Two Colorado startups among finalists for SXSW innovation awards

DENVER – Two of Colorado’s tech startups have been named finalists for the South By Southwest festival’s 2017 Interactive Innovation Awards.

Blinker and Tokken, both based in Denver, are among 65 finalists in 13 categories. Both are in the ‘New Economy’ category, which highlights companies that embrace new ways of exchanging goods and services.

Blinker aims to cut out the middle man in auto sales, allowing buyers and sellers to do everything on their smartphones. A seller can take a photo and list their car and Blinker takes care of advertising it. Then, potential buyers can set up test drives and get approved for financing all through the app.

Tokken is a payment app targeted toward cash-based businesses like those that are a part of Colorado’s legal marijuana industry. Because marijuana is still illegal according to federal law, traditional banks won’t do business with marijuana retailers. Tokken gives such businesses an app-based banking system that also takes payments from customers.

Both Blinker and Tokken launched in 2016.

SXSW kicks off this Friday in Austin, Texas and the innovation awards finalists will be on display on Sunday, March 12.

See more of the finalists at sxsw.com.