On March 6, 2018, the Women Startup Challenge: Emerging Tech showcased 10 of the best early-stage, women-led startups focused on Agriculture Tech, Augmented Reality, Biotech, Health Tech, Energy, IoT, Robotics, Space, Transportation, and/or Virtual Reality. The pitch competition was held at Google in New York City.
The $50,000 grand prize went to Timeless, an app developed by 14-year-old Emma Yang to help people with Alzheimer’s remember their loved ones through artificial intelligence-based facial recognition technology and stay connected and engaged.
The Audience Choice Awards went to:
- Astral AR, a drone piloting system that uses IoT and helps law enforcement stop bullets, and detect guns and bombs through walls.
- Solstice Energy Solutions, which created SHYFT, a platform for millions of households and businesses in emerging markets that struggle with intermittent or costly power, where users can remotely monitor, control, and manage all power sources, including solar, generator, converter, and utility.
Google awarded additional prizes totaling $280,000 in Google Cloud and Firebase Credits. The 10 startups were chosen from nearly 300 online applications.