Christina Drake and Shari Constantini sat in the Orlando Science Center auditorium, like others, waiting to hear who had won Startup World Cup’s Orlando event.
Their company, Kismet Technologies, was one of nine finalists to take the stage last week, vying to represent the region at the national competition next month.
As they discussed the pitch for a recent shift in focus, they learned that they are heading to Silicon Valley to represent Central Florida in front of potential investors and experts. Looks like they will have to get on that new pitch.
“That was the first time we publicly announced what we were doing,” Drake said. “There is always some massaging but that was a good validation that we are definitely on the right path with our pivot.”
The World Cup brought together area startups in fields like healthcare, space and finance to compete for the Silicon Valley trip.
The event marked the first time that Startup World has held an Orlando event, something that David Adelson of Orlando Tech Community and Innovate Orlando said was important to push the city’s tech scene forward.
“Here we are, in Orlando, one of the fastest-growing epicenters in the country that has so much to offer, we should have a place sitting at the table,” he said after the event.
Adelson praised the startup that pitched at the event, saying a trip to San Diego to represent the community could be a great boost for any company.
While only one company could win the competition, the event offered a chance for the others to share their story at a pre-event mixer.
It was there that some companies made their first venture into the community, seeking support and looking for either clients or users.
Drake said their presence in Orlando has helped build an ecosystem whose strength showed at the event.
Kismet Technologies is a chemical manufacturer that has focused on strengthening disinfecting liquid for industry.
The Startup World Cup kicked off what has become an eventful time for the firm.
On Thursday, the company announced a $500,000 National Science Foundation grant.
The Small Business Technology Transfer grant helps the company continue its research into the effectiveness of various antimicrobial technologies.
“We have a compelling product and we are meeting real needs,” Drake said. “It’s a hard problem, too.”
For now, the focus is on perfecting that pitch before the San Diego event.
“I’m excited to keep trying to figure out the next step,” she said. “These are going to be worldwide, the best companies in startups. So making sure that we really have it down is important. You don’t have a lot of time to pitch, so you need to be able to convey your story easily.”