“Real Housewives of NY” Training Program Is One of 24 Startups Competing in RI for $100K
“Real Housewives of NY” Training Program Is One of 24 Startups Competing in RI for $100K
The companies range from the training regiment created by former convict Coss Marte which is featured in the reality show “The Real Housewives of New York City” to goTeff which is a company using Teff—a super-food from Ethiopia which will be marketed in the United States and create a market for Ethiopian farmers.
Of the 24 companies, 13 are from Rhode Island and one is from as far away as Ukraine -- AirAdvisor.
MassChallenge in Rhode Island
Hope Hopkins is the program director of MassChallenge in Rhode Island which is located at the new Wexford Innovation Center. She joined GoLocal LIVE’s Business Monday to discuss how this cohort of 24 companies are progressing through the acceleration program.
One of the highest-profile startups in the class is Marte’s Conbody, which is looking to develop a franchise structure. Marte is a former convict, and his training regiment and unique business model has been featured on "The Real Housewives of NewYork City.”
“Running a marathon was an incredible achievement for Carole Radziwill, but that's not what she's crediting for completely transforming her body and fitness level. The Real Housewives of New York City alum just called out another workout seen on an episode of RHONY: that would be ConBody, the intense "prison-style" bootcamp that founder Coss Marte devised while incarcerated for 4 years on drug charges,” writes Bravo.
"'From scrawny to strong in six months. I'd say my body is back to 21 but it's better than 21. If I can work out so can you,' Carole wrote along with a snap from the gym. She might be tough, but she's got her hair pulled in to two sweet pigtails," said the network.
Conbody is just one of the big ideas competing for $100,000 and the attention of venture capitalists and private equity funders.
Over the next few weeks, the MassChallenge will name the five finalist companies and then one will be selected in a ceremony in Boston at the end of October, said Hopkins.
This is the inaugural class and Hopkins said she is excited to see the progression of the companies and looks forward to the companies future success, but will miss the day-to-day interaction.
The back story of the creation of MassChallenge is that co-founders John Harthorne and Akhil Nigam were working as strategy consultants at Bain & Company during the global economic recession in 2008. It was at this time that Hawthorne and Nigram “envisioned a creative, inspired society in which everyone is empowered and has the resources to maximize their impact.”
In 2010, the two launched the not-for-profit MassChallenge to create a “global movement to support entrepreneurship.” Now, the MassChallenge is one of the most important influencers in the startup community globally with offices beyond Providence in Israel, Mexico, and Switzerland to name a few.
The program is supported in part by Commerce RI, Brown University, IBM and a number of RI corporate partners.