## Schuylkill's Ignite Schuylkill Competition: $100,000 Up for Grabs! 

The **Ignite Schuylkill** Entrepreneur competition is down to the final four. This initiative, launched by the Schuylkill Chamber Foundation, aims to **boost local economic development** by supporting **emerging entrepreneurs**.  

Over the past 16 weeks, these entrepreneurs have been immersed in a comprehensive program covering **entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership**. Experienced business owners have served as mentors and guest lecturers, providing valuable guidance and insights.

The program culminates in a **live competition on August 8th, 2024**, where the entrepreneurs will pitch their businesses for a chance to win a **guaranteed prize of at least $100,000**. Think **Shark Tank** but with a Schuylkill County twist!

**Here are the four finalists vying for the grand prize:**

* **HomeBox by James Metsopulous**
* **The Farm Store by Angela and Josia Meck**
* **The Villa by Lexis Brownstein**
* **The Rosalia Hotel by Hannah Corbacio and Nick Hair**

Get ready for an exciting competition as these entrepreneurs showcase their innovative ideas and fight for the top prize!

Schuylkill County's "Ignite Schuylkill" Entrepreneur competition has been narrowed to four.

Schuylkill's $100,000 Startup Competition: Meet the Finalists!

## The Rise of Creator Economy Startups

The **creator economy** is seeing a surge of innovative startups aiming to carve out their space amidst the dominance of **Big Tech**. Venture capitalists have identified several promising companies that are making waves in this evolving landscape.

![Creator startup executives LaTecia Johnson (Ingenius), Megh Vakharia (SymphonyOS), and Karsen Daily (Trips)](https://i.insider.com/671a6a5ba0a0cc14f22398af?width=700)

### The Landscape

Despite the significant **financial resources** and influence of platforms like **YouTube**, **Instagram**, and **TikTok**, which facilitate billions in influencer payments, a new cohort of startups is emerging with unique offerings that cater to creators. These startups are leveraging technology to help creators build sustainable businesses.

### Promising Startups for 2024

Business Insider has compiled a list of **13 startups** that venture capitalists believe are worth watching in 2024:

1. **Agentio** - An advertising platform for brands and creators to track campaigns, using AI to match advertisers with creators.
   ![Agentio cofounders Arthur Leopold and Jonathan Meyers](https://i.insider.com/671a64ae9b3250dbbce9c2cf?width=600)

2. **Captions** - A platform that uses AI to help creators edit and produce video content, with features for translating videos.
   ![Captions cofounders Gaurav Misra and Dwight Churchill](https://i.insider.com/671a5ce59b3250dbbce9be33?width=600)

3. **Delphi** - An AI platform that creates digital 'clones' of creators to engage with fans.
   ![Delphi cofounders Sam Spelsberg and Dara Ladjevardian](https://i.insider.com/671937c001ea6d83dee386d7?width=600)

4. **DreamFlare** - A platform for AI storytelling, enabling creators to produce interactive digital content.
   ![DreamFlare cofounders Josh Liss and Rob Bralver](https://i.insider.com/671a45a49b3250dbbce9b639?width=600)

5. **Flavrs** - A TikTok-style app specifically for food creators, enabling recipe sharing and ingredient ordering.
   ![Flavrs cofounders Alejandro Oropeza and François Chu](https://i.insider.com/654a17613cc84b4dfafd940b?width=600)

6. **Ingenius** - A management platform for influencer marketing campaigns, focusing on matching brands with suitable creators.
   ![Ingenius CEO LaTecia Johnson](https://i.insider.com/671936a19b3250dbbce989a8?width=600)

7. **Kajabi** - An online course platform that recently added newsletter capabilities, helping creators market digital products.
   ![Kajabi CEO Ahad Khan](https://i.insider.com/671a609401ea6d83dee3bef5?width=600)

8. **Merse** - A digital comics platform that incorporates audio effects and AI for enhanced storytelling.
   ![Merse cofounder Mark Rachapoom](https://i.insider.com/671a472ea0a0cc14f22389c8?width=600)

9. **RedCircle** - An adtech platform for podcasters, facilitating ad insertion and cross-promotion capabilities.
   ![RedCircle cofounders Mike Kadin and Jeremy Lermitte](https://i.insider.com/671a452101ea6d83dee3b3f7?width=600)

10. **ShopMy** - A social commerce platform that connects brands with creators for affiliate marketing partnerships.
    ![ShopMy cofounders Harry Rein, Tiffany Lopinsky, and Chris Tinsley](https://i.insider.com/666203c1d0b8e1c832ccb8f3?width=600)

11. **SymphonyOS** - A marketing platform that automates marketing efforts for artists and music creators.
    ![SymphonyOS cofounders Chuka Chase and Megh Vakharia](https://i.insider.com/671a5c2ea0a0cc14f223923b?width=600)

12. **Trips** - A blockchain-based system for copyright verification, helping creators manage content ownership.
    ![Trips CEO Michael Finkelstein and head of brand Karsen Daily](https://i.insider.com/671a4554a0a0cc14f223894f?width=600)

### Conclusion

As the **creator economy** continues to evolve, these startups represent the innovative spirit and potential for disruption within the space. With the backing of savvy investors, they are poised to make a significant impact in 2024.

Venture-capital firms shared the creator startups they saw as promising in 2024, from AI companies to influencer-marketing firms.

2024's Must-Watch Startups in the Creator Economy: Insights from Top VCs

### Astra's Groundbreaking Deal
Astra has just secured a significant boost for its **Rocket 4** development, having signed a contract worth **up to $44 million** with the **Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)** of the U.S. military. This funding is aimed at enhancing the production capabilities of Astra’s **tactically responsive launch system**, which is designed to launch rockets from various locations including the U.S. and Australia.

![Astra Rocket](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YmYemckQqijAU4S2Gz2bGM.jpg)
*The nose cone of an Astra rocket with its arrow logo and U.S. flag. The company has signed a $44 million contract for its Rocket 4 line. (Image credit: Astra)*

### Rocket 4 Overview
**Rocket 4** is set to be Astra's next-generation launch vehicle, designed to be larger and more powerful than its predecessor, **Rocket 3**, which was retired in 2022 after several launch failures. The new rocket will stand **62 feet (18.9 meters)** tall and is capable of carrying **1,320 pounds (600 kilograms)** to **low Earth orbit**.

### Acknowledging Challenges
Astra faced considerable challenges with its previous rocket model, which led to a re-evaluation of its business structure. Co-founders **Chris Kemp** and **Adam London** took the company private earlier this year to avoid bankruptcy. Kemp emphasized that this military contract is a **validation of Astra's vision** for **responsive space delivery**, crucial for national security and defense applications.

### Future Launch Plans
Once operational, Astra aims to conduct launches on a **weekly basis**, marking a significant shift in its operational capabilities. This contract not only signifies a financial boost but also an endorsement of Astra's innovative approach to space technology.

Launch startup Astra has secured a contract with the US military, worth up to $44 million, to continue developing its new Rocket 4 vehicle.

Astra Secures $44 Million Military Contract to Propel Rocket 4 Development

### The Challenge of Cold Calling
As a director of sales for a legal software company, **Tony De Leon** faced the tedious task of **cold calling prospects**, often only to reach their voicemails. This repetitive process involved extensive busywork, including finding numbers, researching prospects, and logging calls.

### The AI Solution
Upon discovering the AI sales platform **Nooks**, Tony was able to **automate** many of these manual tasks such as finding contact details, leaving voicemails, and drafting emails. With the help of Nooks’ **dialing assistant**, he increased his daily conversations from **two to ten**, significantly enhancing his **pipeline generation**—a crucial process for converting prospects into customers. According to Nooks CEO **Daniel Lee**, "The sales pipeline is the lifeblood of a company."

### Nooks’ Growth and Funding
Founded in **2020** by Stanford classmates Rohan Suri, Daniel Lee, and Nikhil Cheerla, Nooks recently announced it has raised **$43 million** in Series B funding led by **Kleiner Perkins**, bringing its total funding to **$70 million** and its valuation to **$285 million**. The startup has seen **quadrupled revenue** year on year, fueled by thousands of sales representatives from companies like **Fivetran** and **Amplitude** who utilize its AI tools.

### A Strategic Pivot
Initially launched as a “**virtual office**” platform for remote collaboration, Nooks pivoted to focus on sales tools in **2022** after recognizing the needs of sales teams. Lee noted that this decision to focus on AI solutions for sales proved wise, especially as many companies in the original space have struggled.

### Advanced AI Capabilities
Nooks’ platform leverages established AI models like **OpenAI’s GPT** and **Google’s Gemini**, trained on a dataset of **100 million anonymized sales conversations**. In addition to automating tasks, it offers **coaching tools** for salespeople to practice calls and receive feedback, aiming to eliminate the inefficiencies caused by “tool bloat” in the sales process.

### Competitive Landscape
Facing competition from major players like **Salesforce** and **Microsoft**, which are also developing AI-driven sales tools, Nooks is committed to enhancing its offerings. The new funding will help expand its team and improve features for lead generation, aiming to automate mundane tasks for approximately **3 million sales representatives** in the U.S., allowing them to focus on the more strategic aspects of selling.

### Investor Insights
**Leigh Marie Braswell**, a partner at Kleiner Perkins, emphasized that enterprises seek applications that boost productivity and revenue. She is optimistic that Nooks can deliver solutions that allow sales teams to dedicate more time to **human-centered** tasks like closing deals and building relationships.

Founded by three Stanford roommates, Nooks has raised $43 million in funding to automate laborious sales tasks. 

Revolutionizing Sales: How Nooks is Transforming Cold Calling with AI

### Finix: A Game Changer in Payment Solutions

Finix is a startup that empowers **merchants** to seamlessly **accept** and **manage payments**. Recently, they successfully raised **$75 million** in a Series C funding round, backed by **Lightspeed Ventures** and **Acrew Capital**.

![Finix pitch deck](https://i.insider.com/671943a4a0a0cc14f223630b?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp)

Founded in **2016**, Finix has established itself as a formidable player in the fintech landscape, having raised a total of **$208 million** to date. The company was recognized in **Business Insider's** list of the **most promising fintechs of 2024** for its innovative approach to payment solutions. Finix's primary focus is to help businesses with minimal technical resources facilitate payments, making it easier for everyone from **coffee shops** to **digital marketplaces** like **Etsy** to manage their transactions efficiently.

### Simplifying Payment Processes
Historically, businesses handling various payment types needed multiple providers, creating a complex web of integrations. Finix aims to streamline this by offering a comprehensive solution that facilitates both **in-store** and **online payments**, as well as **international transactions**. They also cater to subscription companies needing to manage payments across multiple merchants and customers, akin to **Airbnb** and **Uber**.

Finix processes billions of dollars monthly for tens of thousands of merchants, with a **revenue growth** that has quadrupled over the past year.

### Low Code, No Code Tools
Finix primarily targets companies lacking the software development resources to customize their payment offerings. Their value proposition centers around **low code, no code** tools, allowing non-programmers to build applications and automate tasks without coding skills. 

As CEO **Richie Serna** puts it, "If **Adyen** is for the enterprise, **Square** is for micro-merchants, and **Stripe** is for developer-centric startups, **Finix** is designed for the **22 million businesses** that either lack developers or have insufficient developer resources."

Despite competing against larger players like **Stripe**, Finix boasts a **60% success rate** in closing deals with prospective clients.

### A Comprehensive Payment Solution
Finix is designed to be a one-stop shop for diverse payment needs, functioning as a **complex system** of interconnected services. The company manages merchant underwriting, compliance checks, risk assessments using **machine learning**, and secure storage of payment information.

With a focus on simplicity, Finix aims to ensure that users see the seamless experience while handling a multitude of complex processes behind the scenes.

### Explore the Finix Pitch Deck
Here’s the **26-page pitch deck** Finix utilized to secure its Series C funding, showcasing their innovative approach and market potential.

![Finix pitch deck](https://i.insider.com/671943a401ea6d83dee38da5?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp)

![Finix pitch deck](https://i.insider.com/671943a4a0a0cc14f2236305?width=600&format=jpeg&auto=webp)

Finix is going after a piece of the payments pie with the startup's no-code solution. Here's the 26-slide deck that won over investors.

Unveiling Finix: The Startup Transforming Payments with a $75 Million Series C Funding

### Supply Chain Disruptions Cost Trillions
Each year, **supply chain disruptions** cost the global economy **trillions of dollars**. A recent **McKinsey poll** revealed that **nine in ten businesses** faced logistics challenges in the past year.

### Rising Challenges in Shipping
Headwinds have intensified due to chaos in key shipping corridors. Attacks on freighters in the **Red Sea** and flooding disrupting automotive production in **Europe** are just a few examples. Additionally, trade tensions are hindering the movement of manufacturing equipment to **Southeast Asia**.

### Interos Thriving Amidst Crisis
In this turbulent landscape, **Interos**, a supply chain risk intelligence firm, has successfully acquired several high-profile clients, including the **Defense Department** and Canada’s **Coast Guard and Royal Navy**. CEO **Ted Krantz** reported a **35% year-over-year revenue growth**.

### Innovative Supply Chain Monitoring
Launched in **2005**, Interos utilizes **AI** to map and monitor organizations’ supply chains, identifying potential regulatory, labor, and cybersecurity risks. Their platform allows customers to integrate financial and contractual risk data, enhancing supply chain visibility.

![Interos Supply Chain Monitoring Dashboard](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Interos_3PL_software.5e61a9dc21e36-transformed.jpeg)
*Image Credits: Interos*

### Impressive Client Base
Interos currently serves around **100 clients**, including major players like **Google**, **NASA**, and the **U.S. Navy**. However, the **AI in supply chain market**, valued at **$5.05 billion** in 2023, is highly competitive, with many vendors targeting similar customer segments.

### Strategic Expansion Plans
To maintain its competitive edge, Interos recently closed a **$40 million strategic growth round** from **Blue Owl Capital**, aimed at enhancing product development and AI capabilities. To date, the company has raised nearly **$175 million** in venture capital, showcasing strong investor confidence in its vision for **AI-powered predictive analytics**.

Interos, a supply chain intelligence firms, has raised a new round of cash and secured several high-profile clients.

Interos Secures Major Clients and Funding Amid Supply Chain Challenges

### Boardy: An Innovative AI Networking Solution

**Boardy**, a groundbreaking professional networking startup powered by **AI voice technology**, has successfully raised **$3 million** in a pre-seed funding round. Co-founded by **Andrew D’Souza** and brothers **Ankur** and **Abhinav Boyed**, Boardy officially launched this month after a summer of development.

### How Boardy Works

The process is straightforward: users provide their phone numbers to **Boardy.ai** and receive a call from an AI voice assistant named **Boardy**. During the call, users share their current projects, and Boardy searches its network for potential connections. The network, which currently includes a few thousand members, originated from D’Souza’s own connections with **investors, founders, and creators**. Boardy is particularly useful for those seeking to meet **customers** and **investors**, as well as finding **co-founders** and entering **accelerator programs**.

### Facilitating Connections

If Boardy identifies a suitable connection, it facilitates a **double-opt-in introduction**. Once both parties agree, Boardy introduces them via email. Users can call Boardy weekly for new introductions, enhancing their networking opportunities.

### Addressing Loneliness Through AI

D’Souza's motivation for starting Boardy stems from the **loneliness epidemic** in America, exacerbated by social media. While many AI companies focus on creating **AI companions**, Boardy aims to **foster human connections**. D’Souza envisions a future where **AI enhances human interaction** rather than replacing it.

### The Journey and Future Plans

Prior to Boardy, D’Souza co-founded **Clearco**, an e-commerce platform. Fundraising was facilitated by connections made through Clearco, with notable investors including **HF0**, **8VC**, **Precursor**, **Afore**, **FJ Labs**, and **NextView**. The new capital will be used to further develop Boardy’s AI capabilities, making it smarter and more empathetic, while also expanding its personal network.

### Competitive Landscape

Currently, Boardy faces limited competition in the AI social networking sector, with other companies like **Butterflies** and **SocialAI** in the space. D’Souza believes Boardy’s approach is unique, emphasizing that the AI agent prioritizes the needs of its users without compromising others in its network, which enhances its trustworthiness.

Boardy is an AI that meets you via a phone call and then introduces you to other humans to expand your professional network.

Meet Boardy: The AI Networking Assistant Revolutionizing Professional Connections with $3M in Funding

### The Rise of Prenups Among Millennials and Gen Z

**Good morning!** Gender plays a key role in the presidential election, the American Stroke Association addresses women’s risks, and millennials and Gen Z are getting prenups. Have a great Thursday.

**– I do.** Over recent years, Libby Leffler, former chief of staff to Sheryl Sandberg at Facebook, identified significant trends: **women are outpacing men in earning college degrees**, **own more homes than single men**, and are set to benefit from the **upcoming $80 trillion Great Wealth Transfer**. These observations led her to launch **First**, an online prenup startup aimed at helping couples navigate financial agreements before getting married.

### What is First?

First currently provides a platform for couples in California to create **prenuptial agreements online**. The stigma around prenups is fading, making them more accessible to a broader audience beyond just the wealthy elite. Leffler envisions prenups becoming an **“essential personal stack”**, as routine as scheduling a mammogram.

### Funding and Future Plans

Recently, First raised **$4 million in a seed round**, marking a significant step in its growth journey. The funding was led by **Expa** and **Springbank**, with contributions from **Cleo Capital** and **Karman Ventures**. Investor Sarah Kunst, who utilized the platform herself, noted that everyone should have a prenup, emphasizing that if you don’t write one, the government will.

### Changing Perspectives on Prenups

Leffler highlights that millennials and Gen Z are increasingly open to prenups, as many have witnessed the **pain of divorce** firsthand. A **2023 Harris poll** revealed that **47% of millennials** engaged or married have opted for a prenup, viewing it as essential for protecting not just financial assets but personal belongings and responsibilities, such as student loan debts. 

### The Unique Proposition of First

First distinguishes itself by offering **customizable prenups** instead of generic templates, ensuring that each agreement is enforceable and tailored to the couple's needs. The initial cost for using the platform is **$2,650**, with potential additional charges for extra features.

### Looking Ahead

The startup’s name, **First**, reflects its aim to be the initial legal agreement couples enter into together. Leffler is optimistic about expanding First’s offerings to other states and possibly into other areas, such as online divorce services, although specific plans remain under wraps.

Sheryl Sandberg's first chief of staff Libby Leffler founded the online prenup startup First. She raised $4 million in a seed round.

Schuylkill's $100,000 Startup Competition: Meet the Finalists!

Summary:

Schuylkill's Ignite Schuylkill Competition: $100,000 Up for Grabs!

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