StartUp Worcester Announces First Class of Award Winners

Email to a friend Permalink

Saturday, May 09, 2015

GoLocalWorcester News Team

The first class of StartUp Worcester's winners have been announced and the twelve winners come from five Worcester college campuses and include three digital game developers, a real estate developer, a hydronics company, and technology companies focusing on city engagement, fitness and transportation and a fashion blog/consultant. 

StartUp Worcester, a partnership between the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Venture Forum and Running Start, announced the winners at a reception on Thursday evening. 

SEE BELOW: 2015 StartUp Worcester Award Winners

Chamber president and CEO, Tim Murray said, “As part of our recruit, retain, incubate approach to organizing our work, we thought it was important to support these budding companies. We want to retain these bright, entrepreneurial graduates and help them to incubate their ideas in Worcester. By providing them access to the resources afforded by our partnerships, the Chamber, The Venture Forum, and Running Start will help to secure Worcester’s future as a great place to do business.”

Among the winners was Agraponics LLC, a biotechnology company that will integrate technology into food production. Christopher J. Dibble, founder and Clark University biology student, said "Being a StartUp Worcester member will give our company access to the resources we need to be fully operational. As a startup we have limited resources, and a co-working space will allow us to streamline the product development process by making available tools and general expertise to create high quality products. Becoming a StartUp Worcester member will take Agraponics, to the next level, and enable us to teach more people how to grow their own food from a sustainable source.”

Participation in the program was determined through a competitive application process and review by a committee of 23 applicants. The one-year StartUp Worcester winners earn membership that includes space at Running Start and membership in the Chamber and The Venture Forum affording them access to a variety of tools and resources to help them succeed.

Chris Molica, WPI biomedical and robotics engineering graduate and founder of Sensae, a technology startup focused on providing sensors and systems that give a fitness feedback platform for exercise and physical therapy, said "Becoming a StartUp Worcester member will provide Sensae with a competitive edge – giving our team the necessary space and resources with which we can continue our research and growth."

Joe Vignaly, chair of The Venture Forum said, “By providing workshops, counseling, and other forms of support, a lot of great ideas and companies coming from graduates of Worcester colleges and universities will have a chance to grow here. StartUp Worcester is one positive step to keep those people and companies in Worcester.”

"We're excited to have the StartUp Worcester participants joining the Running Start community. These new ventures play a critical role in expanding Worcester's entrepreneurial ecosystem and it’s important that they have the opportunity to connect and work with other innovators in a collaborative environment," stated Ryan Leary, co-founder and president of Running Start.

According to the Chamber, the value of the membership to all three organizations for the winners is between $2,900 and $5,300, depending on the number of employees in the startup. According to Karen Pelletier, director of the Chamber’s Higher Education – Business Partnership, “The true value of StartUp Worcester lies in the connections, opportunities, and support inherent in being involved with these three business organizations. Another partner, SCORE (funded by the U.S. Small Business Association) will provide one on one counseling and mentorship to participants. I am thrilled to see this program have such a robust start – it’s a win-win-win – for the startups, the community, and someday soon, the consumers of these new products and services.”

---

Related Slideshow: See the List: 2015 StartUp Worcester Award Winners

Related Articles

• StartUp Worcester to Bring Ideas Into the Marketplace
• Chamber of Commerce Announces Reception for StartUp Worcester Winners
• PowerPlayer: Tim Murray, President and CEO of Worcester Chamber of Commerce
• Worcester Chamber Announces Support for Housing Incentive Program
• Worcester Chamber Gets Behind Local Manufacturing
• Worcester Chamber Music Society Festival to Present “A Quartet of Nations”
• Worcester Chamber of Commerce Supports Extension of Transportation Bill
• NEW: Worcester Chamber CEO Murray To Get Lifetime Champion Award
• Worcester Chamber of Commerce Gets Chance To Reinvent Under Murray

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.

Email to a friend Permalink