Scottsdale, AZ (PRWEB) May 24, 2012
Brent Sebold, Venture Manager for ASU?s Edson Student Entrepreneur Initiative, got to do what he loves best this week. On Monday, he sent out 20 emails notifying anxious startup founders that they had survived the final round of judging and were being invited into the Edson Accelerator Program at ASU SkySong. That prestigious invitation brings with it up to $ 20,000 in seed funding, a year?s worth of office space in the SkySong facility, and an intensive, mentor-led acceleration program. The Edson Initiative is one of the largest privately funded student entrepreneurship competitions at a U.S. university.
This year, 340 startup teams, representing more than 1000 ASU students from all university disciplines, applied to be accepted into this year?s cohort. Those 340 were narrowed down to the top 30, who then pitched to an independent panel of judges comprised of Valley business leaders and successful entrepreneurs. The judges then chose the top 20 companies to receive funding and support via the Edson program during the next 12 months.
?We could not have funded such a dynamic cohort of startups without the tremendous support of our large cadre of first-round judges and our dedicated finalist judging panel,? said Sebold. ?Not only did these folks give up a lot of their personal time to review first round proposals, they also provided an unprecedented amount of valuable, practical feedback to these aspiring entrepreneurs.? Sebold also gave a nod of approval to the Kauffman Foundation?s iStart platform which provided an efficient, online environment to manage the entire application and judging process.
The 26 startups in the previous Edson cohort will be wrapping up their time in the program on June 30. These companies have amassed several impressive accolades in their tenure in the Edson Accelerator. Their accolades include: Entrepreneur Magazine?s; College Entrepreneur of the Year winner; Inc. Magazine?s Coolest College Startup in America winner; Sweden?s ?Idea to Product? global entrepreneurship competition winner; and Department of Energy Phase I SBIR award recipient, to name just a few. The startups are finding business success as well, with nearly one-third of the companies in revenue and a combined total of $ 300,000 raised in additional funding and grants.
With those big shoes to fill, the 2012-2013 Edson Cohort has a lot to live up to, and Gordon McConnell, Executive Director of Venture Acceleration for ASU Venture Catalyst, thinks the incoming group will do just that.
?There is a fantastic mix of problem solving concepts represented in this year?s group. ASU?s student-run ventures are increasingly showing a real maturity in terms of solving the bigger issues that the world is currently facing,? said McConnell. ?The wide variety of business models, products, and services this year also highlights the wide diversity of applicants. This is a student venture competition that sees student teams enter from all four ASU campuses, from undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs throughout all disciplines and programs of study.?
While the companies who received the congratulatory email from Sebold are busy celebrating, he contends that the work is just beginning. ?The hard work for the companies who were selected for funding has only just begun,? said Sebold. ?I warned them that they were going to be asked to work harder than they?ve ever worked before. And if anyone wants to help us crack the whip,? Sebold adds ?call me! We are always looking for well-qualified mentors to work with these student startups on an ongoing basis.?
A complete list of the companies in the Edson Student Entrepreneur Initiative?s 2012-2013 cohort can be found below.
About the Edson Student Entrepreneur Initiative: (edson.asu.edu)
The Edson Accelerator provides funding, office space, and guidance to teams of students within all university disciplines. This accelerator gives student entrepreneurs the opportunity to develop their innovative ideas and launch viable businesses. As an integral program of ASU Venture Catalyst, students in the Edson accelerator have access to seasoned entrepreneurs, industry mentors, and other Catalyst programs that enable them to advance their enterprises.
About Venture Catalyst: (http://www.asuventurecatalyst.org)
ASU Venture Catalyst equips high potential startups for success. The Catalyst assists university students, faculty and staff, as well as local and global companies, with launching startups or accelerating existing ventures. Based at ASU SkySong, The Catalyst offers investor connections, technology road maps, go-to-market strategy consulting, mentoring opportunities, and several other programs and services, all designed to identify and develop investment-grade companies. ASU Venture Catalyst and ASU SkySong are both strategic units of ASU?s Office of Knowledge Enterprise Development.
2012 Edson Winners
AlphaStripe (web)
AlphaStripe is a global, online networking platform for military service members, military families, civilians, and humanitarian organizations to share war-time and conflict zone stories in video, photo, audio, and journal formats. Open to military personnel and civilians the world over, AlphaStripe has developed a detailed database of military branches and service units, enhancing the social connections made when their members create profiles and upload content. AlphaStripe gives their members an opportunity to save history, record memories and make connections through their unique combination of popular social media outlets.
Website: http://www.alphastripe.com
BlockLight (mobile)
BlockLight aims to become the leading software provider in educational and professional performing arts by improving current methods of preparation and practice. Its first product, Stage Minion, is an iPad application for performers, directors, choreographers, and stage managers that will revolutionize the way that show plans are created, documented, and shared.
Website: Coming Soon
Custom Aeroponics? (clean tech)
Custom Aeroponics manufactures and sells aeroponic components to urban agriculture growers, from restaurants to individuals, who want to reduce waste water, fertilizers, and increase food quality while minimizing growth time. Unlike AgriHouse or Aerofarms, we use FDA and USDA approved recyclable materials, bacteria and bio-film resistant components, and increase plant density through our unique design, giving our users a more reliable, efficient, and eco-friendly system.
Website: http://www.soillesssolutions.info
FlashFood (mobile)
FlashFood is a smartphone application and website designed to reduce food waste and feed the hungry. When the manager of a business has leftover food at the end of the night, she can create a post on our network which will notify a group of volunteer drivers to pick up the donation and deliver it to a local community center, such as a school or church. Meanwhile, qualifying subscribers to the network will receive a text alert of when and where they can pick up the donated meals.
Website: Coming Soon
G3Box (sustainable living)
G3Box sells medical clinics made out of converted steel shipping containers to nonprofits and NGOs that work in healthcare development and disaster response who want on-demand, fully-functional medical space for their needs. Unlike container conversion companies and nonprofits that convert containers to clinics, we capture a healthcare market, do not rely on a volunteer and fundraising model, and have a scalable and standardized manufacturing plan.
Website: http://www.g3box.org
Innovative Healthcare Technology (health tech)
Innovative Healthcare Technology sells EZ PT, a virtual physical therapy program using Kinect technology, to therapists, physicians and patients who will benefit from a home therapy program that provides feedback and tracks patient compliance and performance accuracy. Unlike the status quo, EZ PT provides immediate and consistent feedback, resulting in a more effective physical therapy delivery program, with significant cost savings.
Website: Coming Soon
KVZ Sports LLC (retail)
KVZ is a fully integrated design and manufacturing company that provides apparel products, on demand, to action sports clients who are looking for unique ways to promote their destination or brand and lower their inventory costs. Unlike our competitors we manufacture most of our products here in the United States with much shorter lead times and the ability to deliver mid-season re-orders. Stocking inventory for them is no longer a “one-shot-deal” that needs to be finalized pre-season.
Website: http://www.kvzsports.com
Late Living (web)
Late Living provides video tours of assisted living facilities to senior citizens and their families who want the ability to search for assisted living care without leaving the comfort of their own home. Unlike the current approach and other online directories, Late Living is the first to offer full video walkthrough tours, room availability, Facebook integration, and direct facility contact wrapped into an easy to use website. Our approach saves time, lowers stress, and aids the facilities in locating new patients they would have never otherwise found.
Website: http://www.lateliving.com
Mercury Innovative? (tech)
Mercury Innovative
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