The Startup of the Year program team and representatives from Established connected with startups and multiple supporters of the startup ecosystem over four days at CES 2023 in Las Vegas.
This was an amazing opportunity to meet face-to-face with innovators and entrepreneurs, to help them tell their stories and get access to resources. This work is at the heart of what we do, and our network grows each day.
- If you’re a startup interested in joining the Startup of the Year community, please visit our application page here.
- If you’re an Entrepreneur Support Organization or other member of the startup ecosystem, please reach out to us here.
Startup Events at CES
We’ve been producing startup events at CES for over a decade, having helped the NSF launch Eureka Park back in 2012!
2023 marked our fifth year working with the CTA Foundation to operate its Pitch Competition at the Startup Stage in Eureka Park! This year, the CTAF event welcomed exhibiting startups who are working on technology that serves people of all ages and abilities, with a theme of “Getting Out”.
A great batch of startups took to the stage to share their wonderful work:
Biomotum, Inc from Oregon: “Empowering independence by energizing every step.”
GoodMaps from Kentucky: “maps with a mission”
Ochy from France: “Helping people to move better”
Ohm's Quest from France: “Sensory, immersive escape adventures anywhere!”
ReBokeh Vision Technologies from New Jersey: “Simply Seeing”
Seleste Innovations Inc from British Columbia: “Giving freedom and Independence to the visually impaired”
SM24 from Arizona: “measure your health”
Strap Technologies, Inc from Texas: “Wearable autonomy to rediscover every step”
Xander from Massachusetts: “Caption the World”
The competition was sponsored by both Canon and by Startup of the Year alumni Benjilock. After all nine startups gave their pitches, Robbie Cabral of Benjilock, Sarah Storelli of AWS, and Melissa Andresko of Lutron spoke to emcee Albert Lawrence about technology’s role in accessibility.
A crowd of over 200 gathered at the stage to be inspired by the variety of ways these companies are helping people to overcome temporary or long-term challenges to “Getting Out”. The three judges invited to evaluate the companies were Moaz Hamid of mvmt ventures, Ben Moultrie of Spock Ventures, and Nicole Butler of KW Inc.
The judges awarded the top prize to GoodMaps, and judge Moaz Hamid made a special request to add an award to be given to ReBokeh! The audience award went to Xander. Tune into our Startup of the Year podcast to hear more from GoodMaps!
Coffee with the Startup Community
Wherever we go, we love to get startups in a room with investors, the media, and innovation program managers. This year was no exception - we know how hard it is to get through the coffee lines during CES, so we welcomed founders and supporters to join us at a restaurant called Off The Strip before the exhibits opened on Friday morning.
We shared stories of fundraising, go-to-market strategies, and exhibitor booth tips along with coffee, tea, juice, and breakfast treats! Shown below: Perrine and Khaldon, cofounders of the French startup Ochy, meet investor/innovator Nick Fuller from San Francisco.
It’s so rewarding to meet new startups and introduce them to powerful connections for their business. We’ll be hosting more events at SXSW and we may be coming to your town, too! Reach out here to work together to support your local startup ecosystem.
The US Government at CES
Speaking of supporting local startup ecosystems, America’s Seed Fund awards non-dilutive funding for small businesses to develop their technology and chart a path toward commercialization. They do this through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. It was a thrill to be on hand with other government agencies to interact with the public and explain how these programs work.
Events are better with Established & Startup of the Year!
Established helps organizations with their innovation, startup, and communication strategies. We provide startups with resources and support to grow and get exposure, while working with partner organizations to connect the wider ecosystem.