Finalists Named in 2015 TechOut Competition

Five finalists have been selected for TechOut 2015, New Hampshire’s largest tech startup competition.

A partnership between the NH High Tech Council (NHHTC) and Alpha Loft, TechOut identifies entrepreneurs with viable plans to develop and market new technology products and funds them through investment capital awards of $100,000. The contest’s winner will be selected at the live event at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 7, according to a press release.

TechOut includes live pitches from the finalists, an unveiling of the three winners, networking, and food and beverages for an absurdly low cost at $10 for members and $15 for not-yet-members.

“Our goal is to pack the house with current and future entrepreneurs,” said Matt Cookson, executive director of the NHHTC. “We are psyched to hear from our finalists and award $100,000 to the top three. TechOut is a great opportunity for these businesses to introduce themselves to the public and to pitch their ideas to other industry experts.”

The finalists for this year are:

• Align Revenue of Nashua, presented by CEO and cofounder Ric Pratte, is an interactive online meeting platform that engages buyers and automatically updates customer relationship management (CRM) software. It is focused on B2B inside sales;
• AuthEntry of Hampstead, presented by CEO Andrew Hebert, the “world’s first password-free computing platform” that combines password and identity access management, strong multi-factor authentication and single sign-on through its Gatekeeper-Pro product;
• IndustryMD of Madbury, presented by founder Jim Kelly, an online platform that solves the challenges of all industries by curating the solutions of all B2B vendors and connecting those solutions with customers;
• SalesGoose of Durham, presented by Rick Ouellette, a software application that uses algorithms to make the sales process more efficient for buyers and sellers by sorting and prioritizing sales pitches, emails, presentations and cold calls; and
• Slipstream Music Player of Barrington, presented by founder Garrett Cypher, a group music player and sharing application that lets users and their friends view and play each other’s music and vote on what music plays next.

TechOut is open to startups that have been in business for fewer than three years, raised less than $250,000 in funding and have less than $250,000 in revenue. The competition awards $100,000 in prize money each year: first place receives $50,000, second place $30,000 and third place $20,000. At the public event on October 7, a panel of judges will select the first and second place winners, while the third place winner will be decided entirely by the audience the night of the event.

The lead sponsor for the 2015 TechOut competition is Borealis Ventures. Other sponsors are: FairPoint Communications, Dyn, Cook Little Rosenblatt Mason,Credit Suisse, Eastern Bank, Dunn, Rush & Co., Entrepreneurs Foundation of New Hampshire, Berry Dunn, Hypertherm, TD Bank, Howe, Riley & Howe andNew Hampshire Business Review.

The event is $10 for members and $15 for not-yet-members and $5 for students. For more information or to register to attend this year’s competition, visit NHHTC.org or alphaloft.org.