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School of Engineering students among winners in business plan contest

April 21, 2014

The UNM Business Plan Competition took place at the Anderson School of Management in April. 

The 13 teams in the university-wide competition presented their plans to over 40 experienced venture capitalists and angel investors who selected three prize-winning business proposals for both the Technology Ventures and Entrepreneurial Ventures tracks.

The winning teams were announced at the Awards Reception and Banquet at the Embassy Suites Hotel. Postgrad App was the winner in the Technology Ventures track, while Entrepreneurial track winner was Star Track. Total prize funds awarded to $75,000 for the aspiring entrepreneurs for start-up funding.

The competition encourages student teams from all UNM schools to utilize the wealth of technological innovations developed in New Mexico federal laboratories and universities. 

Technology Ventures teams utilize technology from Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories, from STC.UNM, or their own source with which to create a new business venture. Entrepreneurial teams create new small firms in business not involving intellectual property.

 
Next year's competition will take place on March 27, 2015, and will be the 10th anniversary of the UNM Business Plan Competition.

Winners - Technology Ventures Track
Lockheed Martin / TVC / Sandia National Labs 1st place ($25,000) - Postgrad App - Adam Brown (BBA, Entrepreneurship), Connor Denman (BSCS), Adam Ornelas (BA, Political Science)
Postgrad App is a social networking app unlike anything out there that connects you to people, places and possibilities.

CAaNES / TIP Endowment 2nd place ($20,000) – Ground State - Michelle Urban (MBA), Alexandria Haddad (BSCE), John-Mark Collins (BSCE), Justin Johnston (BSEE), Julian Lucero (BSCE), and Conrad Woidyla (BSCE)
Ground State is an internet-of-things-inspired big data analysis company. Our technology platform, Drive Pilot, takes advantage of connected and enabled sensor data in passenger vehicles.
Jeff Van Dyke / Hartman Publishing 3rd place ($15,000) – As Girls Grow - Akamee Baca Malta, (BSME), Terri Nikole Baca (JD). As Girls Grow has designed a line of toys that use engineering concepts to encourage girls to be creative thinkers and problem-solvers. Girls learn while having fun, encouraging and growing in STEM fields.

Winners - Entrepreneurial Ventures Track
Don Chalmers Ford 1st place ($7,500) – The StarWrap - Roxanne Blair (MALAS), Tait Yoder (BA, Univ Studies), Experienced Partner; Ashley Yoder (MALAS). The StarWrap System combines a wearable massage tool for active adults with a certification program for fitness trainers and massage therapists, resulting in optimal muscle health for our customers. 

City of Albuquerque 2nd place ($5,000) – Crowdfund 4 Me Now - Kevin Klein (MBA, MOT), Saheb Saini (MBA, MOT), Ryan Brown (MBA, MOT). This team is working on a new crowdfunding platform based in New Mexico that works directly with campaign creators. Our campaigns are the highest quality, and we strive to have the highest success rate.

Don Chalmers Ford 3rd place ($2,500) - Hydrotouch - Fernando Rodriguez (BSEE), Jhett Browne (BA, Econ), Jon Montoya (BSEE), Amanda Gonzalez (BSCE), Chloe Andrews (BA, Psy), Armeta Sidhu (BSEE), Garrett McDonnell (BBA)
The Hydro-Touch Shower will be a digital interface that allows the user to control pressure and temperature via a waterproof LCD screen. It is designed to be retro-fitted onto existing pipes.

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