Eric Dy, co-founder and CEO of Bloom Applied sciences, accepting his award from Richard Branson after successful the Excessive Tech Problem contest.
Eric Dy is reeling from one in every of his most memorable experiences as an entrepreneur.
Late Wednesday, Dy stood earlier than Richard Branson for seven minutes and pitched his startup Bloom Applied sciences within the ultimate spherical of the Excessive Tech Problem contest.
The San Francisco-based agency has developed a wearable sensor tied to an app that permits expectant mothers to trace their being pregnant, similar to frequency, period, and depth of contractions.
Bloom Applied sciences was one in every of three finalists that traveled to Necker Island, Branson’s personal Caribbean island, and pitch their enterprise on to the titan.
Dy’s presentation landed Bloom Applied sciences the large win.
“It was a very long evening but a terrific one for us,” mentioned Dy, the corporate’s co-founder and CEO.
Dy, 36, was the final to current, however the Caribbean island setting helped to calm his nerves.
“We were out in the open, at a beautiful beach house that rolled into grass tennis courts,” he mentioned. “And the beach was right behind us.”
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Bloom Applied sciences will make its gadget out there to shoppers this summer time. With that launch date only a few months away, Dy honed his pitch to tightly concentrate on the startup’s commercialization technique and plans to achieve traction after hitting the market.
It helped that Branson is a proud father and grandfather. Branson’s daughter delivered twins in late 2014.
Pregnant girl sporting the Bloom Applied sciences pre-natal sensor.
Dy mentioned his pitch prompted Branson to convey up his daughter, who he mentioned had a being pregnant complication, and ask how Bloom’s sensor would have helped her.
“Most of the judges have experienced raising kids and even grandkids. So our company’s mission resonated with them,” mentioned Dy. “They understood what it means to have a pregnancy go well and the heartbreak when it doesn’t.”
The opposite judges have been Google Maps co-inventor Lars Rasmussen and Samsung Electronics President Younger Sohn
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The win for Dy would not end in a financial prize.
All three corporations (Giroptic and Sphero have been the opposite finalists) that made it to the tip received the identical prize bundle: mentoring from high entrepreneurs, tech and infrastructure assist from IBM (IBM)and Amazon, (AMZN) and the potential to boost new funding from buyers at Necker Island.
Nevertheless, the winner does get the bragging rights and an opportunity to be invited again to Necker Island to schmooze with Branson subsequent 12 months.
Dy did not await subsequent 12 months. He wasted no time in approaching buyers proper after his win.
“Some of the judges and folks in the audience did express interest in investing in Bloom,” he mentioned.
What about Branson?
“I had a nice chat with him. He’s amazing and I won’t deny that he also showed interest,” mentioned Dy.
CNNMoney (New York) First revealed February 11, 2016: 2:35 PM ET