Fresh Sparks of Innovation: EPIC Welcomes 10 New Startups to Fall 2023 Incubation Program

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YEREVAN, Armenia — On October 7, the Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center (EPIC) of the American University of Armenia (AUA) proudly welcomed ten new startups to its 15-week fall incubation program. These innovative teams are well-positioned to make a measurable contribution to the development of various industries, addressing pressing issues that would ensure sustainability, record technological progress, and further advance entrepreneurship in Armenia.

The AUA EPIC Incubation Program is a dynamic 15-week journey that empowers startups to validate their business ideas, develop robust business models, and set the stage for foreseeable growth. This year’s batch is quite impressive and includes graduates from the upstream EPIC programs STRIVE and EPIC Jam, both of which are specifically designed to equip entrepreneurs with the essential competencies and skills for entry into incubation. These encompass the entrepreneurial mindset, effective team building, creative idea generation, and most importantly, a determination and motivation to succeed.

The team-building process, a foundational phase of the startup program, received a powerful kickstart from Shant Aljian, founder of Sorvir LLC. His input throughout the all-day team building was invaluable to the program’s launch and involved various team-building activities, games designed to enhance communication, teamwork, and other crucial skills. The program’s holistic approach not only set the stage for strong collaboration, but also fostered the development of essential skills that are deemed crucial for success throughout the incubation program.

EPIC Operations and Community Manager Anna Khachatryan voiced her enthusiasm for the launch of the 13th Incubation Program cohort, saying: “It is exciting to launch the 13th Incubation program. Over the years, we have continued to refine and improve our program, aiming to create the best experience for everyone. This time, we have diverse teams, each aiming at solving problems of different scope and intensity. It is especially interesting to see a growing interest in entrepreneurship by tech-minded people, whereas in the past we were mostly reaching applicants with business backgrounds. The mean age of program participants is also increasing, bringing in more experience and maturity. It will be interesting to see how this will augment future exchanges and collaboration among them, considering that the Incubation Program is geared to produce a lasting outcome well beyond the knowledge and competencies the participants acquire.” Her words highlight EPIC’s commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration among diverse segments that come together to solve a wide range of challenges.

Below is a glimpse at the startups in the 13th batch:

Tokenvest is poised to transform crowdfunding using blockchain technology. Its goal is to bring the crowdfunding ecosystem into the web3 era, eliminating regional limitations and high transaction costs.

Patn’Pat creates acoustic walls for noise reduction made from tuff stone residues. 

PitchHub is a platform that streamlines the acquisition of information pertaining to early-stage startups in a user-friendly format reminiscent of a business card. It provides current and comprehensive insights into startups, community events, and a knowledge repository for the exchange of professional expertise.

ArVest is aimed at bridging the information gap necessary for investment in Armenia by connecting investors with experienced financial professionals.

Timey is an application that encourages children to engage in real-world activities, fostering human engagement and physical interaction, instead of spending excessive time on the phone and in social media.

CyberVision integrates various camera vision technologies with digital capabilities, enhancing surveillance and situational awareness for applications ranging from real-time monitoring to forensic analysis.

Maestrolls is a revolutionary music education platform that combines interactive learning, gamification, and personalized lessons to make music education engaging and enjoyable for young learners.

Zont is a fashion delivery app that seamlessly connects offline retailers with online shoppers, offering same-day doorstep delivery and a convenient e-commerce experience.

MedicineGPT is an AI-based personal healthcare assistant that comprehensively analyzes users’ health concerns, offers accurate diagnosis and tailored guidance, and facilitates appointments with certified healthcare professionals.

Contractee is a legal-tech startup that transcends traditional contract management, offering automation, error reduction, and resource optimization. It fosters better communication, transparency, and efficiency among a company’s contract lawyer, internal stakeholders, and partners.

The EPIC Incubation Program continues to play an important role in nurturing Armenia’s entrepreneurial spirit, providing an ecosystem in which emerging entrepreneurs can thrive. With its impressive track record and commitment to fostering innovation, EPIC ensures that each batch of new startups will contribute to the growth and development of Armenia’s vibrant startup ecosystem. 

The Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center (EPIC) is a platform of the American University of Armenia (AUA) for promoting entrepreneurial education, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and startup venture incubation. EPIC provides an ecosystem for emerging entrepreneurs consisting of first-class facilities and collaborative workspace, programs and events, and a network of mentors, advisors, and investors. EPIC fosters the understanding and application of entrepreneurship in students and faculty at AUA to craft high-impact multidisciplinary ventures.