AC Graduate to compete for $1 million grand prize
![IMG_5802[blog]](https://i0.wp.com/acceleratorcentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_5802blog.jpg)
New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the 11 finalists for 43North, the world’s largest business idea competition, which included AC Graduate Plum. The finalists will now compete in front of a panel of expert judges on October 29 at Shea’s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo to win 43North’s top cash prize of $1 million, one of six $500,000 prizes, or four $250,000 prizes.
“This year, 43North attracted more than 11,000 registrants from 117 countries, all 50 U.S. states and nine of ten Canadian provinces, said 43North Board Chair Jordan Levy said. “Now these 11 talented finalists will pitch before a world class panel of judges for the chance to win the competition’s top prize of $1 million.”
The public is invited to attend the 43North finals pitches and awards ceremony on Thursday, October 29 at Shea’s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo. Tickets are free but registration is required at www.43north.org.
Supporters can also vote for Plum online to help them win this year’s People’s Choice Award. The finalist with the most votes via http://vote.43north.org on October 29 will receive an additional $10,000 on top of their $250,000, $500,000 or $1 million prize. 43North’s People’s Choice Award is sponsored by Larkin Development Group.
The 11 finalists for 2015 are:
Plum
Hometown: Waterloo, ON, Canada
Plum is a turnkey cloud software solution using modern behavioral science and predictive analytics to instantly identify high potential job applicants for success and fit. The results are scientifically matched up to an employer’s needs, for each role, creating an invaluable shortlist.
ACV Auctions
Hometown: Buffalo, NY, USA
ACV Auctions is a live wholesale marketplace for dealer-only automobile auctions. Conducted via a smartphone application, ACV Auctions creates liquidity for wholesale inventory (trade-ins and aged automobiles) 24-hours-a-day. An intuitive five-minute process of snapping pictures and drafting a vehicle description launches an auction to hundreds of registered buyers.
CoachMePlus
Hometown: Buffalo, NY, USA
CoachMePlus manages data that coaches and athletes use to optimize athletic performance. Athletic teams at all levels use the system to track athlete health, manage workouts, and improve game day readiness. Its NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA and NCAA clients illustrate its ability to support athletes, coaches and front office personnel.
Cytocybernetics
Hometown: North Tonawanda, NY, USA
Cytocybernetics has developed novel technology to improve drug safety screening. It will ensure that new drugs brought to market do not cause cardiac arrhythmias as a side effect. This technology will increase the speed and reliability with which pharmaceutical companies can navigate the FDA approval process for all new drugs.
Uma Bioseed
Hometown: Ithaca, NY, USA
Uma Bioseed has developed a patented, enzyme-based, organic seed-treatment solution. This solution protects agricultural seeds from pathogens (virus, bacteria and fungus) both on and around the seed throughout the critical germination phase, enabling the possibility of significantly enhanced crop yields and greater food security.
CleanSlate
Hometown: Toronto, ON, Canada
The “CleanSlate” Ultra Violet (UV) system is a tabletop rapid device sanitizer for improved infection control. It sanitizes smartphones, tablets, glucometers, thermometers and a range of other portable electronics using UV light. Using RFID tags, the “CleanSlate” provides infection control staff with accurate compliance data on device sanitization reports.
Disease Diagnostic Group (DDG)
Hometown: Boston, MA, USA
DDG is focused on screening, tracking and diagnosing highly infectious diseases that benefit from ultra-low cost and rapid early-stage diagnosis, potentially saving millions. Its platform technology has yielded portable and reusable devices capable of quantitatively assessing diseases from a drop of blood—in one-minute—at ultra-low costs.
GetGems
Hometown – Tel Aviv, Israel
GetGems is the first digital currency startup to link mobile payments on the blockchain with a social networking platform. Unlike other messaging apps that offer payment functionality, GetGems reaches beyond those currently banked to those without a bank account or debit card. Blockchain technology enables this transfer of value.
Painless1099
Hometown: Richmond, VA, USA
Painless1099 opens “smart bank accounts” for freelance professionals to automate withholding, saving for, and paying state and federal taxes.
Qoints
Hometown: Toronto, ON, Canada
Qoints aggregates digital marketing data. As less than 25 percent of brand marketers use data to justify decision making; Qoints helps brands and agencies evaluate the performance of their digital campaigns by comparing against industry benchmarks.
Voiceitt
Hometown: Jerusalem, Israel
Voiceitt’s product, Talkitt, aims to revolutionize the way people who have speech disabilities due to various motor, speech and language disabilities communicate, enabling them to use the most natural means there is, their own voice.