SHIFT Ventures and Conscious Venture Lab have announced the full line-up for “Demo Day 3,”Smart Cities and Urban Resilience. On Wednesday, February 7th from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the MICA Fred Lazarus IV Center, Conscious Venture Lab’s six cohort companies will have the opportunity to pitch innovative ideas and reveal new company developments in front of influential local and national investors, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders.
SHIFT Ventures and Conscious Venture Lab partnered in 2017 to grow economic prosperity in traditional places and those neglected in the past. They build “Companies that Matter” based on purpose, passion, and the undeniable strength of the human spirit.
“Working hand-in-hand with this new crop of companies, our mentors and our SHIFT Ventures consultants has been an incredible journey,” said Jeff Cherry, CEO of SHIFT Ventures and founder of Conscious Venture Lab. “We are truly thankful that these six companies will have the opportunity to meet and learn from remarkable leaders that can give them the encouragement and advice that will allow them to grow and prosper in Baltimore.”
“The cohort companies will have the opportunity to receive feedback from the best of the Baltimore Innovation ecosystem to help them prepare for pitching to real investors,” added Cherry.
The Demo Day 3 panelists include: John Cammack, Mentor and Angel Investor; Greg Cangialosi, Managing Member of the Baltimore Angels; Claire Broido Johnson, President of CBJ Energy, Deb Tillet, CEO of Emerging Technology Center (ETC); and Kelly Keenan Trumpbour, Founder of See Jane Invest.
After each cohort company pitch, there will be an interactive Q&A session where the panel will test the proposals and business models. They will then select a company that they believe is best poised to scale for returns and impact.
“Since partnering with Conscious Venture Lab, it has been inspiring to meet companies that are using their big ideas and talents to better our communities,” said Joe Mechlinski, CEO of SHIFT and Founder of SHIFT Ventures. “I’m looking forward to seeing what they have prepared.”
The night will also offer a series of speakers featuring Jeff Cherry, CEO of SHIFT Ventures and founder of Conscious Venture Lab; Joe Mechlinksi, CEO of SHIFT and Founder of SHIFT Ventures. Ahamd Ashkar, Founder and CEO of the Hult Prize Foundation and Founding Partner of the Laudato Si Investment Challenge, will give his insight on “The Power of the Social Economy.” Funlayo Alabi, CEO of Shea Radiance, will close out the event with her thoughts on “How the New Narrative of Business Can Change the World.”
The six presenting Conscious Venture Lab cohort companies are:
- The Cube, is Maryland’s first membership-based co-working space focsed on parent entrepreneurs. It includes a play area – equipped with eco-friendly toys and staffed by CPR-certified personnel – for children. For adults, The Cube has communal workspace, meeting rooms, free high-speed Wi-Fi, and other business necessities.
- Danae Prosthetics, is a Baltimore-based firm that helps amputees design their own prosthetic covers, helping them to embrace their “new normal.”
- GridLion, a Baltimore-based utility data analytics firm that helps its clients – including commercial building owners, healthcare and industrial facilities, and indoor agriculture facilities – save as much as 30 percent on energy and water, and improve power quality for operational resilience.
- Parkofon, an Alexandria, Virginia-based firm that has developed an all-in-one device that will ease one of the biggest headaches that urban residents face. It helps facilitate car sharing, parking management and enforcement by providing a fully automated parking payment and control system.
- The Treason Toting Co, founded in Baltimore in 2013, sells backpacks and tote bags online and from pop-up stores with major retailers. The bags are durable enough for everything from delicate iPads to heavy hand tools. They help you “Carry Your Stories” and explore the world.
- UJoin, based in Hawaii, is a social benefit company that has developed an app that helps small and mid-sized groups run grassroots advocacy campaigns as effectively as the largest organizations.
To learn more about Conscious Venture Lab Demo Day 3, please visit: https://
About SHIFT Ventures and the Conscious Venture Lab:
The Conscious Venture Lab is on a mission is to uncover entrepreneurial talent wherever it might be. In 2017, Conscious Venture Lab’s parent company, The Porter Group joined forces with Baltimore-based SHIFT to form SHIFT Ventures in order to help entrepreneurs achieve increased levels of growth and sustainability. Together, the companies can offer innovators and entrepreneurs new corporate partners, investors, and world-class consulting expertise.
