De’ Lamar Technologies, a McKinney-based software technology company, has been accepted into Newchip Startup Accelerator’s September Pre-Seed Cohort in Austin.

The startup joins 33 others that range in industry focus from flying cars to robot-built custom furniture to social network dating to aerospace simulators. Two other startups, Volarent Aerospace and PCS At Ease, are Texas companies, too.

De’ Lamar Technologies is led by Founder and CEO Larry West. The startup’s game platform, uPushiT Ultimate Challenge, is available on Google Play and the App Store: Players search for uGold, bid against friends, and solve puzzles on a mission to “strike it rich.”

De’ Lamar called for a “true out-of-the-box thinker” to join the company’s mission of pioneering a leading mobile game competition in a job posting last year. “We don’t speculate, we innovate,” it notes.

Newchip Startup Accelerator: A new model

Austin-based Newchip launched what it calls the “first equity-free, online accelerator” in April. Its 10-week program intends to prep founders for pitching to investors through startup training, one-on-one mentor sessions, and classes.

Ryan Rafols, CEO of Newchip, wants to help startups get on the right path. “Whether it’s building a team, rebranding a product, or even pivoting the entire startup, my team has been dedicated to helping our pre-seed accelerator companies learn everything they need to know,” he said in a statement.

Who can apply

Startups of all experience levels can apply and are accepted on a rolling basis into an accelerator program—Bootcamp, Pre-Seed, or Seed—based on the stage, traction, and trajectory of the business, Newchip said in a release. “We’ll work with any startup that hasn’t already raised a Series A round from VCs,” reads a FAQ on the website.

Newchip, itself a fintech startup, launched in 2016. It lets individuals “invest like a VC” in pre-IPO companies, real estate, and real investment trusts (REITs) via an online marketplace , according to Built in ATX.

Newchip closed a $2 million seed funding in June 2018 and was named among ATX’s “50 Startups to Watch” in 2019.

Money is important to a startup, says Newchip. The company’s innovative model connects an accelerator to an investment platform. It’s attracted founders from around the world and generated millions of dollars in funding, according to a release. And, Newchip’s website quantifies the success of its team, stating it has helped fund more than $20 million into startups in 2018. It also claims a community of some 100,000 investors and entrepreneurs.

The accelerator has hosted two additional seed cohorts since its launch. Similar to a demo day, Newchip will host online streamed startup presentations to its investor community during a startup expo from Oct. 7 to 11.