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Ford-sponsored Techstars Mobility, driven by Detroit introduces its
2016 class after a competitive selection process that saw nearly 500
applications from 52 countries across six continents
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Twelve companies will participate in a three-month mentorship program,
accelerating their businesses and partnerships across the automotive
industry; participating companies will receive $120,000 in funding
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Ford and Techstars saw a 27 percent increase in applications this
year; top applicant themes include ride-sharing services and
technologies, improving the car-ownership experience, and safety and
autonomous driving technologies
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Ford is working to foster the startup community through business
relationships and donations
Company Website:
http://corporate.ford.com/
DEARBORN, Mich. -- (Business Wire)
Ford Motor Company and Techstars Mobility, driven by Detroit today
introduce their newest class of startup businesses that will work this
summer from Ford Field offices in downtown Detroit to develop future
mobility solutions.
Twelve companies will participate in a three-month program focusing on
transportation solutions, aligned with Ford Smart Mobility, the
company’s plan to be a leader in connectivity, mobility, autonomous
vehicles, the customer experience, and data and analytics.
“Techstars and Ford Motor Company are working to support smart,
ambitious entrepreneurs who are developing innovative solutions for
mobility issues,” said Ken Washington, Ford vice president, Research and
Advanced Engineering. “Startups are bringing new energy and creative
thinking to the fore, and we are pleased to introduce these new ideas to
Detroit and the auto industry.”
The Techstars
class of 2016 is:
- Acerta
provides machine-assisted anomaly detection and root-cause analysis
- Algocian
delivers state-of-the-art video analytics for security and autonomous
vehicles
- Braiq
works to personalize the self-driving car
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Cargo is a data-driven general store for the ride-sharing economy
- Donut
Media is a digital media company for millennial and Gen Z car
enthusiasts
- Drive
Spotter offers real-time video search for fleet management
- GoKid
delivers complete carpool solutions for busy families
- HAAS
Alert is a connected notification platform that warns motorists
when emergency vehicles are approaching
- HERO
is an app that rewards safe behavior and helps impaired drivers get
home safely
- Rally
is a platform that allows for pop-up mass transit in high-occupancy
vehicles
- Spatial
provides a dynamic, human-driven layer of social intelligence for maps
and navigation
- Voyhoy
is a multimodal transportation booking platform in Latin America and
Europe
Techstars Mobility is a mentorship-driven accelerator program launched
in 2015 to focus on next-generation mobility solutions. This year,
stakeholders reviewed nearly 500 applications from 52 countries across
six continents – a 27 percent increase over 2015. Top themes from
applicants include ride-sharing services and technologies, improving the
car-ownership experience, and safety and autonomous-driving technologies.
Increasingly, applicants focused on personalizing electric vehicles
using software or app development methods. Others concentrate on
personal mobility for new eras of car owners including millennials, a
generation that places a premium on standing out as opposed to fitting
in. This encourages businesses to offer tools for greater self-reliance
and purposefulness.
Each company will receive $120,000 in funding along with three months of
intensive guidance on business development, customer acquisition and
developing relationships within the auto industry, along with support
from top business leaders.
The incoming class will focus on innovations that leverage emerging
trends – connectivity, real-time data, on-demand services, and sharing
and social platforms – in four key areas of interest to Ford:
• Consumer experience
• Information technology and data analytics
• Multimodal trip integration
• Flexible ownership and user experience
• Autonomous and safety technologies
Techstars Mobility, driven by Detroit starts June 13 and culminates
Sept. 8 with demo day at Detroit Opera House. Last year, more than 1,000
individuals from 50 different automotive organizations attended the
inaugural Techstars Mobility demo day.
Building on a successful 2015 class
The 2015 graduating class has raised $5 million in funding to date.
Among them is SPLT, which developed a ride-sharing app to promote
customized carpooling, which DTE Energy and other companies are
adopting. At the end of the 2015 program, SPLT chief executive and
founder Anya Babbitt announced her company would move from New York City
to Detroit’s Ford Field.
Meanwhile, the global Techstars program has graduated 745 companies
since launching in 2007. Those startups have raised $2.2 billion.
“Our program is expanding and exceeding expectations with a growing
worldwide response,” said Ted Serbinski, managing director, Techstars
Mobility. “The quality of companies and technologies submitted by
applicants this year is exceptional, making the selection process
difficult. We are excited to help these innovators accelerate their
businesses while bolstering the entrepreneurial resurgence in Detroit.”
In addition to Ford, the Techstars Mobility consortium includes several
global corporations also focused on next-generation mobility solutions.
Magna International, Verizon, Dana, Honda, McDonald’s, Munich Re and
Michelin have all contributed funding and mentorship.
Expanding support for startup community
Ford is also committed to fostering the startup community through
partnerships and donations.
Ford has acquired Detroit-based Livio, a software company working to
deliver new in-car connectivity solutions. The automaker also donated a
Transit Connect van to 2015 Techstars graduate Cosmos – now renamed
Lunar.
“Startups are unburdened by the past and think with a cleaner sheet of
paper,” said Bill Coughlin, president and CEO, Ford Global Technologies.
“Great, storied companies can benefit from the exciting solutions
scrappy startups offer. At the same time, Ford is interested in
fostering and engaging this community so that automotive innovations can
continue to grow and prosper.”
About Ford Motor Company
Ford
Motor Company is a global automotive and mobility company
based in Dearborn, Michigan. With about 201,000 employees and 67 plants
worldwide, the company’s core business includes designing,
manufacturing, marketing, financing and servicing a full line of Ford
cars, trucks, SUVs and electrified vehicles, as well as Lincoln luxury
vehicles. At the same time, Ford is aggressively pursuing emerging
opportunities through Ford Smart Mobility, the company’s plan to be a
leader in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer
experience, and data and analytics. The company provides financial
services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information
regarding Ford and its products worldwide or Ford Motor Credit Company,
visit www.corporate.ford.com.
About Techstars
Techstars is a global ecosystem that empowers entrepreneurs to bring
new technologies to market wherever they choose to live. With dozens of
mentorship-driven accelerator programs and thousands of startup programs
worldwide, Techstars exists to support the world’s most promising
entrepreneurs throughout their lifelong journey, from inspiration to
IPO. Techstars provides access to tens of thousands of community
leaders, founders, mentors, investors, and corporate partners, allowing
entrepreneurs to accelerate the pace of innovation and Do More Faster™.
Techstars supports every stage of the entrepreneurial journey – from
early stage grassroots community development to more formal
opportunities that provide education, experience, acceleration, funding,
and beyond. For more information, visit www.techstars.com.
For news releases, related materials and high-resolution photos and
video, visit www.media.ford.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160608005912/en/
Contacts:
Ford Motor Company
Alan Hall
734.845.4410
ahall32@ford.com
Source: Ford Motor Company
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