Forward Mobility moves on in $100,000 contest

Joel and Patty Smith own Forward Mobility. (Herald photo)

Forward Mobility, the Edmonds-based start up I wrote about last week, is moving on in their quest for $100,000 in grant money from a contest hosted by Inc.com.

But that's mostly because of a Web site error. Inc posted a message online saying all 13 semi-finalists will move on to the final competition in San Francisco next week due to an online voting error.

"Due to issues in the online voting portion of the Newpreneur competition, we decided the fairest course of action, as the rules allow, is to invite all 13 Finalists to compete in the finale event," the message read.

The competition is sponsored by Alibaba.com. The final event is on Nov. 18.

But while winning the first prize of $50,000 isn't actually any closer for Forward Mobility, the company reports publicity related to the competition is already paying off. Companies in Israel, Jordan, Australia, Spain, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand and other countries have contacted Forward Mobility about distributing its medical mobility devices.