Finalists Named For Purdue Business Plan Competition
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowPurdue University has named the 10 finalists for the Burton D. Morgan Business Plan Competition. The teams will make their pitch presentations to a panel of judges Tuesday in an effort to win a share of the $100,000 in available prize money.
The teams are separated into two divisions. Five teams of graduate students will compete for a $30,000 top prize in the Gold Division, while five teams of undergraduate students will compete for a $20,000 top prize in the Black Division.
"We continue to be amazed at the quality and intelligence of Purdue students, and certainly this competition brings out the best in each of them and serves as a launchpad for new learning, applying new skills and as a starting point for a number of new ventures," said Greg Deason, senior vice president and director of innovation and entrepreneurship at the Purdue Research Foundation. "Virtually everyone here at Purdue has a big idea. This competition will serve for many as the first step in seeing their idea have impact."
The Gold Division finalists include:
- ZeaVaxx, a vaccine company that is dedicated to providing farmers and veterinarians around the world with the best animal vaccines. At the current stage, ZeaVaxx is planning to develop a new influenza vaccine for pigs with a novel nanosized biodegradable vaccine delivery system.
- Tri-D Dynamics aims to manufacture affordable and efficient rocket engines for rapid SmallSat launch vehicle development and operations. Rocket engines are often the most critical, yet costliest, components of launch vehicles. Tri-D Dynamics is a new startup using patent-pending processes to enable the manufacture of rocket engines that are more cost-efficient, quicker to produce, and lower in weight than any others out in the market.
- Sustainable Plastic Products (SP2) has developed an environmentally friendly laminate composite that removes known carcinogens that are part of the current laminate composite products used in a variety of applications, including flooring, furniture, abrasives and plywood.
- PathVis, a diagnostics company specializing in smartphone technologies to monitor and track the next big pathogen outbreak, aims to provide real-time data to identify global disease hot spots.
- Expimetrics, which has developed a web-based platform and mobile apps to provide a growing pool of respondents to take mobile-based surveys, create interactive surveys, schedule them over multiple days and events and collect real-time, real-world data using mobile-based interactive surveys.
The Black Division finalists include:
- US DiDi, is a resource-sharing system for Chinese students and scholars with services provided on basic necessities of college life including shelter, transportation, academic and entertainment.
- LOQBOX, aims to be the first household name in IoT (Internet of Things) products. Similar to Amazon’s Alexa, the LOQBOX will allow consumers to control any door lock from their phone, tablet, or computer, from anywhere in the world. The LOQBOX will be priced under a $100 and be installable in minutes, with no tools required.
- LEAP makes IoT devices and software to break down barriers between students who have disabilities and educators.
- Hydro Grow makes an automated, aero-ponic appliance, similar to a Keureg, that allows individuals to grow produce in their home or place of business. Seed cups will be sold to customers through a membership as a continuous revenue stream.
- HydraMatic is an innovative center-pivot irrigation system designed with proprietary technology that will allow small farmers to irrigate crops in areas that were previously not accessible to any type of irrigation system and increase yields and income opportunities for these farmers.
Last year, Adranos Energetics LLC took the top prize in the Gold Division for their energy-efficient rocket fuel formula. In November, Adranos co-founders Brandon Terry and Chris Stoker talked about their formula on Inside INdiana Business Television.
The event, which is in its 30th year, will take place Tuesday at the Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship in Discovery Park at Purdue. Presentations will from from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and are open to the public.