SUM Ventures

IrriGreen, Inc. is a company that specializes in the design, manufacture, and distribution of advanced lawn irrigation systems. Founded in 2010 and based in Edina, Minnesota, IrriGreen offers innovative water sprinkler systems tailored for residential customers, landscape contractors, municipalities, and water districts. The company's unique IoT digital sprinkler system leverages patented technology inspired by inkjet printing, allowing for precise water distribution that aligns with the contours of any landscape. This approach significantly reduces water usage, achieving up to a 50% savings compared to traditional systems. IrriGreen's business model emphasizes recurring revenue through an IoT service framework, enhancing customer value while promoting efficient water management. Products are distributed across the United States through a network of distributors.

Oze is a technology company focused on bringing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Africa into the digital age. It offers an application that allows businesses to easily track sales, expenses, and customer information. By analyzing this data, Oze provides tailored recommendations and business education to help entrepreneurs improve their operations. The platform also connects users with Oze Coaches for additional support, enhancing their learning experience. With over 150,000 registered users, Oze claims to be the largest online community of SMEs in West Africa. The company leverages machine learning to assess credit risk, enabling it to offer affordable capital through banking partners. Notably, 97% of businesses that have utilized Oze for at least nine months report growth or profitability, indicating the effectiveness of its services in fostering business success.

R3 Score is a provider of background scoring services that offers a sophisticated alternative to traditional background checks, focusing on individuals with criminal records. The company utilizes a comprehensive algorithm that analyzes various data points to generate accurate, real-time risk assessments. This approach results in detailed reports that consider both static and trending activities of applicants. By delivering nuanced insights, R3 Score aids businesses in identifying talent and managing customer relationships while ensuring compliance with relevant regulations. Additionally, the company aims to reduce barriers to economic opportunity for individuals with criminal records, fostering a more inclusive workforce.

Rotender is a company focused on revolutionizing the bar and restaurant industry through its innovative bar automation robot. The company has developed a robotic vending machine that streamlines the service and sale of alcoholic beverages. Customers can easily access the drinks menu by scanning a QR code, allowing them to make online payments and receive their cocktail mixes directly from the machine. This technology not only enhances the customer experience but also provides bars and restaurants with an efficient and creative solution for serving drinks, ultimately improving operational efficiency and reducing labor costs.

Eduworks is a developer of learning and education management software that focuses on addressing complex business challenges through advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and deep learning. With over a decade of experience, the company has collaborated with large organizations, including the U.S. Department of Defense and Boeing. Eduworks aims to enhance knowledge access and unlock human potential by utilizing AI for text analysis, data science, and skills management. This approach enables clients to optimize their performance, improving speed and accuracy while reducing costs and enhancing learning processes. The company is currently transitioning to a new phase, evolving its offerings into THIA, a platform designed for copilots in educational and professional environments.

UNest is a financial technology company based in North Hollywood, California, founded by Ksenia Yudina in 2018. The company specializes in providing an accessible digital investing platform aimed at helping families build a secure financial future for their children. UNest allows parents to open a UTMA account quickly and easily through its app, with no paperwork required. The platform offers advisor-guided investment plans, a simple gifting feature, and the ability to set up recurring contributions. Additionally, users can earn rewards through UNest Rewards.

SweatPals is a peer-to-peer marketplace designed to connect fitness enthusiasts with local fitness and wellness communities. The company operates a platform that includes a mobile application, which provides users with information about fitness and wellness events in their area. This enables users to discover and join communities that share their passion for fitness.

Grapefruit Health is a healthcare technology company based in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 2022. It addresses the significant staffing shortages in the healthcare sector by leveraging a clinical student workforce to conduct remote patient interactions. The company recruits, trains, and manages clinical students to operate on technology platforms for healthcare organizations, thereby enhancing the efficiency of hospitals and clinics. By creating a semi-clinical workforce, Grapefruit Health aims to provide effective solutions to the challenges faced in the healthcare industry while also offering valuable experience to its student workforce.

Mechanodontics, Inc. is a Dallas, Texas-based company established in 2016 that specializes in the manufacture of a discreet dental device designed to move teeth independently. This innovative method serves as an alternative to traditional braces and aligners, offering significant advantages such as reduced treatment time, improved ease of cleaning, and enhanced comfort. The device is placed behind the teeth, making it virtually invisible, and is engineered to work on each tooth individually, allowing for more precise adjustments.

IrriGreen, Inc. is a company that specializes in the design, manufacture, and distribution of advanced lawn irrigation systems. Founded in 2010 and based in Edina, Minnesota, IrriGreen offers innovative water sprinkler systems tailored for residential customers, landscape contractors, municipalities, and water districts. The company's unique IoT digital sprinkler system leverages patented technology inspired by inkjet printing, allowing for precise water distribution that aligns with the contours of any landscape. This approach significantly reduces water usage, achieving up to a 50% savings compared to traditional systems. IrriGreen's business model emphasizes recurring revenue through an IoT service framework, enhancing customer value while promoting efficient water management. Products are distributed across the United States through a network of distributors.

PlantSwitch is a biopolymer compounding company focused on developing sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics through its proprietary cellulose-based technology. This innovative approach enables the company to significantly reduce the cost of biopolymers by up to 40%, while simultaneously enhancing their sustainability and mechanical properties. PlantSwitch utilizes renewable resources like cornstarch, sugarcane, and agricultural waste streams to create compostable bioplastic resins that break down more quickly and safely in the environment compared to conventional plastics. Currently, the company is in the process of launching its first commercial production facility and is seeking funding to support this initiative. By providing viable alternatives to traditional plastic products, PlantSwitch aims to drive the transition towards a more environmentally conscious lifestyle and contribute positively to the reduction of plastic waste.

Ovation Ventures focuses on financial wellness through the development of software that enhances users' financial health and preparedness for various life stages. Its flagship application, Paperwork, allows individuals to securely organize critical documents and create emergency plans, ensuring that families have access to essential information when needed. The platform provides step-by-step guidance on necessary documents, helping users protect their families and navigate life's uncertainties with peace of mind. By prioritizing safety and security, Ovation Ventures aims to optimize the management of private and financial information for its users.

Skidattl is a company that specializes in augmented reality software aimed at enhancing user engagement with their surroundings. Its platform offers a range of features, including geo-anchored beacons that help users discover nearby events and deals at local businesses. Additionally, Skidattl facilitates peer-to-peer connections for users to locate friends and employs business-to-user beacons to highlight real-time happenings. The platform not only enhances the user experience but also provides clients with valuable real-time analytics, supporting business growth and increasing visibility for local enterprises.

Purlin is a technology company focused on enhancing the homebuying experience. It achieves this through intelligent personalization, utilizing image-based AI to help users explore different home styles and designs. The platform creates detailed user profiles that consider personal style, lifestyle, geographic preferences, and budget, which are continually refined as users interact with the system. Purlin guides buyers through the entire process of finding and purchasing a home, leveraging automated intelligence and deep expertise in real estate and mortgages. This approach aims to make the experience more satisfying for buyers, efficient for real estate professionals, and profitable for brokers and lenders.

ClearClub is a company specializing in custom dental guards designed to protect teeth from the adverse effects of sleep bruxism, which includes clenching and grinding during sleep. The company offers a service that allows users to obtain personalized upper and lower guards made from molded material, created through a customized teeth impression kit. By providing an affordable and accessible solution for oral health, ClearClub enables users to alleviate jaw pain and other related side effects, ultimately promoting better sleep quality.

DressX is a pioneering platform for digital garments, addressing the significant environmental impact of the traditional fashion industry. By offering a sustainable alternative, DressX enables the creation and consumption of fashion without generating waste, carbon emissions, or harmful chemicals. The platform integrates advanced 3D technology to allow users to wear digital clothing across various online environments, promoting a fun and innovative shopping experience. Additionally, DressX supports fashion influencers and designers, providing them with resources for distribution, retail development, and creative direction, thereby fostering growth in the digital fashion sector. The company is committed to shaping the future of fashion through its digital offerings.

LiveEasy is a concierge platform specializing in full-service, white-labeled, no-code solutions for moving and home services. The company has developed a relocation platform aimed at simplifying the moving process for users. Its easy-to-use dashboard allows service providers to plan, organize, and execute all moving-related tasks efficiently. By focusing on creating a personalized experience, LiveEasy enables customers to navigate the complexities of relocation with ease, ensuring a seamless transition to their new homes.

WaveOn is a company that specializes in enhancing customer connection and engagement by bridging offline and online commerce. By utilizing a blend of award-winning software and contactless technology, WaveOn transforms physical products into digital points of sale, facilitating new marketing, sales, and service experiences without the need for apps or search engines. The company focuses on creating metaverse-ready solutions for prominent sports brands, enabling them to build robust pre- and post-purchase engagement and improve supply chain management. Through its innovative approach, WaveOn aims to strengthen customer relationships and drive business growth for its clients.

GVNG is a technology company focused on simplifying charitable giving and enhancing the impact of philanthropy for individuals and corporations. Its platform acts as a charitable wallet, allowing users to organize and manage donations efficiently while combining features of donor-advised funds and crowdfunding tools. By addressing the challenges and barriers that complicate charitable acts, GVNG offers a user-friendly application that reduces the costs, labor, and time associated with running nonprofit projects. The company's mission is to create communities centered around shared purposes, connecting people with brands and influencers to collaboratively tackle significant world problems.

Zebel is a construction cost estimating software tailored for general contractors and real estate developers. It serves leading builders, including major firms like Amazon and Irvine Company, enabling them to generate quick and accurate cost estimates from the conceptual stage through to Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) pricing. The platform supports a wide array of project types, including commercial, multifamily, industrial, data centers, and hospitality. Additionally, Zebel provides a construction analytics platform that facilitates feasibility analysis for multifamily projects. Its organized database allows users to generate construction cost estimates and create comparative reports to assess the cost implications of various design metrics. This functionality helps clients evaluate multiple design scenarios, ultimately assisting them in identifying the most optimal solutions for their construction projects.

Breakr is a technology-driven music promotion marketplace that facilitates connections between musicians and influencers to promote new music through cultural channels. The platform allows music influencers to create profiles, specify their music preferences, and design digital campaigns that can be disseminated across various platforms. By addressing the unique challenges of influencer marketing, Breakr effectively matches artists, record labels, and brands with suitable influencers based on shared interests, goals, and campaign requirements. This approach enables successful collaborations that enhance engagement and drive revenue for the music industry.

UNest is a financial technology company based in North Hollywood, California, founded by Ksenia Yudina in 2018. The company specializes in providing an accessible digital investing platform aimed at helping families build a secure financial future for their children. UNest allows parents to open a UTMA account quickly and easily through its app, with no paperwork required. The platform offers advisor-guided investment plans, a simple gifting feature, and the ability to set up recurring contributions. Additionally, users can earn rewards through UNest Rewards.

mxHero is a technology company based in San Francisco that specializes in email software solutions. Founded in 2011 by experienced email technologists, mxHero offers cloud services for storing emails and attachments, as well as server-side solutions that enhance email functionality. Their platform includes add-ons for automated filing of emails and replacing legacy archives, with a focus on improving security, efficiency, and reporting. The company serves various industries, including real estate, accounting, and legal sectors, by providing tools to protect sensitive information, reduce data sprawl, and improve operational efficiency through automated email management.

Acorns is a financial technology company founded in 2012 and based in Irvine, California. The company offers a mobile application that enables individuals to automate micro-investments by rounding up their everyday purchases and investing the spare change into a diversified portfolio of exchange-traded funds. Acorns employs a proprietary financial engine to facilitate these micro-investments, allowing users to invest small amounts of money effortlessly. In addition to its investment services, Acorns provides debit card, personal checking, investment, and retirement account options, making it easier for users to manage their finances and grow their savings over time.