At the end of every month, we recap the biggest tech and startup happenings in Rhode Island. We have an archive of past roundups here. To get this info weekly (Tuesday afternoons, to be exact), sign up for the Rhode Island Inno Beat newsletter.
Let’s take a look.
1. Venture Café Providence launched an "Innovation Is For Everyone" series to highlight diverse leaders. The first session took place in three parts, with talks focusing respectively on diversity in commerce, prioritizing diversity in investing and the disproportionate effect of Covid-19 on Black-owned businesses.
2. Ross Gittell, one of the nation's preeminent economists and economic development experts, began his tenure as the ninth president of Bryant University. Prior to the appointment, Gittell served as the chancellor of the Community College System of New Hampshire.
3. A new clinical trial for an antibody that could eventually eliminate a protein in the brain linked to Alzheimer’s disease will include researchers from Butler and Rhode Island Hospitals, the Providence Journal reported.
4. Artist Republik, the Providence-based decentralized networking platform for independent music artists, raised a $540,000 seed round. Working as a strategic partner on Artist Republik’s behalf, previous investor David Beirne brought on Lameck Humble Lukanga, Bob Brown, former Bryant University president, Ron Machtley and others as new investors.
5. According to Providence Business News, the U.S. Office of Naval Research awarded a $3.8 million contract to government R&D provider Navatek and the University of Rhode Island College of Engineering. The two parties will work on the development of “autonomous systems to combat threats to cyber-physical systems.”
6. The Providence-based wealth management fintech Marstone teamed up with digital wealth manager Apex Clearing, integrating the two platforms, according to a press release.
7. Gov. Gina Raimondo unveiled details for how small businesses can access financial relief packages amid the coronavirus pandemic. Raimondo announced $100 million in emergency financial support to help businesses with reopening, adaptation, and fixed costs through direct grants. The package also includes technical support services. Applications are now available through Commerce RI’s website.
8. Green Peaks Analytical became the first marijuana sampling and testing laboratory licensed by The Rhode Island Department of Health.
9. Suzanne McDonald, the founder of the marketing firm Angles and Insights and its subsidiary Newport Interactive Marketing, launched ROIinU, short for “return on investment in you.” The program is a seven-week course that will take students who already have basic skills in writing and communications and teach them digital marketing tools, linking them up with entrepreneurs along the way.
10. Amazon ranked the top 10 states with the fastest-growing small- and medium-sized businesses selling in Amazon’s stores. At 40%, Rhode Island ranked ninth-fastest year-over-year by digital entrepreneurs in the nation.
