US Veteran-Owned CANDL, LLC Celebrates Acceptance into Vet-Tech Accelerator
(PRWEB) August 16, 2016 -- CANDL, LLC is proud to announce its acceptance into the Vet-Tech Startup Accelerator located in Silicon Valley. CANDL is a hardware startup with a social mission that is 100% veteran-owned and based in Atlanta, GA. The Internet of Things (IoT) company is currently in prototype stage with an established brand and digital presence.
Founded on the belief that a for-profit business can also help those in need, CANDL is working to bring connectivity to people and things at the edge of infrastructure. By joining Vet-Tech, the team now has co-working space at the Plug and Play Tech Center as well as access to world-class resources such as expert mentorship, corporate partnerships, and funding opportunities available exclusively for companies that are founded and ran by United States military veterans.
Tom Cox, CEO, explains why this partnership is key for the company, “Instead of a 90-day ‘one-size-fits-all’ program, Vet-Tech tailors their mentorship to every company’s needs and invests undivided attention into each. Early-stage companies can be confused by which accelerators and partnerships to join, but accepting our Vet-Tech invitation — that was an easy decision.”
Ryan Micheletti, Cofounder and Head of Operations for Vet-Tech, echoes that connection, “The leadership team at CANDL is fantastic. They are seasoned professionals in their space, CANDL being their second venture. CANDL’s mission aligns well with Vet-Tech’s, which made the partnership obvious, especially after identifying the areas in which Vet-Tech could provide the most value.”
Veteran-owned businesses represent 9% of businesses in the United States and generated more than $1.2 trillion in sales in 2013. The non-profit accelerator Vet-Tech helps veteran-owned high-tech companies from around the country access the capital, partnerships, and the technology ecosystem in Silicon Valley.
Vet-Tech estimates that 50% of world’s successful startups are funded in Silicon Valley, which makes CANDL’s workspace at Plug and Play even more crucial. As the very first and most established startup accelerator in the country, the Plug and Play Tech Center has helped launch global giants including Dropbox, PayPal, and Google. With more than 180 venture capital partners and 300 corporate sponsors, Plug and Play has helped more than 2000 startups raise over $3.5 billion since 2006.
CANDL has two goals to achieve through their partnership with Vet-Tech: a working product that is designed for manufacturing, and the means to complete a crowd-funding campaign. The team is passionate and confident, and Tom sums it up, “Vet-Tech has opened so many doors for us in the first few weeks. Their support of CANDL, as a hardware manufacturer and as a social mission, has made this relationship worth far more than both their investment and ours
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About CANDL, LLC:
CANDL, LLC leverages established IoT capabilities to bring connectivity to the edge of infrastructure. Our first product, CANDL One, is an ultra-rugged 4G global hotspot that works in more than 150 countries without a SIM card. Designed to military-grade specs with ruggedized materials, CANDL One can withstand the harshest environments on the planet, including emergency, disaster, and refugee relief settings. CANDL products are the solution for anyone who has struggled to get connected while traveling overseas, taking weekend adventures, or during an emergency. Our social mission is to bring 1M disconnected, displaced and distressed people online by 2020.
About Vet-Tech, Inc:
Vet-Tech is the nation’s leading startup accelerator for military veterans. Headquartered in Silicon Valley at the Plug and Play Tech Center, the world’s largest incubator, Vet-Tech has mentored over 70 veteran-led companies since it’s founding in 2012. The Company’s mission is to empower veterans to build startup companies that will change the world. Vet-Tech provides expert mentorship, funding opportunities and access to a national network of Veteran Entrepreneurs, Technology Executives, Startup Advisors, Angel Investors, Venture Capitalists, Government Officials and Corporate Partners. Led by military veterans and startup executives, Vet-Tech strives to build the best startup companies with the nation’s most talented veteran entrepreneurs.
Tom Cox, CANDL, LLC, http://www.getcandl.com, +1 404-210-3464, [email protected]
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