$100k New Ventures Competition Finalists Announced

Following a day of presentation to industry leaders serving as judges, just 17 teams will advance to the finals slated for April 3.

The 2020 Tufts $100k New Ventures Competition is well underway. This year has been highly competitive with an unprecedented number of applications submitted.

In the $100k New Ventures Competition, Tufts community members vie for prizes which total more than $100,000. The awards go towards launching a business idea or enhancing one that already exists.

The breadth of initiatives is far-reaching. From general technology and social impact to medical devices and life sciences, participants are establishing new industry standards and practices with the potential to impact millions.

A total of 34 teams were invited to participate in the semi-finals on March 6: 12 General Technology teams, 10 Medical Devices and Life Science teams and 12 Social Impact teams. Each semi-finalist team pitched their business to a panel of judges that included investors, Tufts faculty members, entrepreneurs and business leaders.

From dental stem cells to help spinal cord injury treatment, to a shrimp aquaculture farm and even a student-to-student textbook exchange, each business presented a problem with a unique solution.

After much deliberation, the judges' verdicts are in. Just 17 teams will advance to the live finals on Friday, April 3.

MSIM Students pose for photo. Pictured from left-to-right are Christina Holman, Lee Ann Song, Ashton Stephens, Earn Khunpinit and Sai Wang. — FoodEase team members (left-to-right) Christina Holman, Lee Ann Song, Ashton Stephens, Earn Khunpinit and Sai Wang seek to make an impact in communities following natural disasters by mobilizing the private sector and facilitating food recovery efforts.

General Technology

Anaïs
Cogna
Immuto
redsand.io
Rezzi
Sea Dragon Aquaculture Farm

Presenter Garrett Weinstein stands in front of TV screen. — Garrett Weinstein presents TravelEZ, an online platform where users can learn about how accessible places are and the different levels of accessibility. In addition, users can leave a review.

Social Impact

Food Ease
Potencia
Resonance Lab
Sacramento Valley Food Hub
Textbook Exchange Network
TravelEZ

Fiona Wang presents Cellens to judges. Cellens is a non-invasive diagnostics test used in the detection of bladder cancer.

Medical Devices and Life Science

Cellens
Indent Therapeutics
Nanoscience Solutions, LLC
Notemeal
THREADletics

Live pitches for the Tufts $100k Competition finals will take place virtually this year through an interactive online platform.

To learn more about the Tufts $100k New Ventures Competition and to register to attend the live finals, keynote and awards celebration click here.