Early Stage Venture Conference Investment Winners Announced
Early Stage Venture Conference Investment Winners Announced
Florida Venture Forum, Space Florida, DeepWork Capital, and FPL Award $300,000
Florida Venture Forum, the state’s largest statewide support organization for investors and entrepreneurs, recently announced the recipients of $300,000 in award dollars and investment during its 16th annual Early Stage Venture Conference in Orlando.
“We extend our congratulations to all six companies that were awarded investment dollars at this week’s Early Stage Venture Conference."
Rob Long, Space Florida
The conference also included the Space Florida AeroTech Summit, featuring presenters and programming relevant to the space and aerospace industries, and the Forum’s Statewide Collegiate Startup Competition, during which startup teams from 10+ Florida colleges and universities competed for award dollars. A panel of judges evaluated each eligible company’s presentation and supporting materials.
The funding below was provided by Forum members Space Florida, DeepWork Capital, and Florida Power & Light’s Innovation Hub, 35 Mules.
Accelerating Innovation Award – $75,000 from Space Florida
X-Lumin, Chief Growth Officer, Zev Suissa
Merritt Island, FL
X-lumin is powering the widespread use of wireless communication services to enable others to digital, secure, and exchange data “from light.” They provide turn-key systems for ground-to-space laser communication, land-based optical wireless communication, and space situational awareness with advanced integration capabilities.
Grand Prize – $50,000 from Florida Power & Light
HelixVM, Founder & CEO, Robert Rodriguez
Boca Raton, FL
HelixVM has built a software platform that dramatically increases physician productivity while increasing patient access. There are two go-to-market strategies — the first being the “Uber of Healthcare,” known as the HelixVM Marketplace. The HelixVM Marketplace provides rapid healthcare, often without a video visit, to patients across the U.S. As patients enjoy healthcare at any time, physicians appreciate significant income opportunities. In 2024, HelixVM will introduce the second strategy, leveraging its platform and marketplace expertise to extend these dramatic productivity enhancements into physician practices.
Runner Up – $20,000 each from Florida Power & Light and Space Florida
Algas Organics, CEO, Johanan Dujon
Miami, FL
Algas Organics addresses the deforestation and sustainability challenges faced by packaging, paper, and pulp companies by replacing traditional deforestation-derived wood-based fiber with a novel, cost-effective seaweed-based solution. Their low-cost seaweed-based pulp fiber can be blended with wood pulp to produce paper and packaging whilst reducing deforestation.
Runner Up – $20,000 each from Florida Power & Light and Space Florida
Lonestar Data Holdings Inc., Founder & CEO, Christopher Stott
St. Petersburg, FL
Lonestar Data Holdings’ goal is Global Backup, Global Refresh, and Global Restore. Their mission is to apply abundance thinking and exponential technologies to the endless possibilities of lunar data storage for the human race, and in so doing to the exploration of the Moon and beyond. Lonestar’s vision is fueled by remarkable investors led by Scout Ventures, 2 Future Holdings, Seldor Capital, and the Veteran Fund, Irongate Global Capital, Atypical Ventures, Kittyhawk Ventures, and Backswing Ventures. Lonestar is committed to a carbon negative future.
Collegiate Award – $5,000 each from Florida Power & Light and Space Florida
Unbound Disability Claims Inc, Co-Founder, Alyssa Wilbanks
Orlando, FL – University of Central Florida
Unbound Disability Claims is on a mission to transform the Social Security Disability application process, providing a lifeline to the 62% of applicants facing improper denials.
Collegiate Award – $5,000 each from Florida Power & Light and Space Florida
Abigail Sinu, Co-Founder, NanoSense
Boca Raton, FL – Florida Atlantic University
NanoSense stands at the forefront of accessible medical diagnostics, spearheading a revolution in healthcare through its groundbreaking nanosensor array technology.
Capital Investment – $125,000 from DeepWork Capital
X-Lumin, Chief Growth Officer, Zev Suissa
Merritt Island, FL
X-lumin is powering the widespread use of wireless communication services to enable others to digital, secure, and exchange data “from light.” They provide turn-key systems for ground-to-space laser communication, land-based optical wireless communication, and space situational awareness with advanced integration capabilities.
“We extend our congratulations to all six companies that were awarded investment dollars at this week’s Early Stage Venture Conference," said Space Florida president and CEO Rob Long. "Innovators like these are crucial for meeting the demand of the burgeoning commercial space industry, and we look forward to seeing the great work they will do to propel Florida forward.”