Team Real Talk founders Sonya Tareke and Malkijah Griffiths won $25,000 in seed funding and $30,000 in in-kind services for their instructional platform that would help companies and institutions have conversations about sensitive issues like race and gender to promote safe spaces for all.
"We learned from the pandemic and the 'Great Resignation' that many employees were frustrated about low pay, workplace barriers and feeling disrespected by their employer or co-workers," Tareke said. "Our platform helps create healthy work environments through guided, structured conversations in real time, with online tracking of feedback and progress."
A total of 30 UB student startup teams participated in the Panasci process that began in February and produced five finalists who made their pitches to judges from the startup and business world this week.
The second-place award of $10,000 in seed funding went to RHM Innovations, a company that makes a shower chair attachment to help ill, injured or aging people maintain their independence and dignity while bathing.
For the first time, the 22-year-old competition added a People's Choice category selected by online voters. That $1,000 prize went to Networthy, a personal finance platform to help college students learn how to manage debt.
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