SparkLabs Frontier-ASU Launches Their First Accelerator Cohort

USA - English

• USA - English

TEMPE, Ariz., April 21, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- SparkLabs Frontier-ASU accelerator program has selected its first cohort. This is a new startup accelerator program launched by SparkLabs Group in partnership with Arizona State University. The program targeted all students across its various undergraduate and graduate schools and programs, such as the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, W.P. Carey School of Business, and Thunderbird School of Global Management.

The selected startups are working on solutions in areas such biomedical science, cognitive performance, and internet of things.

"The founders in our first cohort are exceptional. Their vision, hustle, and determination is extremely encouraging and sets the bar high for future cohorts," said Jackie Roberts, Executive Director of the SparkLabs Frontier-ASU program. "The ideas and startups we are seeing coming out of ASU proves why they have been named the most innovative school in the U.S. for five straight years."

SparkLabs Frontier-ASU offers both a fall preprogram and spring accelerator annually in partnership with ASU Entrepreneurship + Innovation to help Arizona State University startups founded by a current student or alumni expand and secure their next round of funding.

Established in 2013, SparkLabs Group has invested in over 280 startups globally and has a follow-on funding rate of 70% within its portfolio companies.

Here are the startups that make up the Frontier-ASU Spring '20 cohort:

• NutriGMR, a healthy alternative to existing energy drinks, has created a scientifically backed formula focused on cognitive performance aimed at esports athletes.
• Sensagrate uses real-time software to create intelligent traffic signals in an effort to minimize pedestrian and vehicle fatalities using their product Sensavision. They also recently released another product, SensaCAT, aimed at helping companies quickly scan employees and customers for COVID-19 symptoms.
• ReSuture, a biomedical startup, simulates vascular surgery with lifelike accuracy for realistic medical training.

The SparkLabs Frontier-ASU preprogram, which had ten companies participate prior to the core accelerator program, focused on programming related to team synergy, product development, and preparation for applying to the accelerator. The core accelerator program offers funding, programming focused on scaling a startup, and executive level mentorship. Some of the accelerator mentors involved in the core program include Dan Tyre, founding member & executive at Hubspot; Josh Isner, CRO at Axon/Taser International; Beth McMullen, VP of Global Business Operations at Avnet; Justin Dellario, VP of Global Esports at Twitch; Christina Shore, VP of Strategy at Carvana; and Mike Peregrina, Co-founder and CEO of Homie.

Due to COVID-19, the program has postponed their Spring '20 Demo Day event to July 22nd where they will showcase their portfolio companies to investors and the community at Galvanize Phoenix.

SOURCE SparkLabs