FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT
Oct. 6, 2023 Logan White,
logan@gener8tor.com
Ty Tjoelker,
ty@gener8tor.com

Fifteen Bloomington-, Columbus- and Indianapolis-based startups selected for two accelerators

gener8tor partners with the IEDC, The Mill and Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce to welcome the gBETA Main Street and gBETA Bloomington-Columbus cohorts

Indianapolis, Ind. – Fifteen Indiana-based companies have been selected to participate in two local startup accelerator programs. The startups will participate in the gBETA Bloomington-Columbus or gBETA Main Street programs through national venture capital firm gener8tor. See below for more details on each company.

gBETA is a free accelerator program designed to set a path for startups to pursue investment and growth opportunities. Company leaders receive intensive concierge coaching and access to gener8tor's national network of mentors, customers, corporate partners and investors.

gener8tor received more than 50 applications from across Indiana for the programs. The fifteen selected companies were chosen based on their growth potential and/or investor readiness.

The gBETA Bloomington-Columbus program is made possible by a partnership with the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce and The Mill.

“The partnership with gBETA has opened many doors for Columbus entrepreneurs, offering them access to a supportive network and community on a national level,” said Dan Nash, Director of Entrepreneurship at the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce.

“gBETA is one of the premiere pre-accelerators out there and we’ve been thrilled to partner with them to bring the program specifically to the Bloomington/Columbus region,” said Andy Lehman, Head of Accelerator Programming at The Mill. “Not only does this show that we’re invested in the success of startups here locally, it provides a springboard for founders to find support and continued success for years to come. We couldn’t be happier with the impact gBETA continues to have on the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

The Main Street program focuses on increasing revenue growth for local companies that are not necessarily seeking venture capital investment. It is made possible by a partnership with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

“The IEDC is thrilled to continue its support of the gener8tor gBETA programs in Indiana. The Main Street program is a unique opportunity for high-growth small businesses to accelerate their companies through targeted mentorship and learning. Supporting small businesses through programs such as this directly supports Indiana’s thriving economy and entrepreneurial ecosystem.“

At the end of the gBETA program, the startup founders will present their companies to investors, community partners and the public at showcase events.
The Bloomington-Columbus showcase will take place at 5 p.m. on Nov. 14 at the Mill, 642 N. Madison St. in Bloomington. RSVP here.
The Main Street showcase will be hosted virtually 4:30-6 p.m. on Nov. 16. RSVP here.

Those interested in learning more about gBETA’s programming and resources or applying to a future program can visit the gener8tor gBETA website, or reach out to Logan White at logan@gener8tor.com or Ty Tjoelker at ty@gener8tor.com. Those interested in mentoring these companies or getting involved in other ways are also encouraged to connect.

gBETA Bloomington/Columbus Cohort

Soloist's social media platform allows musicians to connect, collaborate and share music to revolutionize their practice. Soloist simulates the experience of having bandmates for musicians who, on average, spend 90% of their time practicing their instrument alone. In one year of validation, Soloist has bootstrapped $105,000; won three pitch competitions and two grants; and secured one private equity investment from Elevate Ventures.
Founder: Parker Busick
Email: parkbusventures@gmail.com
Website: www.soloistapp.com

Switch 3DP brings to market a 3D printer with additive manufacturing technology that decreases waste and increases productivity. Switch 3DP enables uses of industrial-level 3D printing capabilities to a wider range of customers at an affordable price never seen before. The product is currently in development by a talented team of individuals with a combined 30 years of experience in mechanical engineering, product development, and manufacturing.
Founders: Parker Harwood, Alexander Turner
Email: parker.harwood@switch3dp.com alex.turner@turnersmachining.com
Website: switch3dp.com

CruiseAlly simplifies the cruise booking process and democratizes the cruise industry by matching users with their ideal cruise vacation through personalized, data-driven results and research resources informed by the latest market trends. CruiseAlly’s platform will result in significant time savings for new and experienced cruisers alike while addressing multiple major consumer pain points in the booking process. CruiseAlly is in the final stages of MVP development and plans to soft-launch in Q4 of 2023.
Founder: Justin Tait
Email: justin@cruiseally.com
Website: www.tripallyllc.com

Noveltor digitally modernizes mental health therapists’ workflow for customizing, assigning, and reviewing homework they assign to clients, decreasing admin time and increasing client engagement. Therapists love Noveltor because they currently spend an average of 5-15 unpaid hours a week managing their homework with broken workflows with just a 50% completion rate by clients. Noveltor is currently in beta with eight paying therapists.
Founders: Matthew Joseph and Roscoe Bell
Email: josepmat@iu.edu, bellrd19@wfu.edu
Website: noveltor.com

Refreshable Flavors brings to market a healthy alternative to the beverage industry by offering a quality, tasty, and revitalizing drink. Refreshable Flavors makes it easy for individuals to commit to a healthy lifestyle for their body and spirit without compromising refreshing taste. Refreshable Flavors is currently in production and plans to be in stores in the next three to six months.
Founders: Timothy Persley and Emem Akpanekong
Email: refreshflav@gmail.com

gBETA Main Street Cohort

Olive Leaf Skincare, creates olive-oil based skin care products that protect, heal, and nourish skin. Olive Leaf Skincare fills the current market gap for effective, all-natural, beauty products that focus on the benefits of olive oil not only for healthy insides, but for healthy outsides. Olive Leaf Skincare released its first olive-oil hand and body lotion to the market in mid-September and sold 36 bottles in the first two weeks.
Founder: Linda Armes, info@oliveleafbloomington.com

GOOD CAUSE MARKET revolutionizes fundraising by selling artisan-made products year round to supporters of charitable organizations through an online marketplace. GOOD CAUSE MARKET cultivates a community of support for the causes as well as small-business craftsmen. Currently, GOOD CAUSE MARKET is seeking craftsmen and causes.
Bea Conner, beablery@gmail.com

Sportclawz LLC manufactures made-to-fit gloves that incorporate customized textures on the inside and outside surfaces. The combination of a perfect fit and textured glove surfaces enhance grip capability and improves feel and sensitivity. These benefits allow end users to improve the quality and performance of their specific job tasks.
Founder: Jerry Albertson, jerry.albertson@sportclawz.com

Dharma with Danni, LLC operates at the intersection of climate and personal resilience in three ways: delivering high-quality burnout recovery coaching, sustainability consulting, and yoga/mindfulness instruction. Through Dharma with Danni, both individuals and agencies work at the pace of their nervous systems to address climate change, build healthier habits, and prioritize personal wellness on and off the yoga mat. To date, Dharma with Danni has generated more than $16,000 in revenue from 15 clients, with proposals and contracts planned through Q1 2024.
Founder: Danni Schaust, info@dharmawithdanni.com

Chizel enables woodworkers to build powerfully simple online stores and manage their entire business within a single platform. Chizel has received substantial press in the Greater Indianapolis area and has set out to build a suite of solutions for woodworkers. Chizel has three paying customers and $704.25 in Annual Recurring Revenue.
Founder: Tyler Jones, tj.chizel@gmail.com

Practical Products manufactures a new way for people to transport heavy materials on tarps through its patented flagship product, The A.N.T., a simple, yet innovative tool that makes many laborious tasks faster, safer, easier and more efficient. The A.N.T. is a compelling solution to a problem faced by homeowners, commercial landscapers, arborists, hunters, roofers, and farmers. Practical Products LLC is a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business based in Indiana. Practical Products has sold over 500 A.N.T.s to date through e-commerce, distribution partners, and direct channels.
Founder: Aaron Farrer, aaron@theanttool.com

Acoustical Music Technologies creates musically optimized solutions for traditional ensemble performers. With a simple, elegant design which provides visual prominence and acoustical delight for all, our premiere product, Celladore, addresses the sonic and aesthetic needs of solo cellists performing with accompanying instruments from piano to symphony orchestras. Celladore is a patent-pending design proven in live performance that delights audiences and musicians alike.
Founder: Jamie Tagg, jamietagg@gmail.com

Alex Sventeckis Content Consulting builds and optimizes in-house writing talent and capabilities for public relations agencies and communications teams. Through in-depth training, personalized coaching, and ongoing writing support, agencies can elevate their content quality, boost team productivity, exceed their clients’ content goals, and lead their industries. To date, Alex Sventeckis Content Consulting has generated more than $6,000 in revenue from three customers, with another $40,000 in proposal and contract phases.
Founder: Alex Sventeckis, alex@sventeckis.com

GGI’s flagship product, the Knee Brace Stabilizer, helps knee-brace patients with the problem of ever-slipping knee braces. GGI’s product serves the approximately one million knee-surgery patients who are not served by solutions on the market today. GGI is currently in the research and development phase of the Knee Brace Stabilizer.
Founder: Tonna Grigsby, tonnawoodruff@yahoo.com

EdPro is a multistate certified and licensed Educational Consulting and Professional Services provider. EdPro specializes in creating customized solutions for individuals, groups, and organizations using a listen, learn and lead process to build client trust and achieve sustainable results. EdPro is a reliable partner with a proven track record of success, with annual revenue growth of 79% and a net profit increase of 30%.
Founder: Victoria Emeka

About gener8tor
gener8tor is a global venture firm and accelerator network that supports startups, workers, employers, artists and musicians across race, place and gender. gener8tor partners with companies, governments, universities and nonprofits to operate programs and conferences in more than 41 communities across 22 states and two countries. Fast Company named gener8tor one of the Best Workplaces for Innovators in 2021 and 2022. The International Trade Council recognized gener8tor as the Global Venture Capital Firm of the Year in 2022.

About gBETA
gBETA is a non-equity accelerator that facilitates the growth of early-stage companies through a network-driven program. This accelerator supports five startups per cohort and requires no fees for startups and takes no equity. Since launching in 2015, gBETA accelerator alumni have raised $673M+ in capital and created 3,923+ jobs across the U.S. and Canada.

About the Indiana Economic Development Corporation
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) is charged with growing the State economy, driving economic development, helping businesses launch, grow and locate in the state. Led by Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers, @SecChambersIN, and governed by a 15-member board chaired by Governor Eric J. Holcomb, @GovHolcomb, the IEDC manages many initiatives, including performance-based tax credits, workforce training grants, innovation and entrepreneurship resources, public infrastructure assistance, and talent attraction and retention efforts.

About the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce
Founded by visionary leaders in 1890, The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce’s mission is to help businesses thrive so that the community grows. The Chamber fosters an environment for business growth, entrepreneurship, talent attraction, and innovation. Cindy Frey serves as the President and Dan Nash serves as the Director of Entrepreneurship.

About The Mill
The Mill is Bloomington’s center for coworking and entrepreneurship. Members include startups, freelancers, techies, remote workers, creatives, side hustlers, and small companies. The Mill’s mission is to help launch and accelerate startups. The Mill is led by Executive Director Pat East.