500 Startups may soon be coming up on the one-year mark for the end of a tumultuous saga involving its founder, but its accelerator classes still continue to plug along and its next batch is now getting ready to roll.The firms 23rd batch of startups this year consists of the usual mix of business to business and consumer companies (even coffee) that end up in each class.
This class is definitely a smaller one, but it still seems to spread a pretty wide number of different verticals.
Theres also, of course, a blockchain track for this class, though a small percentage of the startups in it are taking part of that and there was still a certain rigor they had to have to run through it.For every major tech movement, for every tech phase, theres the infrastructure phase and the deployment phase, 500 Startups partner Marvin Laio said.
Our view, with the blockchain, were in the infrastructure phase.
A lot of these projects outside that we see and read about, theyre kind of bad.
Theyre really applications.
Theres no point having a mobile app if you dont have the app store.
You need to build out the app store.
For better or worse, were in the infrastructure phase right now.The firm is still clearly making some pretty big changes, including an unconventional deal with the Abu Dhabi Financial Group (ADFG) that gives it a stake in the firms parent company.
The terms of that deal werent disclosed, it was another move among many by CEO Christine Tsai to begin to rework the mechanics of how the firm works especially as it hopes to succeed as both a venture fund as as a program for entrepreneurs looking to get their companies off the ground.
Dave McClure, the firms co-founder, resigned last year following allegations of sexual misconduct, and since then its been trying to get back to business as usual.500 Startups takes a similar approach to other accelerators, where they will invest around $150,000 for a small chunk of equity and then take on a small amount of that back (a little more than $37,000) for program fees.
The firm has primarily been known for its savvy when it comes to growth and marketing, so the support entrepreneurs get usually has that as a core part of the experience.Heres the next batch of 500 Startups companies:Chipper A mobile app that helps student loan borrowers pay off debt faster through round ups from everyday transactions and contributions from family and friends.Copper Cow Coffee A service that brings specialty Vietnamese coffee to offices and homes biodegradable pour over technology.Finedine Menu A management platform for restauranteurs to create data driven digital menus for a smarter dining experience.HarmonicaA mobile application that helps users find the right life partner that focuses on quality and fits conservative cultures.KoreabooA digital media company that creates and shares viral Korean pop culture content in English to millions of people around the world.Lexop A digital process server that allows law firms and property managers prove the delivery of their emails in a legal and trackable way.LexyomAn online platform that provides users with smart legal answers and tailored legal services using artificial intelligence.Libra CreditA global lending platform that allows anyone to borrow money against their crypto-curriences and crypto-assetsMetadiumAn identity service platform that provides the fundamentals for various services providers to develop their business on the blockchain.OrchardA program for affordable smartphone insurance to enterprises, leveraging diagnostic software to make device support and claims a seamless self-serve experience.Purple GoEnables retailers in the $36B vision care industry to reach todays omni-channel consumer with seamlessly integrated online and in-store mobile software services.reflectA mental health platform that reimagines in-person therapy to be more accessible and effective by using data-driven matching to increase engagement and outcomes.Salusive HealthA nurse-based healthcare provider that offers a technology platform with clinical services to help physician practices streamline disease management.ShezlongAn online mental health platform focusing in the Middle East and North Africa region that allows patients to be connected with licensed therapists via video visit on mobile or web.SolanaA high performance blockchain that can scale over 700,00 transactions per second on stock hardware.StarshipA mobile health savings account with automated investing built for humans.StructionSite Inc Lets construction project teams access the jobsite remotely and compare design to reality.