The EvoNexus incubator graduated 10 more startup companies on Thursday night, bringing the total since 2009 to 105 firms that have raised more than $670 million in funding.
The companies — which ranged from point-of-sale loans to Uber-like truck sharing to 3D-printer software — presented their businesses to a capacity crowd of 300 at the Rady School of Management at UC San Diego.
“Startups are not for the faint of heart,” said EvoNexus CEO Rory Moore before introducing the presenting teams. “Startups are something you do when you’re totally committed.”
Among the 10 companies that presented were:
- Loan Hero — The company offers technology to make it easier to consumers to get point-of-sale loans. It has aready funded $1.6 million in loans. “We’re here to help people and make money,” said Founder and COO Kristin Sink.
- Astroprint — An open software platform for the 3D-printer world that makes it easy for consumers to print objects.
- Qelzal — Object-avoidance technology for commercial drones. The first product helps drones avoid airliners and other manned aircraft. “Qelzal will become the mobile eye of the drone industry,” said CEO Olivier Coenen.
- GoShare — A truck-sharing network for moving heavy items. “So far, our customers love us,” said CEO Shaun Savage.
- CollectiveSun — Provides solar power installations for nonprofits through a crowd-lending platform. Founder Lee Barken said nonprofits have been left out of the solar-power revolution because they cannot benefit from tax credits.
- Wrapify — Crowd-sourced advertising campaigns with vehicle wraps.
- Dotstudioz — Revenue-generating tools for online video producers on YouTube and other networks. The company’s goal is to “empower the digital storytellers of tomorrow.”
Using cellphones, the crowd voted Wrapify the winning presenter, but Moore pointed out that it was a close tally.
After the presentations, the teams met with venture capital firms that could provide financing.
EvoNexus admits a new class of companies twice a year, providing space and mentoring at no charge in downtown San Diego, the University Town Center area and in Irvine.