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Though obscure today, Meathead & Potatoes and Red Puppy are companies that one day might become very familiar with the assistance of what is happening today.
Those two are among seven woman-owned, startup businesses that have been selected to participate in TechFW programs and funded by Texas Woman’s University’s Center for Women Entrepreneurs.
The center awarded the businesses up to $2,000 to participate in TechFW’s ThinkLab accelerator or SmartStart business incubator programs.
“Receiving the grant from TWU was a huge blessing in terms of helping to launch my startup,” says Whitney Robinson, a 2021 award recipient and founder of Head to Vegas, an app for groups that travel together. "It came at the perfect time as I was pregnant with my second child and needed to plan financially for our growing family.
"Because of the grant, I was able to fully immerse myself into the process that TechFW has to offer and focus on my idea without having to worry about the cost. I can't thank TWU and TechFW enough for affording me the opportunity."
TechFW is a startup accelerator and incubator. It builds, supports and educates tech entrepreneurs by bringing together trusted talent and robust resources in an effort to equip startups for success.
To be eligible for the awards, the businesses had to be for-profit enterprises operating in Texas with a woman as its founder and major shareholder. Additionally, the founder must have owned, have licensed or be working on proprietary technology, trade secret or innovative way of doing business.
“We are excited to continue this incredible female founders award program with Texas Woman’s University for a second year,” says Hayden Blackburn, TechFW’s executive director. "During the past year, as many as 48% of our clients have been women-led, and this partnership has expanded the opportunities for women that are building the future."
ThinkLab is a nonseed, startup accelerator that helps entrepreneurs determine whether there is sufficient value to pursue a product or service idea, identify potential markets, develop a path to commercialization, and learn how to communicate the value of the idea to early stakeholders and adopters.
The SmartStart business incubator assists leaders in developing a formalized business framework that enables them to work with coaches to take their company to market.
“We are happy that we can help these women take part in programming that will prepare them for entrepreneurial success,” says Tracy Irby, director of the Center for Women Entrepreneurs.
Here are the award winners, six of whom will be starting TechFW programs this fall:
Stellah Onyancha
Company: Jabss Inc.
Industry: FinTech
Program Award: SmartStart
Onyancha plans to develop a global app that enables users to transfer money directly, instantly and seamlessly. She has begun trial testing the app.
Melissa Tammen
Company: 4-Mankind
Industry: Health
Program Award: SmartStart
Tammen is working on developing disposable, comfortable and effective incontinence protection for men that keeps urine off the skin. The company has a design patent and expects to soon have a utility patent.
Kim Pallister
Company: Revision Medical
Industry: Health
Program Award: SmartStart
Revision Medical is working to create and patent its SlideRight, a device that attaches easily to an existing medical bed and is designed to move a bed-ridden patient with a push of a button.
Ruby Bhayani
Company: Carewaves LLC
Industry: Software/Health
Program Award: ThinkLab
Bhayani is working on an app that provides remote patient monitoring and nursing management services for elderly patients in rural areas. She is heavily skilled in clinical case management.
Sonya Webb
Company: Meathead & Potatoes, LLC
Industry: Food & Beverage
Program: ThinkLab
Webb is working on a mechanical tool (designed in part with her daughter) that is a lightweight, collapsible transportation cart for restaurateurs. She has a provisional patent and is working toward manufacturing a prototype.
Mindy Hansen
Company: Sola Gratia
Industry: Healthcare
Program Award: ThinkLab
Hansen's vision is to develop ideas based on human physiology to re-shape traditional healthcare paradigms. The phase of rehabilitation that is most difficult is motor learning and re-patterning. This innovative device can be utilized for neural patterning in those who may be temporarily immobilized, post-stroke, or many other maladies.
Niameh Freeman
Company: Red Puppy
Industry: Footwear
Program Award: ThinkLab
Freeman's idea for electronic insoles came to her in a dream. She envisions them with connectivity through a smart watch or sports app to monitor the pressure in your shoes and vibrate to help alleviate pressure and pain while working. Red Puppy has obtained a provisional patent and is working to fine-tune its prototype, sales packet and business plan.