BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION

 

Where Are They Now?

Updates From Past Participants

2010 Competition

results from 2010 Competition

2010 Grand Prize Winner:
University of Arkansas, Silicon Solar Solutions, LLC

Silicon Solar Solutions (SSS) is commercializing a patented materials process for creating large grain polysilicon, which will allow manufacturers to increase solar panel efficiency and reduce costs.  After winning the LES Competition in May, SSS went on to win the Stuart Clark Venture Challenge, entitling them to ring the NASDAQ closing bell on August 20th.  This spurred a media blitz that included coverage in Reuters, Forbes and CNBC.

The SSS team has reached finalist status in the MassChallenge in Boston and recently received the “People’s Choice Award” in the CleanTech Open (the world’s largest Cleantech competition). As part of their involvement, they have been recognized as one of the most promising Cleantech startups in the nation. The team was also recently awarded a SBIR grant for ongoing research.

2010 LESI Global Award Recipient:
Encase™ Bushfire Shelters, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia

Encase’s uniquely designed series of above-ground bushfire shelters are now in their final stage of development. Once this is accomplished, the shelters will go through the certification process.  The team hopes that testing prototypes will lead to the first model reaching the market in 2011. Meanwhile, in the wake of the 2009 bushfires in Victoria which killed 173 people, the Royal Commission recommended funding for councils, businesses and community groups for shelter development.  In response, the Government has signaling a willingness to share in the development costs to help bring the shelters to market.

2009 Competition

results from 2009 Competition

2009 Finalist Team:
Swinburne University of Technology, Australia, CounselLink

CounselLink is a technology services, outsourcing and lead generation company for the allied health industry. It recently became one of five teams to win the Telstra Innovation Challenge, which works to support Australia’s research and development community.  For the next 18 months, Telstra will assist CounselLink in enhancing the development of its e-referrals and reports, as well as online consultations. In addition the company is poised to launch its post proof of concept vehicles (SpeechLink and OsteoLink).

For more updates on this company visit http://www.specialistlink.com.au/.

2008 Competition

results from 2008 Competition

2008 Grand Prize Winner:
University of Texas, Austin, MicroTransponder

MicroTransponder is continuing work on the development of its wireless neurostimulation platform to treat a range of neurological indications including chronic pain and Tinnitus. The company has raised over $17 million in private funds and government grants, including five grants from the National Institutes of Health.  Its first patent was issued in 2009 and it has 14 more pending.  Clinical trials are expected to being in 2011.

2008 LESI Global Award Recipient:
Swinburne University of Technology, Australia, EcoRegen

EcoRegen is a biotechnology upstart with a business plan to regenerate wastes into resources for a sustainable ecology in the global market.  Since its win in 2008, the upstart has seized upon spin-off opportunities and established three separate enterprises. "I would not have seen the possibilities of doing so without the valuable insights and knowledge exchange I gained at the LES Competition," said EcoRegen CEO, Khai Yip.

While the Global Financial Crisis has severely affected investment confidence in Malaysia, where the winning business plan was targeted, the three spin-offs are reportedly doing fine. They are:

2007 Competition

results from 2007 Competition

2007 Grand Prize Winner:
University of Illinois-Chicago, Optimal Vision Corporation

Things continue to go well for Optimal Vision Corporation, which offers a newly patented procedure to correct Presbyopia (an age associated loss of near vision). The team is about to receive its first Series A financing for proof of concept experiments and is continuing to work on securing additional funding through the SBIR/STTR route.

2006 Competition

results from 2006 Competition

2006 Competition Winner:
SanoGene Therapeutics, Inc., from the University of Illinois, Chicago

SanoGene exclusively licenses key intellectual property and forms strategic partnership with Cato Research.

2005 Competition

results from 2005 Competition

2005 Competition Winner:
MedGen from Stanford University

MedGen team member Pete Johnson is currently employed as a manager of solar boiler engineering at Ausra, a venture and industrial partner backed large scale solar thermal technology company.  He has helped to build and commissioned two large solar thermal plants since joining the company. Pete is listed as an inventor on three patents for Allux Medical, the company he joined after graduating from Stanford, and on four patents filed by current employer Ausra. The company is currently growing its engineering team and preparing for a new product release.

2004 Competition

results from 2004 Competition

2004 Competition Winner:
Tangam Systems from Waterloo University, Ontario, Canada

Tangam Gaming, Inc. has crossed the R&D phase and is now in the commercialization phase. The company continues to grow and the “Tangam Solution” is now installed in several casinos. The company has entered into a strategic partnership with NICE Systems for worldwide distribution of the “ Tangam Solution” by NICE and its channel partners. With a recent installation in Macau, China, their market and customer base has become global. With several patents pending and a significant product lead, the team feels Tangam is poised to capitalize on a growing demand for its unique solution.