Startup with Houston roots wins investment from 2018 Veterans Business Battle

Eighteen startups founded by veterans competed in the 2018 Veterans Business Battle on April 13 and 14 at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, and one company with Houston ties left with major cash and prizes.

Austin-based Tenavox won a $25,000 investment from the Houston chapter of Entrepreneurs’ Organization, a $500 cash prize with the potential of an investment offer from Houston-based Amegy Bank and a mentorship package with an opportunity for extended financing by the women’s investment group nCourage Entrepreneurs.

Tenavox is similar to Glassdoor, but for office space. Business owners can read reviews from building tenants and learn anything from how much a tenant is really paying for the space to how easy it is to get in touch with the landlord and even parking accommodations during peak hours.

Tenavox launched in Houston in September and in Austin in January. It was co-founded by Marissa Limsiaco (above center), a U.S. Military Academy graduate and Army veteran, and Josh Feinberg (above right), a former broker with J. Beard Real Estate Co. in The Woodlands.

In total, investors extended $550,000 to the former military members competing in the event. CYR3CON, a cybersecurity firm based in Phoenix, received a $450,000 investment offer from Scout Ventures, $100,000 of which is already funded. CYR3CON uses deep web and darknet information to preempt cyberattacks.

Veterans Business Battle was established in 2015 by the Houston chapter of Entrepreneurs’ Organization and Rice’s Veterans in Business Association, VIBA, an organization for MBA students at the Jones School.

(Photos courtesy of the Veterans Business Battle)