Winners of reSET's 2019 Venture Showcase Revealed

reSET, the Social Enterprise Trust, whose mission is advancing the social enterprise sector and supporting entrepreneurs of all stripes, revealed the winners of its 2019 Venture Showcase on June 11 at the Connecticut Science Center to a sellout crowd of 200.

The annual event recognizes the talented entrepreneurs and innovative businesses that have just graduated from reSET’s nationally recognized accelerator. 14 early stage enterprises graduated from the recent cohort, and last night, seven finalists competed for $20,000 in unrestricted funding.

The entrepreneurs pitched their business models to an audience of founders, investors, and community and corporate stakeholders.

An esteemed panel of judges, including Kevin Bouley, President and CEO of Nerac, Inc; Susan Coleman, professor of finance at the University of Hartford; and Steven Taylor, Vice President and Branch Manager for United Bank in Downtown Hartford, selected the ultimate winners.

Recipients of the competition’s various awards are listed below.

reSET Impact Awards:

$10,000

Raise Green https://www.raisegreen.com/

A platform that allows anyone to invest small amounts of money in local renewable energy projects. A platform that makes it easier to open a solar array in your neighborhood than a gas station.

$6,000

Engagement Solutions http://www.engagement-solutions.com/

A cloud-based platform with a goal of improving efficiencies of social services by connecting people to programs through an interoperable, centralized digital record via a secure, mobile forward application.

$4,000

Kiyomi Beauty Box http://www.kiyomibeauty.com/

This bi-monthly subscription box navigates the Korean Beauty industry, curates and delivers 5-7 full-size and deluxe sample products right to your doorstep.

Superlative Awards:

“Community Choice Award”

TIEV (Treasure in Earthen Vessels)

An e-commerce platform which will identify, market, and sell on a global scale, the products of talented artisans in developing countries, who lack the tools to showcase and benefit from their talent.

"Audience Favorite Award"

Raise Green https://www.raisegreen.com/

"Judges' Favorite Award"

Little Nomad https://www.little-nomad.com/

For those unwilling to waiver in their good taste & elevated home aesthetic because of real life — spills, pets, toddlers! Make and create spaces that are functional and beautiful, with Little Nomad.

"Honorable Mention"

Jam Program

Building communities one party at a time. Your book club, but better. Jam Kits have shaken and stirred women’s outdated, sit-in-a-circle snooze-fest parties, putting a fresh twist on creating connections.

Other finalists:

Alchemists Beauty LLC

Two high school chemistry teachers created a beauty tonic called S T R U C T U R E, formulated with a diverse selection of plant-based essential nutrients the body needs to renew, protect & repair our skin.

Helpfie Smart First Aid http://www.esociates.org/

We equip bystanders with life saving skills delivered on demand, in an elegant and intuitive mobile application.

The Accelerator program and Venture Showcase was made possible by reSET’s partners and sponsors: Murtha Cullina LLP, The Walker Group, Connecticut Science Center, Travelers, Capital for Change, and The Bolder Company. SnapSeat Photo Booths also provided in-kind services.

Since 2013, reSET has graduated 112 companies from its accelerator program and has awarded more than a quarter of a million dollars to scaling ventures.

About reSET

reSET, the Social Enterprise Trust is a non-profit organization whose mission is to advance the social enterprise sector. reSET serves all entrepreneurs, but specializes in social enterprise ― impact driven business with a double and sometimes triple bottom line. In addition to providing co-working space and accelerator and mentoring programs, reSET aims to inspire innovation and community collaboration, and to support entrepreneurs in creating market-based solutions to community challenges. reSET’s goal is to meet entrepreneurs wherever they are in their trajectory and to help them take their businesses to the next level.