Hartford’s Project Ray In Texas To Compete In Startup Night SXSW

ewalsh • March 9, 2018

For full Hartford Courant coverage and related content, please click here.

Project Ray, an Israeli company that expanded into Hartford late last year, is competing in this weekend’s Startup Night SXSW.

The technology startup caters to the visually impaired by developing devices and apps for eyes-free smartphone accessibility.

Project Ray says it created the first adhesive tag that turns a smartphone into a tactile device, and its Ray Vision app allows users to communicate and use digital services through gestures, voice recognition and haptic feedback, vibrations and other sensations that simulate the physical feeling of virtual objects.

The company is one of 25 contenders in Saturday’s Startup Night in Austin, Texas, presented by the The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

The competition is part of the American Cities House at SXSW, a celebration of 13 cities — Hartford not included — and their inclusive, impactful startup communities, from major cities like Miami and Dallas to Fargo, N.D., and Little Rock, Ark.

The startups are competing for a $1,000 cash prize and entrance to the Startup of the Year semifinals competition at San Francisco’s Innovate Celebrate 2018 conference in October.

Meanwhile, Project Ray — founded in Israel — is also one of 22 companies growing its business in the third annual startup accelerator at reSET, a business incubator tailored to social enterprises. The accelerator program in Hartford’s Parkville district stretches from January to May.

But Project Ray already had a presence in the city when it joined reSET. CEO Boaz Zilberman started renting office space at Upward Hartford last year after meeting with that organization’s CEO, Shana Schlossberg, who does regular outreach to Israeli companies.

Project Ray also recently received a $150,000 loan from Connecticut Innovations. Once Zilberman arrived in Hartford, he applied to join the latest reSET cohort.

“This is the type of ecosystem we need in order to bring in business, to push it forward,” he said in late December.

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Transform Your Business This Fall: Applications Open for 2 reSET Programs

By awalsh • July 17, 2024

Transform Your Business This Fall: Applications Open for reSET's Retail Incubator and Digital Marketing Mastermind Programs Hartford, CT – July 17, 2024 – reSET, the Hartford-based entrepreneur support organization committed to nurturing businesses with a social mission, is excited to announce that applications are now open for two separate programs designed to help entrepreneurs grow with impact: the Retail Incubator and the Digital Marketing Mastermind. Both programs are set to run this fall, providing invaluable resources and mentorship to early-stage and established entrepreneurs alike. Applications close at midnight on July 21, with classes set to start mid-August and run through October. “Both of these programs were developed because of demand from our alumni and local entrepreneurs,” said Sarah Bodley, Executive Director of reSET. “The Retail Incubator has been popular with Hartford-area founders preparing for fall and holiday markets, or opening their own storefronts. We developed the Digital Marketing Mastermind to help local entrepreneurs build an online business presence and stand out in the online world.” Retail Incubator The Floor-Plan Retail Business Incubator is a partnership between reSET and Hartford-based Breakfast Lunch & Dinner, a community venture-building studio. Now in its fourth year, the program is designed to support product-based businesses in their stages of entrepreneurship. Participants will learn to understand customer needs, define pricing strategies, address key legal and financial topics, all to prepare their businesses for fall and winter markets. Entrepreneurs will gain insights from industry experts, access a supportive community, and receive practical tools to enhance their business acumen. For more information and to apply, please visit https://www.resetco.org/retail-incubator . Digital Marketing Mastermind The Digital Marketing Mastermind is tailored for entrepreneurs who already have a business and are looking to elevate their digital marketing efforts. This program will provide advanced strategies to boost online presence, engage with target audiences, and convert engagement into sales. Participants will learn from seasoned marketing professionals and peers, gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in the digital marketplace. Entrepreneurs interested in more information on the program and application should visit https://www.resetco.org/digital-marketing-mastermind About reSET reSET is a nonprofit organization in Hartford, CT, whose mission is advancing the social enterprise sector. reSET specializes in social enterprise ― impact-driven business with a double or triple bottom line. In addition to providing coworking space, accelerator, and mentoring programs, reSET aims to inspire innovation and community collaboration and to support entrepreneurs in creating market-based solutions to community challenges. reSET’s goal is to meet entrepreneurs wherever they are in their trajectory and to help them take their businesses to the next level. Visit reSET | Where Great Companies Grow (resetco.org). # # #