Want to stay up to date on the latest startup fundings, launches, and expansions in Austin? Startup Over Coffee’s weekly roundup of startups to watch in Austin will keep you in the loop on the latest Austin tech news. 

PRESERVED

AustinInno shared the launch of  new startup PRESERVED, an app that helps people who are victims of crimes collect evidence and start a case. Without strong evidence, victims of sexual assault, sexual harrassment, hate crimes, domestic violence, online bullying, stalking, and more may be left helpless and without justice. PRESERVED was designed to combat injustice by making evidence easier to collect. 

The app gives users the ability to  compile evidence with features such as scanning documents, uploading photos, and recording audio. The app verifies information such as time, date, and weather conditions with every evidence entry. PRESERVED also provides a journal feature in which users can record experiences and take notes. Information can be shared with trusted sources, should the user decide to do so. 

CEO and founder, Christine Townsend, started PRESERVED to help people capture and preserve evidence. With an extensive background in law enforcement and as a victim of harassment in the workplace, Townsend understands what it is like to face justice and fail due to lack of evidence or evidence not being strong enough to support a case. 

Townsend started a GoFundMe, raising $150,000 making the app free for up to 100,000 users. Expenses will be offset by charging private investigators to use the service. PRESERVED will be free for all military personnel.

PRESERVED is currently not seeking venture capital and instead planning to bootstrap. The current goal is to make the app free for everyone to use. 

Armbrust American

Armbrust American, founded by Lloyd Armbrust, has used the COVID-19 pandemic to fuel their entrepreneurial spirit by manufacturing N95 masks. As of last week, according to AustinInno, Armbrust American secured a $3.8 million contract to supply masks to Texas public school teachers. 

Dedicated to preventing the spread of the coronavirus, the Pflugerville-based company launched and started production after only a few short months. 

The masks have everything needed to pass ASM Type-II certification including 99% bacterial and particulate filtration. Armbrust’s machines are able to produce 1.2 million masks a week and are being sold at the same price as Chinese suppliers. 

Startup Bootcamp

COVID-19 has dramatically changed the job market, shifting the future for many professionals. However, though the pandemic may have eliminated some business prospects, it has opened the door for innovation and opportunity. 

Austin Business Journal announced that ACBJ and Global Silicon Valley will be teaming up to launch a free startup bootcamp. The bootcamp will be seven weeks long and begins July 20th. 

After years of industry experience, Global Silicon Valley founder Micheal Moe idealized the program with the aim of creating a new generation of entrepreneurs in a climate that is seemingly saturated. He was inspired by the Live Aid concert fundraiser in 1985 after watching the movie Bohemian Rhapsody. 

The bootcamp content will be completely online with lessons taught by experts in key areas such as identifying opportunity, building a product or building a brand. In the seventh week on Demo Day, those remaining will have the opportunity to make a pitch to real investors. 

Catalyst Games 

Catalyst Games is a company with roots in Austin. Traditionally companies would volunteer and donate to compete in the games which helps build a strong company culture among team members, while the profits of the event go to a nonprofit to support the city. While COVID-19 has prevented the company from hosting events in person, Catalyst Games decided to use the internet to their advantage and take the games to the national level. 

Startups across the US can participate in virtual games while raising money for local charities. Two nonprofits benefiting in Austin will be Code2College and E4Y. More nonprofits who will benefit can be found on volunteer platform POINTapp. 

Teams will participate in a series of three games with one game every week. Finalists in each region will advance to a mystery challenge, ending with a championship match.

The season starts in September and will last over the course of eight weeks. Teams up to 25 people can enter. The fee for a team to enter is $2,500. Registration closes on August 3rd. 

Tiff’s Treats

Tiff’s treats, a warm cookie delivery service, announced a $1.5 million funding round that will be backed by investors Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks and Kendra Scott, an Austin based jewelry manufacturer, says AustinInno. After the company’s funding, the total fundraising amount is $70 million for the startup. 

Tiff’s treats is currently operating 59 locations across Texas, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee with 1.4 thousand employees- 500 of those employees hired during the pandemic. The cookie company plans to use the new funding for expansion.

About Savannah Burns: Savannah is a marketing and communications intern for Swyft, which has been listed as one of the best PR firms in Austin and a top digital marketing agency in Denver since its founding in 2011. Swyft has satellite offices where it offers PR in San Francisco and Houston.