Several local companies have been awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding after winning the Rocket Mortgage Demo Day competition.
The top prizes were taken by:
- Athlytic, winner of $125,000 in the "Start" category for companies introducing their product or service. The company, founded by Jared Eummer and Ashton Keys, uses a tech platform to connect athlete "influencers" and brands for potential marketing deals.
- Soft Goods, winner of $200,000 in the "Pivot" category for companies that have pivoted to meet the needs of the new marketplace. Soft Goods is a custom clothing manufacturer that uses natural and recycled materials. It has done private-label manufacturing for brands such as Shinola/Detroit LLC and Chips Ahoy cookies. It was co-founded by Crain's 20 in their 20s honoree Josh York.
- Detroit Maid, winner of $250,000 in the "Scale" category for established companies looking to grow nationally. The company is a Detroit-based cleaning service founded by Danielle Smith Parker.
Demo Day is an annual entrepreneurship competition sponsored by Detroit-based Rocket Mortgage. Winners were picked by a panel of entrepreneurs and previous winners. All 15 finalists received an award of $25,000.
In addition, "People's Choice" awards of $25,000 were given to the companies based on an open online vote:
- Start: Athlytic
- Pivot: House of Pure Vin
- Scale: Black Girl MATHgic
"As a native Detroiter that's attended every Rocket Mortgage Detroit Demo Day, it's surreal to be on the other side as a founder," Athlytic's Keys said in a statement. "I am thankful for the opportunity to showcase my company and become engrained in the entrepreneur community that is in Detroit. These funds will allow me to expand my business in a way that I have only dreamed."
The competition also featured a competition among entrepreneurs under the age of 18. Those winners were Global Kid Media, $10,000; Carter's Concessions & Ice Cream, $7,500; and Anansee ($5,000).
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September 25, 2021 at 10:35PM
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Athlytic, Soft Goods, Detroit Maid top Rocket Demo Day winners - Crain's Detroit Business
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