AlphaLab: First Companies Receive Investment, Office Space and Business Assistance
The first companies have been selected to participate in AlphaLab, a new program of Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southwestern PA (Innovation Works). The program is intended to spur the growth of companies developing software, interactive games and web and mobile applications. Innovation Works selected six companies to participate in the inaugural AlphaLab program: BlenderHouse, Chogger, crono, GameHuddle, Skill-Life and Sonya Labs.
AlphaLab helps companies rapidly develop early versions of their product and reach the critical stage of initial customer feedback and validation before commercial launch. Twice a year, up to six companies are selected to participate in the intensive AlphaLab program. In just five weeks of the initial open application cycle, which ended March 31, 2008, scores of entrepreneurial teams from seven states applied for consideration.
Investors and industry experts assisted the Innovation Works team in reviewing and selecting the companies thought to have the best chance for commercial success, could make significant progress toward a product launch in roughly six months and could make the most of the $25,000 investment, free office space, and intensive business assistance.
The first group of web-related companies represent a diverse mix of market segments being pursued: first-time and experienced entrepreneurs, teams working at the concept phase to those with early iterations already released for user feedback, teams from outside Pittsburgh who moved here for the experience and some that have grown up together in the Greater-Pittsburgh region, and everything in between.
Flourishing in a Collaborative Environment
“We are really excited by the products and teams in this first group of AlphaLab companies,” says Rich Lunak, president & CEO of Innovation Works. “Most of these entrepreneurs just had a concept for a product, and the AlphaLab opportunity motivated them to form a company and get on the path toward rapid commercialization. They’re really flourishing in the collaborative environment where they can leverage one another’s technical skills, and they’re applying the expert advice provided by the Innovation Works team and numerous outside advisors to hone their business plans. By the time we showcase the companies to investors toward the end of the program, we expect each one will have made significant progress toward their commercial launch.”
“Without AlphaLab, we’d probably be three guys in a garage,” says Chogger founder Jeremy Herrman. “Now we’ve incorporated, we’re fleshing out a business plan and are developing our product. Maybe we would have done that ourselves, but AlphaLab is making our company real right now.”
Inaugural AlphaLab Companies
BlenderHouse creates social applications for Facebook and other platforms that offer friends a forum to exchange trusted recommendations and feedback during key life decisions.
Chogger is developing software tools that enable users to easily create comic strips, a fun and exciting form of expression. Chogger’s tools will help build and showcase comic strips and will integrate with websites containing content that can be easily made into personalized comics, such as photo sharing sites.
crono is developing intelligent software to automate and simplify communications, schedule appointments and book services.
GameHuddle is creating a social network for gamers to help bring together players with similar interests. Users are able to review games, blog, create micro sites for clans/guilds and engage others as part of a social community.
Skill-Life is developing a web-based video game teaching financial literacy to middle and high school-age children. Players create avatars and take on different real-life personas with specific occupations, homes, friends and access to capital. Each persona has its own set of games that improve the players’ math and literacy capabilities.
Sonya Labs is creating a comprehensive web-based legal research destination.
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