MassChallenge Boston announced the top 26 startups from its four-month accelerator program this week, which included companies producing some of the most innovative solutions across industries. Now, the 26 startups will move into the final judging round, where they’ll compete for shares of $1.5M in equity-free prizes. From connecting families to high-quality nannies to helping athletes strength train, the following five companies made the cut for their disruptive technology.
Photo via Cadence
Cadence wants to take the stress out of event management with its mobile app, which lets users build an event schedule, communicate with attendees, send real-time notifications, survey guests and more. Whether you’re planning a music festival or a conference, Cadence says it will have your event mapped out in under an hour.
Photo via Cozykin
CozyKin has tapped into the sharing economy for childcare by matching local families together and placing them with Montessori-trained nannies that they share. To date, more than 600 families have signed up across Boston, Cambridge and Somerville.
Photo via The Puffin
Puffin is on a mission to enhance the lives of people with disabilities by creating assistive tech that facilitates community inclusion and employment opportunities. They’re known for their connected power chair, which lets someone living with paralysis to operate not just the chair but also his or her phone and other connected devices seamlessly through one device.
Photo via ShutterStock
Voatz is on a mission to make voting safer and more convenient, letting citizens vote from their smartphones. Users of Voatz must undergo a comprehensive identity and eligibility verification process prior to being to able to vote in local, municipal, state, national and university elections. The platform also lets candidates and groups fundraise directly through the app.
Photo via ShutterStock
W8X helps athletes get stronger with strength training equipment that adapts to their specific needs. Inspired by robotics, W8X created a weight lifting system that creates resistance electrically. The system, controlled through an app, also collects and tracks metrics such as velocity and power, helping strength coaches and athletes to more accurately evaluate progress and select training programs for targeted strength goals.
This article originally appeared in Built in Boston.