Springboard Engineering selected as a finalist in business plan competition
Springboard Engineering has again been selected as a finalist in the John Pappajohn Iowa Business Plan Competition. This is the second year that Springboard Engineering has received this recognition having also been chosen as a finalist in 2007.
The annual contest was created to stimulate entrepreneurial activity within Iowa. Each year many of Iowa's top new companies compete to earn the honor of being a part of this prestigious event.
As part of the competition, an extensive business plan must be submitted to a panel of experienced judges for review. The judging panel reviews the plan against a list of key criteria including likelihood of success, management team expertise, and other factors.
Jordan Bruntz, President of Springboard Engineering, commented that regardless of whether a company receives top honors or not, the process of revisiting the business plan is always a valuable experience.
Press Release
8/6/09
Contact:
Randy Pilkington, Director, UNI John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, (319) 273-5732
Rebecca Schultze, University Marketing & Public Relations, (319) 273-6728
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Eight finalists selected for John Pappajohn Iowa Business Plan Competition
Editor’s Note: Information on each finalist is attached.
Eight businesses have been selected to continue in the 2009 John Pappajohn Iowa Business Plan Competition. These businesses have already gone through several rounds of the competition. In the first round, businesses were invited to submit executive summaries of their businesses plans. Those were reviewed by judges and 30 were selected to continue in the competition. Twenty-six submitted full business plans, and the judges selected the eight finalists from that pool.
The eight businesses continuing in the competition are: Innovative Energy Solutions, Inc.; LuCella Biosciences, Inc.; BodyViz; Think Safe, Inc.; StarrMatica Learning Systems, LLC; Springboard Engineering, Inc; Bagolitas by Janice, LLC; and Energy Control Technologies, Inc.
“Now that we have selected eight finalists, each business plan competitor will interview with a panel of judges on Sept. 11,” said Randy Pilkington, director of UNI’s John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and competition judge. “Based on those presentations, we will choose the top three finalists to present at the Iowa Venture Capital and Entrepreneurs Conference.”
The Iowa Venture Capital and Entrepreneurs Conference (IVCEC) will be held in Des Moines, Iowa, on Oct. 6. Each business will give a 15-minutes presentation, and when all three businesses have presented, the judges will announce the winners.
The John Pappajohn Iowa Business Plan Competition is designed to stimulate business development and provide support for outstanding business plans. This year a total of $50,000 will be awarded to the top three submitted business plans ($25,000 for first prize, $15,000 for second and $10,000 for third). Honorable mention and $1,000 will be awarded to the other five companies.
For more information, visit the competition Web site, www.iowabusinessplancompetition.com, or contact one of the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers located at Drake University, Iowa State University, North Iowa Area Community College, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa
The John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers provide entrepreneurial education and business support, partnering with agencies like the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED), Entrepreneurial Development Centers (EDCs) and local entrepreneurs to assist with funding and other business needs.
The John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center is located on the North Iowa Area Community College campus in Mason City and provides college level courses and degree programs in entrepreneurship, as well as comprehensive consulting services for business start-ups, existing industries and owner transitions in the North Iowa region. Space is available for start-up businesses in the North Iowa Business Incubator.
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Energy Control Technologies, Inc.
Energy Control Technologies (ECT) develops control system solutions that provide one year payback on energy efficiency projects for machinery and industrial processes. ECT was started in 2008 and is based in West Des Moines.
Contact: Paul Fisher, President
515-223-1635
pfisher@energycontroltechnologies.com
www.energycontroltechnologies.com
Bagolitas by Janice, LLC
Bagolitas manufactures and sells fabric handbags, accessories and boutique products. Bagolitas was founded in 2005 and is based in North Liberty.
Contact: Ron Meyer, President
319-626-2906 x104
ron@bagolitas.com
www.bagolitas.com
Springboard Engineering, Inc.
Springboard Engineering provides product development services to help advance consumer products from concept to market. It was founded in 2008 and is based in Newton.
Contact: Jordan Bruntz, President & CEO
641-787-8702
jbruntz@springboardengineering.com
www.springboardengineering.com
StarrMatica Learning Systems, LLC
StarrMatica creates educational content to enhance the effective use of technology in teaching, reading and math. The company was founded in 2005 and is based in Clinton.
Contact: Emily Starr, President
563-219-2111
emilystarr@starrmatica.com
www.starrmatica.com
Think Safe, Inc.
Think Safe strives to enhance technology solutions for the emergency response & first aid industries. It was founded in 2004 and is based in Hiawatha.
Contact: Paula Wickham, President
319-377-5125
pwickham@think-safe.com
www.think-safe.com, www.firstvoice.us, www.resqrsoftware.com
BodyViz
BodyViz provides software for 3D visualization of MRI and CT medical image data, which improves efficiency and accuracy of surgical planning. BodyViz was founded in 2007 and is based in Ames.
Contact: Curt Carlson, President & CEO
515-897-9490
curtcarlson@bodyviz.com
www.bodyviz.com
LuCella Biosciences, Inc.
LuCella Biosciences provides custom carbohydrate-based reagents to accelerate immunology, biology and vaccine discovery. The company was founded in 2008 and is based in Ames.
Contact: Nicola Pohl, President
515-294-6032
npohl@lucellabio.com
Innovative Energy Solutions, Inc.
Innovative Energy Solutions developed a process-based technology for conversion of waste hydrocarbons, such as refinery waste and plastics, into liquid diesel fuel. IES was founded in 2007 and is based in Ames.
Contact: Atul Kelkar, President & CEO
515-450-8997
iesthermopac@gmail.com
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