From BizLaunch: Startup Quest Concludes with Success!
Startup Quest Concludes with Success!
The first round of the Startup Quest entrepreneurial intensive training program ended on July 11th with an investor pitch and business plan competition. After attending classes for 10 weeks where participants learned how to put together a business plan and an investor presentation, each team was given 10 minutes to pitch their simulated technology business to a panel of eight judges. The judges were comprised of entrepreneurs and investors, who asked those serious questions that potential investors ask those seeking funding. After all 11 teams gave their presentations, prizes were awarded to the first, second, and third place team winners. The judges were so impressed with the team presentations that they decided to create a fourth prize of honorable mention.
Winning First Place was Solar Flex- A company whose business is producing highly efficient thin film solar cells (technology developed at the University of Florida). Solar Flex team members are Scott Campbell, Jeffrey Gilchriest, Rupert Hector, Robin Jones and Winsome Sharpe. They were mentored by Robert Green.
Second Place went to Space Coast Industrial Solutions, a company whose product is Anti- Corrosive Powder Particles (technology developed through NASA). Space Coast Industrial Solutions team includes Sylvester Brown, Stefanie Chrisman, Angela Davidson, Cynthia Hercules, Pablo Martinez, Kelly Nichols, Edward Pulz, and Mark Woolsey – mentored by Michael Judith.
Coming in Third Place was TJS Technologies, a company whose product is a device that prevents tractor trailers from jackknifing (technology developed through the University of Florida). TJS Technologies team members are Cindi Courbat, Darrell Craig, Lanny Gerkin, Andrew Heavener, Doug Hercules, and Janet Lindsey. TJS Tech is mentored by Mark Shantzis.
Honorable Mention went to nervEMG – a company whose product is a medical device designed to aid stroke, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s patients with the ability to cough and swallow safely (technology developed through the University of Florida). Team members are William Harr, Tamela Hughey, Delbressa Jordon, John Levitt, Caroline Miles, Terry Tyson, Mary Ward and Susan Wheat.
Individual prizes were awarded to each team member of the winning teams who completed the program. Prizes were furnished by a contribution from the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. In addition NASA is offering a prize for seed funding to the first company to be licensed through this program.
Although these companies created in this program were for simulation/training purposes, many of the participants and mentors are moving forward and researching the next steps to obtain licensing of the technology and create businesses.
Brevard Workforce extends our sincere appreciation to the mentors and subject matter experts who helped make this program a great success! Terry Wharton, 4XOr; Robert Keimer, Florida institute of Technology; Carol Craig, Craig Technologies, Inc.; Ruben Nunez, Earthrise Space; Stewart Bush, AtLink Communications; Terry Schrumpf, Florida Sports and Spinal Rehabilitation; David Szostak of XL Tech Group; Robert Green, Lean Startup Services; Michael Judith, Cohesion 5 Technologies; Summer Kahlon, Relay Health/McKesson; Mark Shantzis, Florida Technologies Investment Fund; Tracy Stroderd, Everything Brevard, Paul Kosieracki, K&S Commercial, LLC; Pam Hoelzle, UCF Blackstone Launchpad; Alan Musselman, Olde Rockledge Investment & Capital; Sterling Bates, Silver Paradigm; and Michael O’Donnell, UCF Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation.
Announcements for applications for the next round of Startup Quest will begin in January 2014 for a late April program start date. For more information on Startup Quest please contact us at [email protected]