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Venture Challenge 2003 Winners

1st Place : $15,000 Winner

Advanced Audio Technologies - Georgia Institute of Technology

Advanced Audio Technologies will develop, manufacture, and market an innovative optical microphone technology that is significantly more sensitive yet smaller than existing technologies. Advanced Audio Technologies will target current manufacturers of hearing aids.

2nd Place : $3,500 Winner

International Cash Connection - University of Georgia

International Cash Connection (ICC) is a Georgia-based LLC that will serve the international cash transmittal needs of the Georgia and North Florida Hispanic immigration populations through the sale of its CasaLink prepaid international remittance card. The CasaLink international remittance card allows customers to send cash home more safely, quickly, and conveniently than any other remittance service operating in this market today.

3rd Place : $1,500 Winner

TXS - San Diego State University

TXS aims to become a leading brand in the action-sports industry by providing enthusiasts with innovative, high-quality, environmentally conscious products that will improve their sporting experience. TXS will first launch its patent-pending TCX tail systems, followed by a variety of other hard good products for the surf industry and transition to the soft goods segment of the action-sports industry.

Golden Phone Award Winners ($1,000)

Advanced Audio Technologies - Georgia Institute of Technology

Advanced Audio Technologies will develop, manufacture, and market an innovative optical microphone technology that is significantly more sensitive yet smaller than existing technologies. Advanced Audio Technologies will target current manufacturers of hearing aids.

Viento Solutions - Indiana University

Viento Solutions exists to serve the needs of affluent, envorinmentall conscious homeowners by providing a unique, affordable, utility-independent, hybrid wind-hydrogen electricity system for the home. The green energy market Viento Solutions serves will grow enormously in the next five years as the system transitions from a premium alternative to one that is cheaper than existing options.

NonProfit Florals, Inc. - Kennesaw State University

NonProfit Florals, Inc. will assist non-profit organizations in developing a continuous revenue stream, without overhead expenses, by providing them with individualized floral networks (e.g., Humane Society Floral Network). Each network will offer contemporary floral arrangements and gift baskets with a 100% staisfaction guarantee.

TXS - San Diego State University

TXS aims to become a leading brand in the action-sports industry by providing enthusiasts with innovative, high-quality, environmentally conscious products that will improve their sporting experience. TXS will first launch its patent-pending TCX tail systems, followed by a variety of other hard good products for the surf industry and transition to the soft goods segment of the action-sports industry.

Aqua Essence - University of Oregon

Aqua Essence is a low-cost, easy-to-use, and environmentally sound arsenic removal solution that exceeds the regulatory requirement and protects communities from arsenic in drinking water. Arsenic in drinking water is a carcinogen, and the EPA has drastically lowered the allowable concentrations in drinking water for 2006.

Craig P. Dunn Social Innovation Award Winner($1000)

Developing Power - University of Michigan

Developing Power seeks to be the first rural electrification company to combine various innovations to provide clean, cost-effective and locally sustainable energy to hundreds of thousands of rural villages in developing countries. DP focuses on the implementation and integration of hybrid renewable energy sources, mini-grid systems design, and micro-enterprise capacity.

Showstopper Award Winner($500)

Developing Power - University of Michigan

Developing Power seeks to be the first rural electrification company to combine various innovations to provide clean, cost-effective and locally sustainable energy to hundreds of thousands of rural villages in developing countries. DP focuses on the implementation and integration of hybrid renewable energy sources, mini-grid systems design, and micro-enterprise capacity.

2003 Participants

Red = semi-finalist team

Blue = finalist team


Bond University

Description of Business: Plasvacc(USA), Inc.

Plasvacc(USA), Inc. is a canine plasma product that is used to treat a wide variety of canine illnesses and infections. Canine plasma is required in cases of major tissue damage (e.g., injuries sustained during motor vehicle accidents) or during the performance of major surgery. Plasvacc(USA), Inc. compliments conventional veterinary treatments.

Case Western Reserve University

Description of Business: Nanostar

Nanostar's revolutionary nanosatellite technology provides a low-cost communications channel for transferring data from vast arrays of fixed and mobile devices to its clients. It will target "killer applications," including tank monitoring and electric meter reading services, and achieve competitive advantage by developing its own monitoring hardware and communications infrastructure.

Carnegie Mellon University

Description of Business: GatorPoole

GatorPoole markets, manufactures, and installs "grid-connected" distributed power generation systems. GatorPoole's patented APECS fields unit enables the company to operate a dispersed network of grid-connected power systems as a single unit. Through collective bargaining and real-time information, GatorPoole will integrate these systems into the marketplace and help realize their economic benefit.

Duke University

Description of Business: Gastric Retention Technologies

Gastric Retention Technologies (GRT) is a biomedical devide start-up company focused on the treatment of obesity. Employing its novel, patent-pending technology, GRT promises to provide effective reduction of the stomach in a completely non-invasive manner, but with similar benefits as the horribly invasive gastric bypass. Targeting a market of 150 million people in the U.S. alone, GRT hopes to have a product ready for commercial launch by the end of 2003.

Georgia Institute of Technology

Description of Business: Advanced Audio Technologies

Advanced Audio Technologies will develop, manufacture, and market an innovative optical microphone technology that is significantly more sensitive yet smaller than existing technologies. Advanced Audio Technologies will target current manufacturers of hearing aids.

Indiana University

Description of Business: Viento Solutions

Viento Solutions exists to serve the needs of affluent, envorinmentall conscious homeowners by providing a unique, affordable, utility-independent, hybrid wind-hydrogen electricity system for the home. The green energy market Viento Solutions serves will grow enormously in the next five years as the system transitions from a premium alternative to one that is cheaper than existing options.

I.T.E.S.M. - Monterrey Tech

Description of Business: HomeSeg

HomeSeg is an enterprise in the residental accessory market. The company designs, produces, and sells products that allow people to control home appliances and services, such as light and door locks, through the Internet.
Kennesaw State University

Description of Business: NonProfit Florals, Inc.

NonProfit Florals, Inc. will assist non-profit organizations in developing a continuous revenue stream, without overhead expenses, by providing them with individualized floral networks (e.g., Humane Society Floral Network). Each network will offer contemporary floral arrangements and gift baskets with a 100% staisfaction guarantee.

San Diego State University

Description of Business: TXS

TXS aims to become a leading brand in the action-sports industry by providing enthusiasts with innovative, high-quality, environmentally conscious products that will improve their sporting experience. TXS will first launch its patent-pending TCX tail systems, followed by a variety of other hard good products for the surf industry and transition to the soft goods segment of the action-sports industry.

Stockholm School of Entrepreneurship

Description of Business: Redbet Ltd.

Redbet Ltd. will provide European sport gamblers with an online betting exchange that will allow them to wager against one another.

University of Georgia

Description of Business: International Cash Connection

International Cash Connection (ICC) is a Georgia-based LLC that will serve the international cash transmittal needs of the Georgia and North Florida Hispanic immigration populations through the sale of its CasaLink prepaid international remittance card. The CasaLink international remittance card allows customers to send cash home more safely, quickly, and conveniently than any other remittance service operating in this market today.

University of Manitoba

Description of Business: PlasiaTEK

PlasiaTEK is a medical solutions provider that will develop, patent, and market innovative devices for use in the healthcare industry. PlasiaTEK is currently poised to launch its first product, an ultrasound-based device, which will revolutionize the way anesthesiologists and emergency responders perform endotracheal intubations.

University of Michigan

Description of Business: Developing Power

Developing Power seeks to be the first rural electrification company to combine various innovations to provide clean, cost-effective and locally sustainable energy to hundreds of thousands of rural villages in developing countries. DP focuses on the implementation and integration of hybrid renewable energy sources, mini-grid systems design, and micro-enterprise capacity.

University of Nebraska, Lincoln

Description of Business: Gerisys

Gerisys is a franchising model for closed-door pharmacies catering to long-term care facilities (e.g., nursing homes).

University of Oregon

Description of Business: Aqua Essence

Aqua Essence is a low-cost, easy-to-use, and environmentally sound arsenic removal solution that exceeds the regulatory requirement and protects communities from arsenic in drinking water. Arsenic in drinking water is a carcinogen, and the EPA has drastically lowered the allowable concentrations in drinking water for 2006.

University of Southern California

Description of Business: Enhanced Energy Systems

Enhanced Energy Systems will design and install Waste Heat Power Generation on gas-turbine electric generators. The product will transform otherwise wasted energy directly into additional electricity, thus improving system efficiency by approximately 3%. The goals of the company are higher profits for its customers, lower emissions, and a reduced dependency on foreign oil.

University of Texas-Austin

Description of Business: Organic Energy Systems

Organic Energy Systems capitalizes on global initiatives for clean energy by making and marketing economical and environmentally friendly distributed energy systems using next generation biomass fuel technologies.

University of Toronto

Description of Business: Sapere Technologies

Sapere Technologies is an innovative start-up company that aims to become the leader of driver and passenger safety on the road. In particular, the initial product line will address the market niche of driver fatigue and drowsiness detection while behind the wheel.

University of Wisconsin, Madision

Description of Business: Dysphagia Solutions, Inc.

Dysphagia Solutions, Inc. is a provider of a proprietary medical device technology to diagnose the cause of an correct dysphagia (i.e., difficulty in swallowing). The company will target the technologies to medical case providers especially focused on treatment of stroke victims.