Today, members of the 2016 Flashstarts Labs program—which now has 4 times as many teams compared to previous years—presented their vision to 18 new summer interns. Eager to work on the stimulating and industry-disrupting concepts demonstrated, the interns have already begun to address the varied needs of the startups.
Game-changing technology
Nathan Swift displayed an idea both foreign and incredibly practical. With the problem of concussions at a turbulent peak, especially within football where at least 1 in 10 players experience them, it’s clear that immediate action is needed in regard to safety equipment. Hedgemon, a startup capitalizing on biomimicry, is attempting to address that issue.
Having noticed the hedgehog’s incredible ability to handle the impact of falling up to 30 feet from trees, Hedgemon’s researchers believe that the internal architecture and mechanical interlocking of hedgehog’s spines could be a key for the future of helmet liners, an industry worth $60 million.
[pullquote]1 in 10 football players experience concussions[/pullquote]
With helmets on the market currently lacking multi-hit durability, as well as the ability to address rotational concussion (which form the majority of football related impacts), Hedgemon is gaining traction in new and relevant territory.
Rooted in reliability
Sawyer Dina and Jimmy Salera pitched their idea of Sidekiq, a matchmaking platform between consumers and small businesses. The startup’s mantra can be reduced to a single word: reliability
Having had frustrating personal experiences with contracted help, and noticing the lack of trustworthiness exemplified within similar websites, the founders are keen on “creating an industry of reliability,” by first connecting homeowners with accredited contractors, and eventually expanding into other industries.
This is but a handful of a larger list of startups that not only have innovative and refreshing ideas, but also real-world potential that interns will work hard to capitalize on in coming weeks.
