Last week, 120 startups pitched at Y Combinator’s two Demo Days, presenting how their vision is going to change the world to an audience of venture capitalists, angel investors and notable tech leaders.
The Mountain View accelerator is one of the most reputable in the world, having graduated companies such as Airbnb, DropBox and Instacart over the course of its tenure. While the majority of YC alumni hail from and remain in Silicon Valley, a handful have successfully set up shop in New York, spanning across a wide variety of industries. Following suit, four New York-based startups pitched at this year's two-day YC showcase, running the gamut between lab robots to customized hair care.
With a mission to provide reliable solar energy for schools, hospitals, and water projects around the world, SunFarmer is a nonprofit that uses donations to develop solar companies in third-world communities. SunFarmer’s first spin-off will be in Nepal and plans on being profitable this year. The startup is now seeking $1.5 million to launch in two more countries.
Brooklyn-based OpenTrons does lab grunt work so scientists don’t have to. While technological advancements have made bounds in biotech innovation over recent years, life sciences labs have remained extremely manual with the majority of work done by hand. While biology experiments require precise pipetting, OpenTrons is looking to automate the process using a personal, liquid-handling robot.
HistoWiz is a histology startup that seeks to connect scientists and pathologists through online collaborations. By doing this the company’s mission is to “fight cancer cooperatively instead of individually” by providing fast, global access to data management tools, experimental pathology expertise and collaboration tools. Overall, the company hopes to accelerate the time it takes for scientists and pathologists to exchange information regarding cancer research.
Function of Beauty aims to transform the beauty industry through personalization. Using the company’s online platform, customers can order a customized shampoo and conditioner set based on their hair type, preferred fragrance and beauty goals.
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