Project Skyway, a local "accelerator" of early-stage companies, announced its first class of eight tech firms it plans to take to the next level.

Nearly all the businesses are based in Minnesota, with one company, Uhungry, from New York. The selected companies, called Skywalkers, will enter a three-month intensive development program starting in August.

"We wanted to find the type of entrepreneurs that we can put our weight behind, that we know are going to be passionate, driven and persistent," said Cem Erdem, the accelerator's founder.

The eight companies will receive $6,000 per founder, space and additional services. In return, Project Skyway receives 6 to 9 percent of "founder shares," according to its website.

The companies selected are: Uhungry, a social networking site for college students placing group orders on food; Naiku, a Web and mobile-testing platform for schools; Cor2 Technology, a secure online document storage business; Nitch, a Web-based system that allows small- to medium-sized businesses to get together to seek deals; mobile payment business Paypongo; Qualtrx, a social network that connects health care providers to their vendors; Telemetry Web, a business that analyzes data from Internet-connected sensors and devices and puts it securely online; and Minneapolis-based real estate management platform Vanquish AP.

Seven out of the eight companies already have revenue, Project Skyway said.

The eight companies were chosen from 25 semifinalists that participated in a boot-camp weekend. The semifinalists were judged based on the impressions they gave at roundtable discussions and their pitches to a community audience, officials said.

The final decision was made by Erdem and Project Skyway's co-founder, Casey Allen.

Erdem said it will take community support to help make Project Skyway's businesses successful.

He said Minneapolis needs a success story like Groupon, which changed the entrepreneurial landscape of Chicago.

"Here are some very promising companies ... but it's not going to happen with just some individual's effort," Erdem said. "It takes the whole community."

Wendy Lee • 612-673-1712