Meet the finalists of the 2020 Alaska Angel Conference
In 2019, Tim Fulton was awarded $100,000 at the Alaska Angel Conference $100,000 at the Alaska Angel Conference for his product — a folding roller system that moved baggage inside the bellies of larger planes. Fulton spent 38 years as an airport ramper and experienced the physical toll the job takes on your body; his solution was Ramper Innovations.
Tomorrow from 5-7 p.m., another Alaska startup will follow in Fulton’s footsteps and receive a $100,000 investment at this year’s Alaska Angel Conference. Meet the finalists that have made it to the end of the 12-week process.
Alaska Peony Broker — Kenai, Alaska
Alaska’s peony season happens later than most, typically June through September, which provided an opportunity for Alaska Peony Broker to bloom (Photo courtesy of Alaska Peony Broker).
Alaska’s peony season is unlike any other place in the world. While many growers have their harvests completed April through June, Alaska’s season is later — typically June through September.
Jason Floyd founded Alaska Peony Broker to serve as an intermediary agent that connects Alaska’s peony producers to buyers representing larger wholesale markets in the flower industry.
Barati Medical — Fairbanks, Alaska
Zeinab Barati was the recipient of a highly competitive SBIR award and is competing tomorrow in the Alaska Angel Conference final pitches event (Photo by Amanda Byrd).
Zeinab Barati’s startup, Barati Medical, operates primarily in the medical research field and focuses on a miniaturized optical imaging device that monitors brain injuries in small animal models.
Barati’s technology led her to win a National Institute of Health Small Business Innovation Research award, one of just a few ever awarded to someone in Alaska.
HairVoyage — Anchorage, Alaska
Mary Alice Turletes, Vanessa Raymond and Dana Herndon of HairVoyage (Photo courtesy of JEDC).
HairVoyage is a community-based online platform for listing available chairs in hair salons for visiting hairstylists to have the opportunity to learn from salon hosts. Their goal is to expand beauty education by empowering and connecting beauty professionals.
Founder Mary Alice Turletes hosts the podcast available on Spotify; from finding salon and barbershop leasing space to learning about the life of a hairstylist in the music industry, there is something for everyone.
Pandere Shoes — Anchorage, Alaska
Celia Crosset, Laura Oden and Ayla Rogers of Pandere Shoes (Photo courtesy of Pandere Shoes).
For most of her life, founder Laura Oden has had lymphedema, a swelling that occurs in arms and legs, which made finding shoes difficult. She couldn’t find shoes to accommodate her feet and decided to make them herself. With that, Pandere Shoes was born.
Pandere’s shoes expand three width sizes to accommodate a variant of medical conditions, with an adjustable ankle, mid-foot and toe box.
Tundra Electronics — Kenai, Alaska
Richard Rogers began Tundra Electronics to prevent electronics from freezing in extreme temperatures.
With over 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, Richard Rogers’ specialty has been engineering heating or warming solutions to prevent heavy machinery from freezing in the extreme cold on the North Slope.
Rogers began Tundra Electronics to prevent electronics from freezing in extreme temperatures. His idea led him to filing for a patent and founding his business.