A few months ago, Microsoft announced a project called Kinect Accelerator. The idea was that Microsoft would pick 10 startup companies that would develop software made especially for the Kinect motion gesture-capture technology. Today, Microsoft announced which companies got the nod to participate in the Kinect Accelerator program. As it turns out, Microsoft decided to pick 11 companies to help out instead of just 10.
The 11 startups will now head to Seattle for the next three months. While there, they will receive office space, an Xbox development kit, the Windows Kinect SDK and $20,000 for their initial software investment. While the teams develop their Kinect applications during this time period, they will also receive help and advice from Microsoft representatives along with entrepreneurs and investors.
The final part of the Kinect Accelerator program will involve the startups showing off their Kinect software products to potential investors and venture capitalists along with Microsoft executives and others.
The companies that were picked include Freak'n Genius, which is developing an easy-to-use Kinect animation program; Jintronix, which is making some virtual reality-based hardware and software for medical use, and Ubi, which is designing a way to turn any screen into a touch screen interface.
The other Kinect Accelerator companies are: GestSure Technologies, IKKOS, Kimetric, Manctl, NConnex, Styku, VOXON, and Zebcare.
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