Venture Challenge 2004 Winners
1st Place : $15,000 Winner
ScarPrev Pharmaceuticals - University of Michigan
ScarPrev Pharmaceuticals is developing a pharmaceutical treatment to
prevent scar formation after surgeries and injuries. Based on a patented,
FDA-approved active ingredient, ScarPrev’s line of products proactively
stops scar tissue growth. ScarPrev will target 14 million surgeries
annually, beginning with cosmetic plastic surgeries.
2nd Place : $3,500 Winner
uShip - University of Texas-Austin
Uship's route deviation search technology matches shipments with
available drivers, including movers, couriers, and individuals. Uship
enables shippers to save 50% by using excess cargo capacity on our nation’s
highways.
3rd Place : $1,500 Winner
EANeedle - Carnegie Mellon University
EANeedle, the Energy-Assisted Needle, is a platform technology which
will enable high-risk and standard biopsy procedures to be performed
with increased accuracy and efficiency.
Golden Phone Award Winners ($1,000)
My Style - University of Washington
My Style serves women who are frustrated because they don’t fit
well into ready-to-wear clothes. Clothing Solutions uses mass customization
technologies and “dialogue” with the customer to manufacture
the most flattering apparel that is customized to her measurement and
personalized to her lifestyle.
Taco Tikka - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Taco Tikka is a new chain of “authentic” Mexican fast food
restaurants in India which cater to the Indian palate.
Medical Tourism, Inc. - University of Illinois – Chicago
Medical Tourism, Inc. provides non-emergency and elective surgeries
to uninsured and underinsured Americans in state-of-the-art medical
facilities in India. Surgeries and services made available at costs
of 1/4th to 1/10th the price of the same surgeries in the U.S.
Filt-Air - University of Manitoba
Hog production is one of the fastest growing and most profitable segments
of the agricultural sector in North American, but these successes come
with a price, increased complaints about the odors. Filt-Air Technologies
address the problem at both the barn and lagoon level with its patent-pending
BioPure biofilter and strategic marketing arrangement with OCB, the
makers of Gulla Guard, a natural fibre lagoon cover. Their goal is to
turn the odors associated with livestock production into ‘The
sweet smell of success”.
Craig P. Dunn Social Innovation Award Winner($1000)
Sandbox Learning Company - Wake Forest University
Sandbox Learning Company is a web-based comprehensive education solution
for parents and professionals working with children with autism spectrum
disorders (ASD’s). The company offers on-line training courses
and educational toolboxes providing materials for education plans.
2003 Participants
Red = semi-finalist team
Blue = finalist team
Carnegie Mellon University
Description of Business: EANeedle
EANeedle, the Energy-Assisted Needle, is a platform technology which
will enable high-risk and standard biopsy procedures to be performed
with increased accuracy and efficiency.
Georgia Institute of Technology
Description of Business: Infovision
InfoVision is a software solutions company focusing on the human computer
interface for the visually impaired. InfoVisions’ lead product
profiles visual impairments and optimizes the graphical user interface
for computer users.
Indiana University
Description of Business: TRIKAR Solutions
TRIKAR Solutions operates a call center with CRM technology from Japan
which specializes in car dealerships. The company employs a strategy
that starts with customer purchase and extends through the entire ownership
cycle.
Purdue University
Description of Business: BDS Technologies
BDS Technologies is dedicated to developing, manufacturing and providing
a unique line of technologically advanced products and services to golf
enthusiasts. The company provides a new golf bag carrying device which
enables players to walk the course while benefiting from the latest
in GPS and wireless technologies.
San Diego State University
Description of Business: Trading Trends
Trading Trends will become the leader in facilitating transactions for
the online investment advisory service industry by providing a turnkey
development tool to streamline the creation and management of advisory
websites. These websites will be included in an advisory service web-portal
that will allow traders the ability to analyze performance data and
customer comments before subscribing to a service.
Stockholm School of Entrepreneurship
Description of Business: Exerciser
Exerciser is a web-based educational tool that will save time and effort
from test-associated work. The tool will combine the usage of extensive
subject oriented templates and intelligent correction algorithms.
University of California – Berkeley
Description of Business: Senet
Senet Entertainment develops and operates premium retail entertainment
venues, integrating on-demand movie screenings and interactive gaming
in a social atmosphere. The Senet system leverages a combination of
all-digital technologies combined into a compelling and transparent
environment.
University of California – Irvine
Description of Business: SleepDesigns
SleepDesigns is a medical device company focused on the creation of
sleep support for the positional treatment of obstructive sleep apnea,
snoring and related sleep disorders.
University of Georgia
Description of Business: Maestro Music
Maestro Music will develop and sell Maestro Music Boxes, a digital replacement
for the sound sources of yesteryear; record, cassette and CD players.
Its off the shelf hardware will be produced in Asia and shipped to the
U.S.
University of Illinois – Chicago
Description of Business: Medical Tourism, Inc.
Medical Tourism, Inc. provides non-emergency and elective surgeries
to uninsured and underinsured Americans in state-of-the-art medical
facilities in India. Surgeries and services made available at costs
of 1/4th to 1/10th the price of the same surgeries in the U.S.
University of Manitoba
Description of Business: Filt-Air
Hog production is one of the fastest growing and most profitable segments
of the agricultural sector in North American, but these successes come
with a price, increased complaints about the odors. Filt-Air Technologies
address the problem at both the barn and lagoon level with its patent-pending
BioPure biofilter and strategic marketing arrangement with OCB, the
makers of Gulla Guard, a natural fibre lagoon cover. Their goal is to
turn the odors associated with livestock production into ‘The
sweet smell of success”.
University of Michigan
Description of Business: ScarPrev Pharmaceuticals
ScarPrev Pharmaceuticals is developing a pharmaceutical treatment to
prevent scar formation after surgeries and injuries. Based on a patented,
FDA-approved active ingredient, ScarPrev’s line of products proactively
stops scar tissue growth. ScarPrev will target 14 million surgeries
annually, beginning with cosmetic plastic surgeries.
University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Description of Business: Food Consortium
Food Consortium provides educational and consulting services to food
science and technology-related industries, academic institutions and
professionals in Latin America. Services include coordinating and managing
certified graduate-distance programs in the U.S. and customized consulting
services aimed at streamlining food production operations.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Description of Business: Taco Tikka
Taco Tikka is a new chain of “authentic” Mexican fast food
restaurants in India which cater to the Indian palate.
University of Oregon
Description of Business: Three Lines
Three Lines will offer reports which incorporate the financial, social
and environmental performance of publicly traded companies to serve
as quick, reliable reference and research tools.
University of South Carolina
Description of Business: Treknowledge Group
Treknowledge Group aims to provide tourists and business convention
attendees multi-media tours with audio and pictorial formats, digital
maps of the city, restaurant guides and reviews, current events and
relevant convention information.
University of Texas-Austin
Description of Business: Uship
Uship's route deviation search technology matches shipments with
available drivers, including movers, couriers, and individuals. Uship
enables shippers to save 50% by using excess cargo capacity on our nation’s
highways.
University of Washington
Description of Business: My Style
My Style serves women who are frustrated because they don’t fit
well into ready-to-wear clothes. Clothing Solutions uses mass customization
technologies and “dialogue” with the customer to manufacture
the most flattering apparel that is customized to her measurement and
personalized to her lifestyle.
Vanderbilt University
Description of Business: Veran
Veran is a Nashville corporation developing Dynamic Track3, a patent
pending technology that enables physicians to visualize the live position
of instruments superimposed on dynamic images in the procedure room.
Dynamic Track3 provides real-time, three-dimensional navigation that
acts as a Global Positioning System for instruments.
Wake Forest University
Description of Business: Sandbox Learning Company
Sandbox Learning Company is a web-based comprehensive education solution
for parents and professionals working with children with autism spectrum
disorders (ASD’s). The company offers on-line training courses
and educational toolboxes providing materials for education plans.
