Startup Rumble 2 Rewind
We kicked off our first Santa Cruz Works New Tech event of 2022 with 6 fantastic startups from Santa Cruz Accelerates. If you missed it, don’t worry, we have a recap for you.
This showdown featured: AirSet, Belay Securities, LuvMart, Pare, Skyu, and Vanly. Wonderfil was not able to attend because they were completing a new installation. Market validation!
First Place Winner: AirSet
AirSet - AirSet is aiming to improve HVAC airflow management. Currently, specifically trained technicians are required to adjust dampers one by one within a building. This is a slow, expensive, and manual process that is outdated and inefficient. Airset has created a networked airflow damper that automatically adjusts to maintain correct airflow levels and provides real-time reporting and alerts for hospitals and long-term care facilities. Airset applied for a $230,000 NFS grant and are also looking for an angel investment of around $200,000 to finish out the MVP and acquire their first customers and installations. More information
Runners Up
Belay Securities - Ride share drivers spend hours on the road, incur high costs, and have highly variable income that can put them into debt. Belay eliminates income instability for rideshare workers using a proprietary financial instrument. With Belay, drivers input a schedule they want to earn a guaranteed wage within. If they earn less than our guarantee, Belay tops them up. If they earn more by the end of their contract, Belay charges AT MOST 4% of the original forecast. So far they have retained 73% of their users and their API is 35x faster and provides 100% more data that the industry standard. They are looking to expand to a 1,500 user cohort and build ancillary income to help all gig workers. More information
LuvMart - LuvMart is a consumer goods and food delivery service operating in the Bay Area through 7 dark fulfillment centers (delivery only stores with no walk up traffic) as of July 2021. LuvMart's marketplace enables CPG brands and independent retailers to launch direct-to-consumer sales on LuvMart in a matter of minutes. They are currently in 4 markets but aim to get into 16 more markets, open 100 more locations, and get into 22 more cities by the end of this year. LuvMart will be launching in Santa Cruz on February 13th. More information
Pare - Pare aims to help employers reduce the currently cumbersome and time consuming hiring process by creating a community of referrers who identify people in their network who would be a great fit for an open job position. Pare connects referrals with the open positions and, when a hire is made, Pare shares the referral fee from the employer with the referrer. More information
Skyu - (pronounced “skew”) connects retailers, brands, malls, and businesses with a network of on demand, flexible labor. Think of it as the Uber of the retail industry. They are looking for more retailers, brands, and users. More information
Vanly - Vanly is the Airbnb of van life. No one likes getting a ticket, having their vehicle broken into, or wasting time driving around the city to secure a parking spot. Vanly allows people to rent private parking spaces, most including amenities, all around the United States. Vanly’s mobile-friendly cross-platform marketplace allows people to share their driveways and for people to find a safe place to park their vans. Note: Vanly’s pitch video has been removed at the request of the founder. More information