Local Healthcare Innovator Up For Big Award

Six New Hampshire startups will compete for a prize package valued at over $55,000 courtesy of the Manchester Young Professionals Network, the state’s first and largest young professional network. The MYPN New Hampshire Startup Challenge is the state’s leading business plan competition that has awarded over $155,000 in cash and in-kind services to Granite State entrepreneurs over the past five years. The six semi-finalists, Regaalo, New England Culinary Center, Ustablize, Dreamy Paws, TechLok and Test Soup, will refine their business plans and make their pitch on May 21 at the abi Innovation Hub in Manchester.  The event is open to the public. RSVP atwww.mypn.org.

“More than 30 high-quality applications were submitted from across the state, evidence of the strength and passion of New Hampshire’s startup community,” said E.J. Powers, co-chair of the MYPN NH Startup Challenge. “On May 21^stthe public will have the unique opportunity to learn about what drives these six semi-finalists and why they should be the next NH Startup Challenge winner.”

The semi-finalists are:

• Regaalo.com leverages social e-commerce so family members can stay virtually connected with their students away at college. On Regaalo.com, family members can send their students mobile gift cards right to their cell phone from local merchants in Boston, as well as other college areas. Regaalo also offers customizable care packages to aid in rapid national expansion. Regaalo’s founders are Jessica Streitmater of Litchfield and Matt Robinson of Dover.
• New England Culinary Center is inspired by a community of culinary entrepreneurs whose biggest barrier to formalizing their food based businesses is initial start up costs. The NECC is born out of the belief that when given the right resources, this community of natural entrepreneurs can create vibrant, innovative, and profitable businesses. NECC will create an ecosystem that supports the development of the area’s next generation of culinary professionals. NECC is founded by Tom Puskarich of Manchester.

• Ustabilize® delivers a unique biometric platform, open API and series of app enabled devices to improve human movement and sport performance.  This dynamic gaming platform allows users to improve their stability through a series of movement challenges progressing them toward their sport/fitness related goals.   Users can challenge their friends and track their progress using the igotbalance.com web portal and Ustabilize web interface. Ustabilize is founded by husband and wife Michael and Monica Muldoon of Hampton.

• TechLok’s software monitors your tablet and smartphone 24/7 and takes proactive security measures to safeguard your data and assist in device recovery should a theft occur. Using proximity and location-specific algorithms, TechLok notifies you when you leave a device behind in a public area and automatically locks it to keep your data safe, while geo-marking its location so that it is easy to find. TechLok was founded by Andrew Richards of Manchester, NH and Central High School 2002 graduate. http://signup.techlok.com/
• TestSoup is a provider of innovative online and mobile test prep solutions. TestSoup was created to reinforce the fundamentals that are needed to be successful with any standardized test. By delivering expert educational resources in the form of mobile and web-based test prep materials, we’re helping thousands of students around the world become more successful. TestSoup was founded by Alex Hollis of Manchester and Tom “TK” Kuegler of Litchfield. www.testsoup.com.

• Dreamy Paws has created and patented a portable pet bed with storage. The bed can be personalized, with multiple design options to choose from on www.dreamypaws.com. Dreamy Paws’ founder is Melissa Tagliamonte of Salem.

MYPN members and the public are invited to hear a live pitch and meet the semi-finalists on May 21^st from 5:30 – 7:30 at the abi Innovation Hub located 844 Elm Street in Manchester, NH. Contestants will also submit a completed business plan on the 21^st. In the days following, two finalists will be chosen to present their business plan to the challenge judges.  Register online at www.mypn.org.

Ultimately, one winner will be chosen to receive over $55,000 in cash and and in-kind professional services donated by New Hampshire-area businesses. The winner will be revealed live at a reception on June 19^th at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College.

The prize package includes:

• Up to $20,000 in cash
• Airfare to Austin, TX, three days and two nights’ accommodations, two-day pass to South by Southwest Interactive and a VIP pass to the Dyn SXSW Music Meets Tech Party.
• $20,000 in advertising support from Business NH Magazine
• Seat in the abi Innovation Hub’s Accelerator Program and one-year residence at the abi.
• Accounting services from Howe Riley & Howe
• Legal services from McLane Law Firm
• Financial advisement from Morgan Stanley Wealth Management | The Schubert Group

The 5^th annual MYPN NH Startup Challenge is a statewide business plan competition designed to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation. The competition was created in 2008 by MYPN, New Hampshire’s first and largest young professional networking organization with nearly 3,000 members.

Public Service of New Hampshire is the presenting sponsor of the MYPN New Hampshire Startup Challenge. Other major sponsors include DYN, FairPoint Communications, Centrix Bank, abi Innovation Hub, Business NH Magazine, Howe Riley and Howe, McLane Law Firm, and Morgan Stanley Wealth Management| The Schubert Group.  Additional sponsorship opportunities are still available.

The MYPN NH Startup Challenge Committee consists of: Jamie Coughlin, abi Innovation Hub (co-chair), E.J. Powers, Montagne Communications (co-chair), Josh Delisle, DYN (co-chair), Michael Skelton, PSNH, and George Tzimas, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management – The Schubert Group.

For more information and complete rules of the competition, please visit www.mypn.org/nh-start-up-challenge.