Chamber Announces 2020 Pressure Chamber Finalists
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (July 30, 2020)
Contact: Erik Greenfield, Communications Manager, 608-443-1952 (office), 608-669-7884 (cell)
MADISON – Today the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce announced the five finalists competing in this year’s Pressure Chamber startup initiative, which returns Aug. 14 during Forward Festival, an eight-day celebration of entrepreneurship and innovation in Madison.
At Pressure Chamber, emerging companies will pitch to a panel of national investors and regional business audience in a virtual setting, in compliance with physical distancing best practices and government guidelines.
The 2020 Pressure Chamber finalists are:
- Cultured Decadence (Madison) – Develops novel methods to make crustacean products using cell culture and tissue engineering techniques, allowing the company to create crustacean products directly from the animals’ cells (no shell, no organs, no waste).
- Last Lock (Madison) – Allows homes and businesses to transform any mechanical lock system into a highly secure smart lock.
- Pyran (Madison) – Uses renewable crop resources to produce key ingredients used in paints and coatings at 25-40 percent lower costs than competing oil-based chemicals.
- RehabPath (Madison) – Builds platforms that present trusted, helpful resources to people looking for addiction and mental health treatment, while providing an effective and ethical advertising channel for treatment providers competing in a $35 billion-a-year industry (U.S. alone) and already spending more than $250 million a year in Google Ads.
- Talent Bandit (Madison) – A centralized hub for Staffing Agencies, Hiring Managers and Candidates to communicate and share information in a simple, frictionless and bias-free manner.
“Now more than ever, we are thrilled to provide this important platform to showcase emerging companies that are helping drive the future of Greater Madison’s economy,” said Chamber President Zach Brandon. “It is encouraging to see the tremendous innovation occurring in our region, even during challenging times, and a good sign for our economic recovery.”
The winning company receives the coveted “golden suitcase,” representing a reserved spot in the Chamber’s exclusive Greater Madison startup meetings with top Silicon Valley investment firms this October. Past Pressure Chamber winners have credited the initiative for helping their company close successful funding rounds. Additionally, Pressure Chamber has been recognized by both the International Economic Development Council and Steve Case’s Rise of the Rest Summit as an entrepreneurship and economic development best practice.
To register for Pressure Chamber, visit madisonbiz.com/pressure-chamber.
Pressure Chamber is presented by Michael Best & Friedrich, with support from the State of Wisconsin Investment Board, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, American Family Ventures, Baird Capital, 4490 Ventures, HealthX Ventures and Rock River Capital Partners.
Pressure Chamber finalists are available for interviews upon request.
For more information about Forward Fest, visit forwardfest.org.
About the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce:
The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business
with more than 1,200 organizations – ranging from one-person shops to
corporations with more than 10,000 employees – working to bring the Greater
Madison area to its full potential. The Greater Madison region is a leader in
innovation. From cutting-edge technologies to distinctive retail shops to
inventive services and products, our members vary greatly but are united by the
region’s entrepreneurial spirit. More information can be found at madisonbiz.com.
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