- The 5th annual StartUp Lehigh Valley pitch contest took place at Factory in Bethlehem on Wednesday night
- The grand prize winner was Jmad Creations, with a pulse oximeter that is less susceptible to racial bias
- Other winners included a cashless money transfer app for users in parts of Africa, a portable projector screen, and horse stable hygiene product
BETHLEHEM, Pa.— A Bethlehem inventor named Jonathan Maderic took home the grand prize at StartUp Lehigh Valley on Wednesday night at Factory in Bethlehem.
He pitched a medical pulse oximeter that, unlike conventional ones, is not linked to racial disparities in performance. Many existing pulse oximeters are limited in their ability to accurately measure through darker skin — which some experts worry could negatively impact the healthcare quality for people of color.
The second-place winner was SPlay from Arovia, awarded $3,000 after pitching a portable, self-contained projector screen.
DOT Inc., took home two awards. It's a cashless money exchange app aimed at an African market — specifically, parts of the continent where there is a heavy reliance on cash transactions. DOT Inc. won the Ben Franklin award ($5,000) as well as third place in the overall StartUp competition, winning $2,000 in addition.
The "viewer's choice" award (measured by audience voting through a QR code) went to Bedding Blocker,a brush system for horse stalls intended to stop the horses from tracking dirt and hay outside of places where it's meant to be. That award was a $1,000 prize, and the same startup also won the LaunchBox Boost Award, for $3,000.
The judges were posed in a way that was reminiscent of the TV show "Shark Tank," although for the most part, were supportive and encouraging in tone toward the contestants.
The judges were: Sue Yee, founder and CEO of Active Data (and board member of Lehigh Valley Public Media, which owns LehighValleyNews.com); Giana Jarrah, founder of Meraki Co., and last year's grand prize winner; Rich Thompson, founder and advisor of Factory LLC where the event was held, and former CEO of Meow Mix cat food company from 2001-2006; and George Lewis, from the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation.
Healthy motivation
Maderic, who took home the grand prize, said his plunge into entrepreneurship has been unconventional.
"Well, with the chronic health issues, there's no way I would have been able to get through the last eight years without my faith. I do believe in the power of prayer with that as well. And that has definitely helped me be able to get to the point that I'm at, health-wise, to be able to be productive."Jonathan Maderic, owner and operator of Jmac Creations
"Because of the health issues I had, I actually went right from having some health issues right into doing business," Maderic said after the event, holding his giant checks. "And that's essentially how I started this."
He did not share details about his health issues, but said it's been a chronic situation for about eight years, and is now stable.
"The physicians have been a great help in getting me to this point," he said.
In his acceptance speech, Maderic thanked a few business incubators around the state, his friends, family and God.
Speaking after the event, Maderic told LehighValleyNews.com his faith has been essential.
"Well, with the chronic health issues, there's no way I would have been able to get through the last eight years without my faith. I do believe in the power of prayer with that as well. And that has definitely helped me be able to get to the point that I'm at, health-wise, to be able to be productive."
