Communication, global logistics and mobility were among the themes to emerge in the winning group. Our favorite: a “personal captioning” app for the hearing impaired. Runner-up: a touch-free computer interface that looks like you’re caressing an invisible sphere. Here are the 13 award winners:
- Delta Award sponsored by Delta Airlines: Cosmos Labs, for an app that makes mobile Internet more accessible to low-income persons. The app lets you buy unlimited access to other apps for mere pennies, compared to the tens of dollars needed to buy into a data plan.
- Fast Growth Award sponsored by 500 Startups: Rumarocket, a talent management platform that uses skill-based assessments and big data to help companies find the right people.
- Legal Services Award sponsored by the Law Firm Morrison Foerster: BioBots, for its low cost desktop 3D bioprinter that builds living tissues out of human cells.
- Three NASDAQ award winners: BioBots (yes, the same BioBots). Bionik Laboratories, a lower body exoskeleton that enables paraplegics to rehabilitate and and walk. Erghis, a hands-free interface activated by manipulating an invisible sphere. SunCayr, a color-changing marker that indicates when your sunscreen needs refreshing.
- eBay Award: Dray Technologies, a “transparent” on-demand freight brokering app that for truckers and carriers.
- Three TM Forum awards: Saisai Wireless, technology that pumps up the performance of wireless networks. Leap Year, an end-to-end platform that enables organizations to securely mine their databases for new insights. Trimaker, 3D printed supplies that improve hardware and materials manufacturing.
- Social Entrepreneurship Award sponsored by Blake Mycoskie, Founder and Chief Shoe Giver of footwear company TOMS: Ava for Transcense, a mobile app that acts as a “personal captioner,” enabling the hearing-impaired to access multiple conversations in real time.
- Formation 8 VC Award: Mi Águila, a business-to-business app that facilitates transportation for executives and other employees.
- Audience Award: Fleet, An online platform that simplifies global supply chain management.