RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK — Intake, a health tech startup from Raleigh seeking to “eradicate chronic disease,” took home the $15,000 first prize at The Big Launch Challenge held at RTP headquarters on Wednesday.
The $5,000 second prize went to Optimal Solar, a cleantech startup working out of Durham’s American Underground.
In total, ten early-stage startups, including five from the Triangle, pitched as part of the sixth annual event sponsored by The Launch Place, an entrepreneurial organization based in Danville, Va., with a second office in RTP.
Intake, a Raleigh health tech startup, nabs first prize at Big Launch Challenge
Here’s a closer look at the winners:
Bender Tech, LLC dba Intake
- Website: www.myintakepro.com
- Founder: Brothers Brian Bender and Michael Bender
- Year founded: 2016
- Previous job: CEO/Founder Sociable Group
- Company mission: To extend global health spans by making preventive care a way of life.
- Number of employees: 4
- Funds raised and sources: $750,000 from founder contributions, awards/prizes, NIH and NSF grant funding
- How much are you trying to raise now? We are not actively raising.
Optimal Solar
- Website: www.optimalsolar.energy
- Founder: Dr. Reginald Parker
- Year founded: 2019
- Previous job: President of 510nano Inc.
- Company mission: To improve the quality of life across the world through the efficient use of and increased access to solar resources.
- Number of employees: 4 full-time, 5 interns, 1 freelancer
- Funds raised and sources: $330,000
- How much are you trying to raise now? $2 million in January 2020
- How will you use funds? Marketing and sales, inventory, working capital.