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Startup PDX Challenge winners receive free office space for free in the New Market Theater, an 1872 building in Old Town.

(PDC image)

The Startup PDX Challenge has picked 19 semifinalists from 134 applications for its second annual, publicly funded effort to boost entrepreneurship in the city.

Up to six young companies will win $15,000 grants from the Portland Development Commission, and free office space for a year in a historic Old Town building with upgrades funded by the PDC.

This year's contest put an emphasis on diversity, considering the companies' makeup as one factor in picking winners. (All the factors are – A compelling story, founder experience, growth potential, market potential, ability to use the prize package, and diversity of the founding team.)

The 19 semifinalists include:

15 companies with women founders

11 with African American founders

Six with Asian or Pacific Islander founders

Three whose founders include Hispanics

Three with Native American founders

Three with disabilities

One with a military veteran.

Here's how the semifinalists break down by region –

From the Portland area: Aquadrop, Carehubs, Design+Culture, Genki-su, Graph Alchemist, GRASP, NoAppFee, RAFTsyrups, Science Girls, Society Nine, Sugarlump Factory, Switchboard, Talisha's Secret, Tique Box, and VDO Interpreters.

From other areas: Flipcase and Scrumpt (both from San Francisco), ICOM (Atlanta), Soulbe (from Las Vegas.)

The PDC will hold a public advisory vote beginning at 8 a.m. Monday on the startup challenge's website, and the competition will announce winners in early September. Winning companies move in early in October.

-- Mike Rogoway; twitter: @rogoway; phone: 503-294-7699