Each fall New York City’s entrepreneurial tech community waits with great anticipation for the Demo Day of the Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator (ERA). On September 27th in Chelsea, the invitation-only audience heard presentations from the latest cohort of startups emerging from the Accelerator’s four month summer program.
ERA Co-founders Murat Aktihanoglu and Jonathan Axelrod shared their excitement with the investors, entrepreneurs and supporters in attendance. Since its founding in 2011, ERA has grown to become a major contributor to the local entrepreneurial tech scene through its funding of 140 plus startups, most of whom remain in New York City. These investments, made into future job creators, is a key part of the growing local tech ecosystem now popularly known as Silicon Alley.
“Before we start anything let’s give a round of applause to New York.” Aktihanoglu said. “We are really excited to work with these teams and with their mentors. Our mentors come from amazing companies.”
The current cohort’s mentors are just a few of the over 300 mentors that ERA is able to offer startups who enter their program following a rigorous application process that includes submissions from all over the world. In addition, the startup receives a $100K investment and the potential for follow-on funding, plus a range of sponsor and partner benefits.
Gaining the attention of potential investors is what this lively day is all about, as entrepreneurs publicize their startups, present their disruptive technologies, highlight noteworthy milestones and share their startups’ goals. All is done with the hope of receiving a check— which is critical for these startups since they were chosen for the program based on their potential to scale quickly.
“It is a chance for the founders and entrepreneurs who are working on their businesses to present to investors,” explained Axelrod. “It is their first chance to present their businesses to a large audience who can write checks. It makes it a big day for all of us.”
Over 750 investors were invited to the Demo Day. They invest in a broad range of industries—that works well for the current and prior cohorts who are equally broad in their business models.
“It is an amazing variety–just about every area of technology you can imagine,” Axelrod said.
The Demo Day’s presenting startups were:
Basepair: a software platform for quickly and accurately analyzing DNA sequencing data.
Bonbouton: a technology platform for preventive diabetic healthcare.
Convessa: an AI platform focused on voice and connectivity.
Everywear: an ecommerce software platform for retailers and brands.
Immersive Systems: a sports focused analytics and media platform.
KidztoPros: a platform for child enrichment activities.
MobilePhire: a SaaS platform that provides real-time analytics and controls for data usage.
Mola: a Saas platform for the boating industry.
PCB:NG: an on-demand service for manufacturing assembled circuit boards.
Protrakr: a cloud-based software platform for the infrastructure segment of the construction industry.
Tire Agent: an online retailer of home installation of tires.
As quickly as the presentations wrapped up, the investors and attendees began to buzz about the merits of the startups that caught their eye. While the co-founders enjoyed the satisfaction that comes with the end of the summer cohort, they quickly turned their attention to the selection process for the upcoming winter’s program that has an early application deadline set for October 12th and a final application date of November 6th.
