Dear Colleagues:
I am delighted to announce the results of the USF-PSI 2006 International Business Plan Competition and the San Francisco-Silicon Valley Global Entrepreneurship Research Conference.
Professor Roger Chen, Zhan Li and I co-chaired our second annual global entrepreneurship research conference (co-sponsored by Hong Kong University of Science and Technology) which highlighted the scholarly contributions in various aspects of entrepreneurship of nearly 40 researchers from approximately 30 universities in 15 countries on 6 continents. The conference began with a panel discussion on Wednesday evening on the positive social impact of entrepreneurship and continued on Thursday with 8 separate sessions of paper presentations.
We transitioned to our business plan competition on Thursday evening (after our coaching rounds on Wednesday) with our trade show where all competing teams displayed their business proposals during a dinner reception. Then the elevator pitch contest began with all 19 teams giving 90 second pitches of their proposals to the judging panel of 20 VCs and top executives (e.g. Intuit COB, Kleiner Perkins, etc.) and an audience of about 300 students, alumni, faculty, and guests.
It was an exciting evening full of great ideas, high ideals, courage, and drama.
As did the San Francisco Sentiniel:
Please see below the contest winners. We look forward to tracking their continued success as we have done with past contest participants who are now in business.
Please consider participating in our 2007 Global Entrepreneurship Research Conference and International business plan competition. www.EntrepreneurshipProgram.org.
Best,
Mark Cannice
USF/HKUST
1. Pacific Specialty Insurance $10,000 Grand Prize &
Elevator Pitch Contest Winner $1000 Prize
SanoGene Therapeutics Inc. - <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Illinois</st1:placename></st1:place>, Chicago
SanoGene utilizes a patent-pending form of RNA interference (RNAi) technology to develop biopharmaceutical products that prevent tumor progression and promote cancer cell death. Its primary therapeutic, Gliosan, developed for the treatment of the most common and deadliest form of brain cancer, has demonstrated exceptional efficacy and safety in laboratory trials and targets a market worth $1.5 billion annually.
2. Overall Second Place - $3000 &
Second Place Elevator Pitch Contest Winner $500
Cytex Therapeutics - <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Duke</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place>
Cytex has developed a method for growing a cartilage replacement for arthritic joints beginning from a patient�s adult stem cell store. This will be implanted in young patients with end-stage arthritis who are not candidates for hip replacement due to their young age.
3. Overall Third Place - $2000
Remedy Diagnostics - <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Texas</st1:placename> at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Austin</st1:city></st1:place>
Remedy Diagnostics will improve human health through the commercialization of innovative, diagnostic imaging devices. Its initial product, STAT DetectTM, is a 3-D imaging solution offering superior breast cancer detection. This safe, pain-free test will reduce health care costs, improve cash flow for physicians, and revolutionize preventive care for women.
Finalist - $1000 prize &
3rd place - Elevator Pitch Contest
ENPREA - Hong Kong <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Science</st1:placename></st1:place> and Technology
ENPREA is a venture dedicated to developing cutting edge technology in the area of portable power. Currently we have the technology to make longer lasting Lithium-ion batteries. By using our patented Nanostructure carbon tubes these batteries will have twice the capacity of conventional lithium ion batteries.
Finalist - $1000 prize
Price Finder - <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Michigan</st1:placename></st1:place>
A GPS layover service that delivers gas station gas prices and advertisements to in-car GPS devices.
Honorable Mention - $500 prize
AMiiGA, LLC - <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Arkansas</st1:placename></st1:place>
AMiiGA�, LLC is a software development and consulting company that enables easier access to database information. We have an exclusive license to market LingoLogic�, a software package that optimizes data queryin! g and improves efficiencies in time management and training. LingoLogic allows users to employ regular, natural English to communicate with databases.
Apnyx - <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Stanford</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place>
Apnyx is a medical device company committed to the development of innovative ways to treat patients that suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Apnyx has developed a patentable device to prevent one of the major causes of obstruction which happens during sleep, without affecting the normal functions of speech and swallowing.
MoviCASH - <st1:placename w:st="on">ADEN</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Business</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">School</st1:placetype> � Alta Direcci�n Escuela de Negocios (<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Argentina</st1:country-region></st1:place>)
A system that allows people to exchange cellular credit (funds) between customers from different telephone companies, allowing cellular phones to be used to transfer money (credits) for buying, paying and/or transferring purposes, in any kind of products, services or transactions.
Social Venture Award - $500
WOSPRO, <st1:city w:st="on">London</st1:city> <st1:placetype w:st="on">School</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Economics</st1:placename>, <st1:placetype w:st="on">Institute</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Marketing</st1:placename> <st1:city w:st="on">Kumasi</st1:city> (<st1:country-region w:st="on">Ghana</st1:country-region>), <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Dartmouth</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">College</st1:placetype></st1:place>
WOSPRO aims to introduce a multi-concept business design that will cater to all major �expectation trends� in <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place>�s massively expanding organic industry: ethical/sustainable production, eco- conservation, health integrity and extensive information beyond conventional labeling. At the heart of this synergy is MUREMDS, proposed as the world�s first, web-enabled, client-interface portal, facilitating TOTAL customer interactivity with the agro-industrial process.
Sustainable Venture Award - $500 SoleSolution - <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">San Francisco</st1:placename></st1:place>
SoleSolution revolutionizes business with fiscal profits as well as social and environmental benefits, through conversion of waste and feedstocks into profitable resources such as glycerin, methanol, and a diesel substitute to supplant conventional diesel use in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Port</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Oakland</st1:placename></st1:place>, and diesel hotspots around the globe.
USF Dons Team Spirit Prize - $500
CELLUGEN - <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Waterloo</st1:placename> & <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">McGill</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place>
Cellugen is a company that specializes in the development and application of new cell-based cancer therapies. Our innovative treatment employs ultra-modern medical technology and is minimally invasive compared to other available cancer treatments. Cellugen is committed to developing the most advanced type of immunotherapy and strives to be the global leader in cell-based cancer therapy.
AudioFusion Inc. - <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Wake</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Forest</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place>
AudioFusion is the manufacturer of a patent-pending digital hearing device for use with the 13 million American sufferers of tinnitus (chronic ringing in the ears) that seek medical attention. The device is used in Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) which provides a significant financial incentive to hearing professionals in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
Bio Architecture Lab - <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">California</st1:placename>, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Berkeley</st1:place></st1:city>
Our vision is to be a key player in protein engineering intellectual property space through a commitment to developing superior methodology to engineer protein. Our protein design technology is applicable to many industries using enzymes in manufacturing process. The novel study using this technology has been accepted by Nature.
Cadet - <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Arizona</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">State</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place>
Cadet is in the intelligent sports industry and will introduce the world�s first intelligent cart based golf ball tracking system. Cadet�s patent pending RF technology enables golfers to lo! cate the vicinity of their golf balls from the convenience of their cart, providing radically increased throughput to course operations and improving the overall experience of the golfer.
CellASIC - <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">California</st1:placename></st1:place>, Berkeley
CellASIC develops novel microfluidic technology for cell-based life science applications.
Internet Security Company (ISC) - <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Georgia</st1:placename></st1:place>
ISC will develop and market innovative internet access devices that will significantly enhance the security of today�s PCs. ISC�s first product is a SecureWebSurfer� USB Key that will provide community banks� customers a totally secure means for accessing their internet accounts, thereby helping these banks meet new Federal regulations requiring a second layer of internet security by December 31, 2006.
Leto Pharmaceuticals - <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Pennsylvania</st1:placename></st1:place>
Leto Pharmaceuticals has a proprietary polymer-based nanoparticle technology, polymersomes, for the delivery of cancer therapeutics. The size and adhesiveness of these nanoparticles enables their preferential accumulation at tumor sites. Polymersomes could potentially reduce the toxicity and improve the therapeutic effic! acy of current cancer chemotherapies.
myDesktopOnCall - <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Wisconsin</st1:placename>, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Milwaukee</st1:city></st1:place>
myDesktopOnCall is a website where members can access applications (like Microsoft Office) and replace network functionalities, like file and print serve, e-mail, intranet, shared calendars, etc. The target customer is a small organization with 50 PCs or less, that does not have the resources to purchase, implement, and maintain an IT network.
Tutti-Frutti - ESADE
Tutti-Frutti targets the consequent vertical integration of the tropical fruits business. The company imports tropical organic fruits & fruits-derivatives to <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place> from developing countries and contribute to meaningful socio-economic and ecologically sustainable development of those countrie! s. �New exotic tastes�, �healthy & organic� and �fair trade� are the mottoes.
Mark V. Cannice, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship
Executive Director, USF Entrepreneurship Program
University of San Francisco (cannice@usfca.edu) -------------------------------------------------------------------
Visiting Associate Professor
************************************** This message is from ENTREP which is sponsored by the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management. Please do not post messages with attached files. Commercial messages or spammed messages are not allowed on the list. The use of auto-responder "out-of-office" messages may also lead to your removal from the list. You can manage your subscription options, including joining or leaving the list here:
http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=entrep&A=1 If you have questions or need help, please contact Dr. John Bunch
jbunch@benedictine.edu. Ventures HO!