Park in Silicon Valley. To learn more, visit SU.org, join us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter @SingularityU.