phatic takes First Place and Audience Choice awards at the July 15 TCNewTech Pitch Competition

20Fathoms is pleased to announce the winners of the July 15 TCNewTech pitch competition.  

phatic won the First Place Award, receiving an award of $5000, and was also awarded the Audience Choice Award, with an award of $500.

The phatic pitch was presented by Danielle Freeman. phatic is a personal AI tool that gives real-time feedback on how your tone and delivery come across in meetings.

The $2000 Second Place Award went to ChemCom, an advanced system designed to optimize a wide range of chemical processes across multiple industries. The ChemCom pitch was presented by Steven McReynolds.

Penny Pickup and Sight Haptics also pitched. Penny Pickup is an innovative micromobility logistics platform, designed to facilitate zero-emissions, autonomous robotic pickup of materials for proper end-of-life processing. Sight Haptics is a proprietary wearable device that empowers the blind and visually impaired with real-time sonar senses through haptic feedback.

Delaney Keating, Director of Entrepreneurship and Commercialization at 20Fathoms, moderated the event. Pitch presentations were judged by a panel of local startup experts including Joe Carr, Fresh Water Tech Business Consultant at SBDC Tech Team, Ashley R. Sloat, Ph.D., President and Director of Patent Strategy at Aurora Consulting, LLC, Pete Martin, Director of Portfolio Management at MSU Research Foundation, and Doug Morgenstern, Board Member and Treasurer at Northern Michigan Angels.

The next TCNewTech will be on September 9. Applications to pitch are open through August 1.

TCNewTech is made possible through the generosity of community partners including Presenting Partner Celly Health and Supporting Partners SJA Solutions, Honor Bank, Grand Valley State University, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, RJG, Inc., AccessPoint, MSUFCU, Aurora Patents, and UpNorth HealthTech.