Launch Greensboro – the entrepreneurship arm of the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce – recently held its “Capital Connects” competition, which is meant to connect young startups with funding and other resources.
It’s a lot like a local version of the popular TV show Shark Tank.
This year, companies built for women swept the Capital Connects competition.
On Thursday, March 14, Launch Greensboro chose the startup Momtech Inc. as the winner of its annual pitch competition, which was held at The Crown at the Carolina Theatre.
Momtech, under its “mōmi” brand, attempts to make life better for mothers and their babies with patented products that mimic natural nursing. The products pitches were that it’s a “bottle that works like a mom” and a “breast pump that works like a baby.”
Momtech’s prize for winning was $10,000.
There was also a Fan Favorite winner voted on by audience members. They chose the company Three Strands Recovery Wear – which created “the Resilience Bra” and other recovery wear garments for post-surgical patients.
Other startups gave it their best shot at the Capital Connects as well, including Brinter, Compeers AI, Dig., Growterra, GreensboroBLACK, Innatrix, Margik, Previewed, and Smarter Risk.
Launch Greensboro’s stated goal is to accelerate “growth for local entrepreneurs through education, mentoring and access to capital.” In addition to the competition, Launch Greensboro did some looking ahead.
Joey Cheek, the executive vice president of entrepreneurship for the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce – not to mention Olympic gold medal winning speed skater –announced the initiatives that Launch Greensboro will be focusing on in 2024.
Those include “making improvements to entrepreneurship resource hub, TriadNavigator.org; creating new opportunities for entrepreneurial-minded community members from different industries and sectors to network through Launch Groups; and collaborating with university partners to support tech transfer efforts locally.”
Capital Connects was part of a broader event in mid-March by the organization – Launch Greensboro’s Startup Week (March 11 through March 15) – which included other events meant to celebrate and help entrepreneurs.
The weeklong “summit of ideas and inspiration” touched more than 450 entrepreneurs, business leaders, investors and representatives of colleges and universities.
If you’re a local entrepreneur seeking support and resources, you should visit launchgreensboro.com.
