Chicago venture collaborative TechNexus recently announced the 13 companies participating in the Emerge Accelerator program, a pilot in partnership with Homeland Security.
The program is working to develop innovative wearables for first responders.
Dallas-based Tech Wildcatters is another partner, though it is running its accelerator independently of TechNexus.
Terry Howerton?, founder and partner at TechNexus, said his team chose the group from more than 100 potential participants based on the likelihood of the commercial viability of their products. Unlike the typical accelerator model, Emerge participants didn’t give up equity in exchange for funding, nor did they move to Chicago, he said. TechNexus and other partners have rights to invest down the line if they choose.
“What we’re really focused on is what’s your path to market and who’s the corporate partner who can take an interest in this?” Howerton said.
The accelerator will end with a demo day Sept. 23 in San Francisco in front of potential investors, government agencies or corporate partners. Howerton said participants will have access to corporate sponsors, including Exelon, throughout the program. They’ll also come to Chicago in a few weeks to meet with first responders. The rest of the time, they’ll stay connected through Web and video conferencing, Howerton said.
The 13 companies are:
BearTek, Columbia, Md., and Dallas, which produces task-specific gloves that allow wearers to wirelessly control devices.
Energy Bionics, Royal Palm Beach, Fla., which is building a watch that runs on energy from the environment.
Human Systems Integration, Walpole, Mass., which develops technology for situational awareness.
International Thermodyne, Charlotte, N.C., whose PowerFelt product is made of flexible carbon nanotubes and captures thermoelectric energy.
Juxtopia, Baltimore, Md., a biomedical and information technology firm focused on human performance.
Kofman Technologies, Urbana-Champaign, a student group working to “reduce lethality” in public safety.
Neumitra, Boston, which develops technologies to address brain health and performance.
NuCurrent, Chicago, which develops thin antennas and electronics that enable wireless recharging of devices.
PivotHead Wearable Imaging, Centennial, Colo., which creates smart eyewear.
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Rithmio, Champaign, whose gesture-recognition platform powers products such as wearables.
Select Engineering Services, Layton, Utah, whose Automatic Injury Detection product shares a person’s identity, location and injuries when struck.
Telesense, San Francisco Bay area, an Internet of things company that lets clients monitor their environments.
TRX, Greenbelt, Md., which determines locations of objects indoors where GPS doesn’t work.
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