The SBJ Inno Madness Startup Competition
Bracket Voting Begins
In Sacramento, the startup community is getting ready for a bracket-style competition called Inno Madness, organized by the Sacramento Business Journal's Inno Section. The competition aims to showcase the region's innovative technology companies and startups.
Sixteen companies have been selected to compete against each other through several rounds of voting, with readers deciding who progresses to the next stage. The winner of the competition will be announced at the end of all the matchups. This event provides an opportunity for local startups and tech companies to gain some recognition and publicity. Here are the 16 contenders:
Adload Technologies Inc. - brings roadside billboard advertising to the roadway using digital screens for big rigs with a revenue-sharing model for the trucks' owners.
Advanced Farm Technologies Inc. - creates robotic fruit harvesters that can automatically sense and pick ripe fruit using cameras and color sensors.
Azra Games - a gaming studio that uses blockchain technology to create immersive science fiction fantasy role-playing games with characters that players can own, collect, and trade.
Bekonix Inc. - developing a no-code platform to help people build smart hardware and software for internet-connected devices without any coding.
Buzly - a social app that allows college students to find information about their school and other students, school events, clubs, and social events, with colleges paying for access to the service.
California Cultured - develops lab-generated chocolate and coffee made from cell cultures to produce sustainahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-custer/ble compounds free from deforestation and child labor in the chocolate and coffee industries.
EyeRate Inc. - develops reputation management software that pays retail employees for good customer reviews.
GameMic Inc. - developed an app that allows anyone to produce live audio broadcasts at school sporting events using their smartphone.
Grin - built a platform that manages logistics, record keeping, analytics, and payment for influencer marketing, providing systems to manage that kind of advertising for direct-to-consumer clients and influencers.
Hamama - makes kits for people to grow microgreens in their own home using seed quilts, trays, and no watering after initial soaking.
Japa Inc. - developed parking intelligence hardware and software coupled with an app that allows users to find vacant parking spaces more efficiently using sensors.
Matrubials Inc. - developing antibacterial therapies from milk products for use in healthcare, using milk antimicrobial peptides that are selective and kill harmful bacteria while leaving helpful bacteria intact.
PairAnything Inc. - has an app that helps users pair food and wine, helping wineries and restaurants increase beverage sales.
ReviverMX Inc. - developed digital license plates for cars and trucks that automatically renew registration and include geo-tracking, toll payment, and other features.
StyleForIt - an online consignment store for plus-size women's fashions that allows buying and/or selling with shipping and payment processing support.
uProfyt - supports nonprofits, companies, and government entities with managing financial data and reporting, finding and writing grant proposals, and grant management compliance.
To vote for your favorite startups, click here. There are no cash prizes, and participants do not need to pitch their ideas. It is purely for fun, glory, and to highlight the innovation economy of Sacramento. The first round of voting is open now and will run until March 14th.
About Rich Foreman
Rich Foreman is the founder of KidneyLuv which develops solutions for patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Patients (CKD). He is also the COO of IGH Naturals. Previously, as founding CTO, Rich led the team that developed the CordicoShield / CordicoFire Wellness App. Cordico was honored with the Sacramento Innovation Award in 2021. After achieving a 7 digit ARR, Cordico was acquired by Lexipol in 2020. Rich has a BS in Industrial Engineering from the University of Washington, an MPA from Troy State University and was an officer in the U.S. Navy.
Rich co-authored his book, "Tap into the Mobile Economy." Rich's blog was listed in Top 20 Marketing Mobile Blogs of 2014. He has been featured on KCRA3, NEWS10, 1170 Tech AM PowerDrive, Business Radio Money 105.5, SiliconIndia, the Sacramento Business Journal, and the Sacramento Bee. Rich is also the Founding Director of the Sacramento Chapter of Startup Grind and served a term as Utility Commissioner for the City of Folsom. Rich is a regular contributor to TechWire.net and StartupSac.com. Rich was the Co-founder of Apptology which was named Small Business of the Year in 2014 by the Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber.
