Startup Science vs UpCast

Giving founders an unfair advantage

To help startups design their success, 1 founder at a time.

Why? Because wealth inequality is directly tied to entrepreneurship. 95% of people who get out of check-to-check living do so by selling a business.

It started with researching why, how, and when startups fail. We did 1,200 interviews and spent months reading the research to understand the 90% failure rate. We learned that founders keep making the same mistakes and these mistakes can be avoided. And the problems that lead to these mistakes center around people, knowledge, and financial resources.

Accelerators are designed to help startups solve these problems. But only 2% of startups who apply, are accepted into accelerators. 60% of rejected founders “failed to complete the application due to lack of knowledge.” And 70% of those startups who are accepted, came through a referral. So if you don’t know the language or are not connected into the ecosystem already your chances are slim.

Location: Santa Cruz, United States

Audition from your phone.

Auditions for models and actors have remained an expensive and time-consuming process for years. Casting directors, production studios, brands, and the like have to spend upwards of $2000 to secure a location, photographer, and equipment. Then spend at least a full day casting, uploading files, and reviewing each audition photo and video. For talent, there’s paying for headshots, driving in traffic, waiting in line, maybe even requesting time off work, all for 30 seconds with a casting director who snaps 1-3 photos of them. With more and more people using smartphones equipped with built-in, high-quality cameras and everyone equally frustrated with the process, it’s time for a revival.

As the first mobile platform that instantly connects talent and productions through the entire casting process digitally, UpCast is the big break the industry needs. Inspired by apps and mobile sites that help us find jobs, dates, food, rides, etc., UpCast lets talent conveniently swipe through castings matched to their specific criteria, and upload live photos and videos from anywhere. Casting directors and companies can then see, filter and book talent digitally, saving everyone much needed time and money.