Three regional start-up companies have earned a boost for their businesses after successfully surviving a “shark tank” at The University of Toledo Business Incubation Program’s first Pitch & Pour, a business pitch event held in association with the uHeart Digital Media Conference.

Approximately 150 people attended the inaugural event on May 10, as new companies provided an overview of their business models and answered questions from a panel of regional and national technology start-up experts.

The event’s primary sponsor is the state of Ohio’s Edison Technology Incubation Program and featured representatives from five regional startup companies who pitched their business ideas for the chance to win up to $5,000 in cash and prizes.

The winners were:

•  MakeMeMakeUp (1st place): MakeMeMakeUp is a customized makeup service where users design personalized cosmetics using a smartphone application;
•  Daystream (2nd place): Daystream is a social journaling platform that allows users to document the stories of their lives in a way that makes it easy to share and remember. Daystream was created by 11-year old Jonathan Buchanan;
•  Rootloop (3rd place): Rootloop is a social platform where users collaborate and create music with friends and other musicians around the world.

The winners were selected by a panel of judges representing local, regional and national companies including Google, Marshall & Melhorn, UPSO.org and TextsFromLastNight.com. A novel competition format, attendees present also were allowed to cast their votes for best presentation via smartphone, effectively serving as the tie-break vote and helping determine the crowd favorite.

“The University of Toledo’s Edison Technology Incubation Program is an early-stage business catalyst working with the University and numerous public and private entities to accelerate job creation in the region,” said Scott McIntyre, manager of Business Incubation at The University of Toledo. “The event was the first in a series promoting our role in helping develop local and regional entrepreneurs and startups.”

Additional sponsors included Marshall & Melhorn, Treu House of Munch, Seed Coworking, Startup Weekend Toledo, StartUp Toledo, Maddie & Bella Coffee Co., Verso Group, Chipotle Mexican Grill and Silicon Rust Belt.

For more information, contact Jessica Sattler, associate director of regional and economic engagement, at 419. 530.6164 or Jessica.Sattler@utoledo.edu.