Latest Betaspring cohort introduced at open house

RAJU P.N., co-founder & CEO of Eventcheq, one of the 15 companies participating in Betaspring's spring accelerator program, makes his pitch to the crowd during the open house that marks the halfway point of the session. / PBN PHOTO/DAVID LEVESQUE
RAJU P.N., co-founder & CEO of Eventcheq, one of the 15 companies participating in Betaspring's spring accelerator program, makes his pitch to the crowd during the open house that marks the halfway point of the session. / PBN PHOTO/DAVID LEVESQUE

PROVIDENCE – Betaspring’s newest group of fledgling companies has reached the halfway point of the startup accelerator’s sixth session. During an open house Thursday, company founders shared just how far they’ve come in six weeks by each delivering a quick pitch.

In a room filled with hundreds of supporters, investors and Betaspring alumni, representatives from each startup took to the stage to tell the crowd in 45 seconds what they do and who they are looking to meet.

Entrepreneurs described technological services they’re hoping to launch that range from online rent collection services to gaming platforms for lottery operators to mobile apps for sportsfans and more.

Allan Tear, a founder and managing partner of Betaspring, said during opening remarks that Betaspring has created a hub for creativity and entrepreneurship with a far reach.

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“We realized that when we started Betaspring, it really wasn’t about putting our arms around what we had in Rhode Island and holding it tight and hoping that nothing escaped, but that it was really about using our unique position here in New England and the incredible connections that exist here to create better entrepreneurial flow,” Tear told the audience. “That’s what’s working here, that’s what you’re a part of, and that’s what you contribute to as a community. So we thank you so much for that, because when that happens, great things occur.”

Since the session kicked off in February, the 15 startup companies have been immersed in a program that includes meetings with mentors, developing and refining their products, and testing their delivery and business models, all in hopes that they will be ready to find investors and get their businesses off the ground in another six weeks.

Through previous sessions, Betaspring has accelerated 72 companies and raised $25 million and counting in follow-on funding.

At the conclusion of the pitches, conversation became lively, as company founders networked while enjoying local beer, wine and catered snacks.

This session’s cohort involves participants from around the globe, including three companies from India, with other founders hailing from Argentina and England. Closer to home, in addition to hailing from Rhode Island, participants have traveled from Massachusetts, New York and Colorado to take part.

This session’s companies (with business model descriptions) include:

  • Bare Tree Media – Drives engagement between popular brands and their community of fans through the creation and digital distribution of interactive entertainment on mobile and online platforms. www.baretreemedia.com
  • Bolt – The easiest and fastest way for landlords and tenants to collect and pay rent online. joinbolt.com
  • Eventcheq – An engagement platform for live events (sports, concerts, theater and other performing arts) that makes it easier for fans to live, share and re-live their experiences. eventcheq.com
  • Infikno – A content delivery platform for fans and enthusiasts. infikno.com
  • LocusPlay – A gaming platform for small and mid-size lottery operators to automate their business operations with the use of mobile and cloud-powered technology. LocusPlay.com
  • RaftOut – Makes it easy for groups of friends to get organized by pulling the group’s conversation from email text, and social media into the same Web app. www.raftout.com
  • Recroup – Helps job seekers by replacing the traditional resume with a quick-to-create visual profile in which they can effectively promote the full spectrum of their capabilities. www.recroup.com
  • SkillHound – Sourcing tool for technical teams that uses big data methods to analyze sites like Github, StackOverflow and Twitter to reveal the very best engineers on the Web. skillhound.com
  • SplashScore – A social influence marketing platform that identifies influential consumers on Facebook and connects them with national brands through sponsored reward campaigns. splashscore.com
  • Spogo – A mobile app that enables fans to win real-world rewards for making correct predictions while they watch their favorite teams. www.playspogo.com
  • ShutterCal – A photo journaling community providing an inspirational place to organize, share, and print your memories and experiences. www.shuttercal.com
  • STEM2O – A learning and assessment environment that helps teachers and students build, use, and share interactive and experiential science and math learning tools. learninghyperdrive.com
  • SurpriseRide – Delivers a monthly box of fun and educational activities for children that fosters creativity and expands their horizons. www.surpriseride.com
  • ZoomTilt – A social video marketplace connecting brands with award-winning filmmakers, measurement tools and unique distribution solutions to launch branded video. www.ZoomTilt.com
  • YAEMO – Operator of DesignerMaterial.com, a curated digital marketplace where companies and creatives discover, specify and purchase materials to bring their designs to life. www.yaemo.com

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