Friday, November 20, 2009
Entrepreneurship Week Day 5 Summary - The Duke Start-up Challenge 2009 Finals Competition
Welcome to the Finals Competition of the Duke Start-up Challenge!!
Friday night marked the premier event celebrating Global Entrepreneurship Week at Duke University. The Start-up Challenge Elevator Pitch Competition was a week-long opportunity for students to pitch start-up company concepts to a panel of distinguished business leaders and a live audience.
The Finals Competition, hosted at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, was the climax of the week and offered the winners of each elevator pitch Track a chance to compete for the $1,000 Judge's Choice Award and the People's Choice Award of $250. The 7 elevator pitch Tracks and their respective winners who competed in the Final Competition were:
Undergraduate-led Startup Track:
People’s Choice Award: CarBone, Wasabi
Judge's Choice Award: Wasabi, Know It, Win It
Judge's Runner Up: ImmunoDispense Pro
Energy & Environment Track:
People’s Choice Award: Token Energy
Judge's Choice Award: Token Energy
Judge's Runner Up: CarBone
Healthcare & Life Sciences Track:
People’s Choice Award: Biogenic Medical Devices
Judge's Choice Award: Medici Medical Technologies
IT & Media Track:
People’s Choice Award: AdStream
Judge's Choice Award: National Field
Judge's Runner Up: DEVILHEEL
Women-led Startups Track:
People’s Choice Award: ImmunoDispense Pro
Judge's Choice Award: Optimal Surgical
Social Enterprises Track:
People’s Choice Award: StumpWorks
Judge's Choice Award: StumpWorks
Judge's Runner Up: The Produce Purity Project
Products & Services Track:
People’s Choice Award: 25th Hour Media
Judge's Choice Award: General Nano
For the Finals Competition, prizes were awarded for the best overall business concept and presentation. Judging the Finals Competition were:
Bill Maris - Co-founder of Google Ventures
Bill Maris is a Managing Partner of Google Ventures. Bill brings more than a decade of diverse operational, entrepreneurial and leadership experience to Google Ventures. Bill's past successes include founding Web hosting pioneer Burlee.com, which he subsequently sold to Interland, Inc., now known as Web.com. Prior to that, Bill was a portfolio manager for Stockholm, Sweden-based Investor AB, one of the world's largest industrial holding companies, where he co-managed the biotechnology and health care portfolios. Bill’s background also includes scientific research into cholinergic visual pathways, cell membrane patch clamping techniques and in-vivo neuronal cell injection at Duke University Medical Center, Department of Neurobiology. Bill is based in Mountain View, CA and received an A.B. with honors in Neuroscience from Middlebury College.
Catherine Massey’71 - Co-Founder of LawDocsXpress
Catherine E. Massey is the co-founder of LawDocsXpress. She has more than 15 years of experience as Owner & President of Legal Resources, Inc., a legal temporary and placement service based in Atlanta, Georgia, with clients all over the United States. In addition, she has more than 10 years experience in corporate management with emphasis in human resources. She has a BA from Duke University and an MS from Georgia State University.
Matt Megaro - Co-founder and CEO of Quill Medical
Matt Megaro: Matt has extensive experience in starting and developing biotechnology and medical devices ventures. Most recently, he was President and CEO of Quill Medical, Inc., a medical device company that he co-founded in 2000 in Research Triangle Park, NC. Quill was sold to Angiotech Pharmaceuticals in 2006 in a $200 million structured acquisition. Prior to Quill, he was President of Trimeris, Inc., a Durham, NC biotechnology company focused on treatments of infectious disease. At Trimeris, he led the Company’s business development and financing initiatives including private and public stock offerings and an IPO in 1997. Prior to Trimeris, he was Chief Financial Officer of Athena Neurosciences which developed treatments for neurological disorders. At Athena, he was responsible for various product licensing and acquisition programs and for financing initiatives including Athena’s IPO in 1991. He serves as a board member of several life science companies and is currently engaged as an entrepreneurship advisor to the US Embassy and Consulates in Italy. He received his B.S. in Finance from the University of California, Berkeley. Matt is also an Executive-in-Residence for the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.
David Samuel - Co-Founder of Freestyle Capital
A serial entrepreneur and Internet pioneer, Dave has specialized in software & media since 1994. In early 2004, David served as President and co-founder of Grouper.com, a website specializing in Internet Video. The company raised $5 million in Angel & VC financing. In August 2006, Sony Pictures Entertainment acquired Grouper for $65 million. In late 2003, David co-founded Brondell, the first American-based company to develop high-tech toilet seats. David currently serves as Chairman of the Board. In early 1996, David, as CEO, founded Spinner.com, the first and largest Internet music service. In May 1999, AOL acquired the firm for $320 million. During Spinner's growth, David employed and managed 75 personnel at Spinner, and raised $15 million from Sony Music Entertainment, Intel, Amerindo, and several others. From May 1999 to June 2000, Mr. Samuel worked as Vice President of Technology for AOL. Prior to founding Spinner.com in early 1996, David worked at Oracle within the application development group. He graduated from MIT in 1994 with a degree in Electrical Engineering.
Opening the evening was special guest speaker and elevator pitch judge Bill Maris, Co-founder of Google Ventures. Thanks to the generous donation of time and expertise by all contributing judges and for a dedicated group of sponsors of the Duke Start-up Challenge.
Start-up Challenge Finals Contenders
Now in its 10th year, the Duke Start-up Challenge hosted a record 74 Teams and 130 pitches throughout a full week of entrepreneurial activity. Held at the Geneen Auditorium at the Fuqua School of Business, a packed-out crowd welcomed the first pitch by General Nano – developer of the world’s longest carbon nano-tubes. The first set of competing teams in the Finals Competition were:
General Nano - Spinning carbon nanotubes (stronger than steel and lighter than cotton) into electrically conductive thread for use in multiple industries. Andrew Simon at als71@duke.edu
Know It, Win It - The problem: math and science skills in the US. A solution: a website that will unconventionally reward students for educational success. Samiron Ray at sr52@duke.edu
AdStream - AdStream: introducing Symbiotic Advertising. Connecting advertisers with target markets through personalized desktop ads. Andrew Joiner at andrew.joiner@duke.edu
Stumpworks - The next-generation in video game technology. By measuring movements in muscle contractions, we have a more accurate, immersive gaming experience. Rish Sinha at rish.sinha@duke.edu
25th Hour Media - 25th Hour Media focuses on creating streaming audio, with a human voice, from blog and news text content that are delivered to mobile devices. Nick Sehn at nick.sehn@duke.edu
National Field - Online platform that helps organizations run more efficiently. Formed during the Obama campaign and currently used by political campaigns at all levels. Brendan Farmer at bpfarmer@gmail.com
CarBone - Our innovative process recycles waste bone, converting it into porous carbon electrodes for use in oxygen batteries and modern electronics. David Benson at david.benson@duke.edu
Closing in on the Winning Pitch
At the Finals Competition, company representatives pitched ideas ranging from a class1 medical device designed to simplify cataract surgery to a sophisticated energy sensing system with commercial and residential applications. Additional company pitches included:
Optimal Surgical - Developing the CataCut©, a device to simplify cataract surgery. Cataracts are the number one cause of blindness in the world. Alaina Pleatman at arp14@duke.edu
ImmunoDispense Pro - The ImmunoDispense Pro is an in-home device which safely and accurately dispenses powders for oral immunotherapy to treat food allergies. Jamie Wilkie at jamie.f.wilkie@gmail.com
Token Energy - Developing real time building energy use displays which allow residents of dorms to see exactly how much energy the dorm is using. Andrew LeBlanc at Andrew.LeBlanc@duke.edu
Medici Medical Technologies - Medici MedTech is developing a medical device that treats urinary incontinence while giving its users convenience & control. Joseph Knight at joe.knight@duke.edu
Wasabi - Wasabi is the first restaurant franchise to serve fresh, high quality sushi using the have-it-your-way ordering system. Shaan Puri at shaan.puri@duke.edu
The Produce Purity Project - The PPP fights against foodborne illness in northern Afghanistan by resourcing and educating women in sanitary food preparation and hygiene. Stephanie Fruth at saf22@duke.edu
Biogenic Medical Devices - Utilizing Cell Seeding Technology to coat stents with a patient’s own cells, Biogenic Medical Devices reduces the risk of serious complications from stent failure. Garrett Muramoto at muram001@duke.edu
The Winners of the Duke Start-up Challenge Finals Competition
A full evening of start-up pitch finalists concluded with a thunderous round of audience applause and affirmation to all pitching teams from each of the judges.
Directly after the final elevator pitch by Biogenic Medical Devices, the judges were escorted to a private location to decide upon the recipient of the Judge's Choice Award and a cash prize of $1,000.
While the judges were away, audience members were invited to vote for the $250 People’s Choice Award using the Duke Start-up Challenge’s live text-message voting system. Each audience member was allowed to text their top choice start-up team to the Duke Start-up Challenge voting system which calculated a winner in real time.
When the judges returned and the votes were tabulated, the stage lights were raised, the music lowered and host Dan Weinstein announced the winners of the 2009 Duke Start-up Challenge Elevator Pitch Finals Competition.
The 2009 People’s Choice Award: The Produce Purity Project
The 2009 Judge's Choice Award: Biogenic Medical Devices
Congratulations to the winners of the 2009 Duke Start-up Challenge Elevator Pitch Finals Competition!! Special thanks to all of the sponsors, judges, contestants, and audience members who made the Duke Start-up Challenge and Entrepreneurship Week 2009 a great success.
The Winners of the Duke Start-up Challenge Finals Competition
A full evening of start-up pitch finalists concluded with a thunderous round of applause and affirmation to all pitching teams from each of the judges.
Directly after the final elevator pitch by Biogenic Medical Devices, the judges were escorted to a private location to decide upon the recipient of the Judges Choice Award and a cash prize of $1,000.
While the judges were away, audience members were invited to vote for the $250 People’s Choice Award using the Duke Start-up Challenge’s live text-message voting system. Each audience member was allowed to text their top choice start-up team to the Duke Start-up Challenge voting system which calculated a winner in real time.
When the judges returned and the votes were tabulated, the stage lights were raised, the music lowered and host Dan Weinstein announced the winners of the 2009 Duke Start-up Challenge elevator Pitch Finals Competition.
The 2009 People’s Choice Award: The Produce Purity Project
The 2009 Judges Choice Award: Biogenic Medical Devices
Congratulations to the winners of the 2009 Duke Start-up Challenge elevator Pitch Finals Competition!!
Special thanks to all of the judges, contestants, audience members and sponsors who made Duke Start-up Challenge and Entrepreneurship Week 2009 a great success.
Directly after the final elevator pitch by Biogenic Medical Devices, the judges were escorted to a private location to decide upon the recipient of the Judges Choice Award and a cash prize of $1,000.
While the judges were away, audience members were invited to vote for the $250 People’s Choice Award using the Duke Start-up Challenge’s live text-message voting system. Each audience member was allowed to text their top choice start-up team to the Duke Start-up Challenge voting system which calculated a winner in real time.
When the judges returned and the votes were tabulated, the stage lights were raised, the music lowered and host Dan Weinstein announced the winners of the 2009 Duke Start-up Challenge elevator Pitch Finals Competition.
The 2009 People’s Choice Award: The Produce Purity Project
The 2009 Judges Choice Award: Biogenic Medical Devices
Congratulations to the winners of the 2009 Duke Start-up Challenge elevator Pitch Finals Competition!!
Special thanks to all of the judges, contestants, audience members and sponsors who made Duke Start-up Challenge and Entrepreneurship Week 2009 a great success.
Closing in on the Winning Pitch
At the Finals Competition, company representatives pitched ideas ranging from a class1 medical device designed to simplify cataract surgery to a sophisticated energy sensing system with commercial and residential applications. Additional company pitches included:
Optimal Surgical - Developing the CataCut©, a device to simplify cataract surgery. Cataracts are the number one cause of blindness in the world. Alaina Pleatman at arp14@duke.edu
ImmunoDispense Pro - The ImmunoDispense Pro is an in-home device which safely and accurately dispenses powders for oral immunotherapy to treat food allergies. Jamie Wilkie at jamie.f.wilkie@gmail.com
Token Energy - Developing real time building energy use displays which allow residents of dorms to see exactly how much energy the dorm is using. Andrew LeBlanc at Andrew.LeBlanc@duke.edu
Medici Medical Technologies - Medici MedTech is developing a medical device that treats urinary incontinence while giving its users convenience & control. Joseph Knight at joe.knight@duke.edu
Wasabi - Wasabi is the first restaurant franchise to serve fresh, high quality sushi using the have-it-your-way ordering system. Shaan Puri at shaan.puri@duke.edu
The Produce Purity Project - The PPP fights against foodborne illness in northern Afghanistan by resourcing and educating women in sanitary food preparation and hygiene. Stephanie Fruth at saf22@duke.edu
Biogenic Medical Devices - Utilizing Cell Seeding Technology to coat stents with a patient’s own cells, Biogenic Medical Devices reduces the risk of serious complications from stent failure. Garrett Muramoto at muram001@duke.edu
Optimal Surgical - Developing the CataCut©, a device to simplify cataract surgery. Cataracts are the number one cause of blindness in the world. Alaina Pleatman at arp14@duke.edu
ImmunoDispense Pro - The ImmunoDispense Pro is an in-home device which safely and accurately dispenses powders for oral immunotherapy to treat food allergies. Jamie Wilkie at jamie.f.wilkie@gmail.com
Token Energy - Developing real time building energy use displays which allow residents of dorms to see exactly how much energy the dorm is using. Andrew LeBlanc at Andrew.LeBlanc@duke.edu
Medici Medical Technologies - Medici MedTech is developing a medical device that treats urinary incontinence while giving its users convenience & control. Joseph Knight at joe.knight@duke.edu
Wasabi - Wasabi is the first restaurant franchise to serve fresh, high quality sushi using the have-it-your-way ordering system. Shaan Puri at shaan.puri@duke.edu
The Produce Purity Project - The PPP fights against foodborne illness in northern Afghanistan by resourcing and educating women in sanitary food preparation and hygiene. Stephanie Fruth at saf22@duke.edu
Biogenic Medical Devices - Utilizing Cell Seeding Technology to coat stents with a patient’s own cells, Biogenic Medical Devices reduces the risk of serious complications from stent failure. Garrett Muramoto at muram001@duke.edu
Start-up Challenge Finals Contenders
Now in its 10th year, the Duke Start-up Challenge hosted a record 74 Teams and 130 pitches throughout a full week of entrepreneurial activity. Held at the Geneen Auditorium at the Fuqua School of Business, a packed-out crowd welcomed the first pitch by General Nano – developer of the world’s longest carbon nano-tubes. The first set of competing teams in the Finals Competition were:
General Nano - Spinning carbon nanotubes (stronger than steel and lighter than cotton) into electrically conductive thread for use in multiple industries. Andrew Simon at als71@duke.edu
Know It, Win It - The problem: math and science skills in the US. A solution: a website that will unconventionally reward students for educational success. Samiron Ray at sr52@duke.edu
AdStream - AdStream: introducing Symbiotic Advertising. Connecting advertisers with target markets through personalized desktop ads. Andrew Joiner at andrew.joiner@duke.edu
Stumpworks - The next-generation in video game technology. By measuring movements in muscle contractions, we have a more accurate, immersive gaming experience. Rish Sinha at rish.sinha@duke.edu
25th Hour Media - 25th Hour Media focuses on creating streaming audio, with a human voice, from blog and news text content that are delivered to mobile devices. Nick Sehn at nick.sehn@duke.edu
National Field - Online platform that helps organizations run more efficiently. Formed during the Obama campaign and currently used by political campaigns at all levels. Brendan Farmer at bpfarmer@gmail.com
CarBone - Our innovative process recycles waste bone, converting it into porous carbon electrodes for use in oxygen batteries and modern electronics. David Benson at david.benson@duke.edu
General Nano - Spinning carbon nanotubes (stronger than steel and lighter than cotton) into electrically conductive thread for use in multiple industries. Andrew Simon at als71@duke.edu
Know It, Win It - The problem: math and science skills in the US. A solution: a website that will unconventionally reward students for educational success. Samiron Ray at sr52@duke.edu
AdStream - AdStream: introducing Symbiotic Advertising. Connecting advertisers with target markets through personalized desktop ads. Andrew Joiner at andrew.joiner@duke.edu
Stumpworks - The next-generation in video game technology. By measuring movements in muscle contractions, we have a more accurate, immersive gaming experience. Rish Sinha at rish.sinha@duke.edu
25th Hour Media - 25th Hour Media focuses on creating streaming audio, with a human voice, from blog and news text content that are delivered to mobile devices. Nick Sehn at nick.sehn@duke.edu
National Field - Online platform that helps organizations run more efficiently. Formed during the Obama campaign and currently used by political campaigns at all levels. Brendan Farmer at bpfarmer@gmail.com
CarBone - Our innovative process recycles waste bone, converting it into porous carbon electrodes for use in oxygen batteries and modern electronics. David Benson at david.benson@duke.edu
Duke Start-up Challenge 2009 Finals Competition
Welcome to the Finals Competition of the Duke Start-up Challenge!!
Tonight marks the premier event celebrating Global Entrepreneurship Week at Duke University. The Start-up Challenge is a week-long competition for students to pitch start-up company concepts to a panel of distinguished business leaders and a live audience.
The Finals Competition, hosted at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, is the climax of the week which offers the winners of each elevator pitch Track the opportunity to compete for a $1,000 grand prize and an Audience Choice prize of $250. The 7 Tracks which competed throughout the week and their respective winners which can compete in the Finals are:
Undergraduate-led Startup Track:
People’s Choice Award: CarBone, Wasabi
Judges Choice Award: Wasabi, Know It, Win It
Judges Runner Up: ImmunoDispense Pro
Energy & Environment Track:
People’s Choice Award: Token Energy
Judges Choice Award: Token Energy
Judges Runner Up: CarBone
Healthcare & Life Sciences Track:
People’s Choice Award: Biogenic Medical Devices
Judges Choice Award: Medici Medical Technologies
IT & Media Track:
People’s Choice Award: AdStream
Judges Choice Award: National Field
Judges Runner Up: DEVILHEEL
Women-led Startups Track:
People’s Choice Award: ImmunoDispense Pro
Judges Choice Award: Optimal Surgical
Social Enterprises Track:
People’s Choice Award: StumpWorks
Judges Choice Award: StumpWorks
Judges Runner Up: The Produce Purity Project
Products & Services Track:
People’s Choice Award: 25th Hour Media
Judges Choice Award: General Nano
For the Finals Competition, prizes are awarded for the best overall business concept and presentation. Judging the Finals Competition were:
Bill Maris - Co-founder of Google Ventures
Bill Maris is a Managing Partner of Google Ventures. Bill brings more than a decade of diverse operational, entrepreneurial and leadership experience to Google Ventures. Bill's past successes include founding Web hosting pioneer Burlee.com, which he subsequently sold to Interland, Inc., now known as Web.com. Prior to that, Bill was a portfolio manager for Stockholm, Sweden-based Investor AB, one of the world's largest industrial holding companies, where he co-managed the biotechnology and health care portfolios. Bill’s background also includes scientific research into cholinergic visual pathways, cell membrane patch clamping techniques and in-vivo neuronal cell injection at Duke University Medical Center, Department of Neurobiology. Bill is based in Mountain View, CA and received an A.B. with honors in Neuroscience from Middlebury College.
Catherine Massey’71 - Co-Founder of LawDocsXpress
Catherine E. Massey is the co-founder of LawDocsXpress. She has more than 15 years of experience as Owner & President of Legal Resources, Inc., a legal temporary and placement service based in Atlanta, Georgia, with clients all over the United States. In addition, she has more than 10 years experience in corporate management with emphasis in human resources. She has a BA from Duke University and an MS from Georgia State University.
Matt Megaro - Co-founder and CEO of Quill Medical
Matt Megaro: Matt has extensive experience in starting and developing biotechnology and medical devices ventures. Most recently, he was President and CEO of Quill Medical, Inc., a medical device company that he co-founded in 2000 in Research Triangle Park, NC. Quill was sold to Angiotech Pharmaceuticals in 2006 in a $200 million structured acquisition. Prior to Quill, he was President of Trimeris, Inc., a Durham, NC biotechnology company focused on treatments of infectious disease. At Trimeris, he led the Company’s business development and financing initiatives including private and public stock offerings and an IPO in 1997. Prior to Trimeris, he was Chief Financial Officer of Athena Neurosciences which developed treatments for neurological disorders. At Athena, he was responsible for various product licensing and acquisition programs and for financing initiatives including Athena’s IPO in 1991. He serves as a board member of several life science companies and is currently engaged as an entrepreneurship advisor to the US Embassy and Consulates in Italy. He received his B.S. in Finance from the University of California, Berkeley. Matt is also an Executive-in-Residence for the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.
David Samuel - Co-Founder of Freestyle Capital
A serial entrepreneur and Internet pioneer, Dave has specialized in software & media since 1994. In early 2004, David served as President and co-founder of Grouper.com, a website specializing in Internet Video. The company raised $5 million in Angel & VC financing. In August 2006, Sony Pictures Entertainment acquired Grouper for $65 million. In late 2003, David co-founded Brondell, the first American-based company to develop high-tech toilet seats. David currently serves as Chairman of the Board. In early 1996, David, as CEO, founded Spinner.com, the first and largest Internet music service. In May 1999, AOL acquired the firm for $320 million. During Spinner's growth, David employed and managed 75 personnel at Spinner, and raised $15 million from Sony Music Entertainment, Intel, Amerindo, and several others. From May 1999 to June 2000, Mr. Samuel worked as Vice President of Technology for AOL. Prior to founding Spinner.com in early 1996, David worked at Oracle within the application development group. He graduated from MIT in 1994 with a degree in Electrical Engineering.
Opening the evening was special guest speaker and elevator pitch judge Bill Maris, Co-founder of Google Ventures. Thanks to the generous donation of time and expertise by all contributing judges and for a dedicated group of sponsors of the Duke Start-up Challenge.
Tonight marks the premier event celebrating Global Entrepreneurship Week at Duke University. The Start-up Challenge is a week-long competition for students to pitch start-up company concepts to a panel of distinguished business leaders and a live audience.
The Finals Competition, hosted at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, is the climax of the week which offers the winners of each elevator pitch Track the opportunity to compete for a $1,000 grand prize and an Audience Choice prize of $250. The 7 Tracks which competed throughout the week and their respective winners which can compete in the Finals are:
Undergraduate-led Startup Track:
People’s Choice Award: CarBone, Wasabi
Judges Choice Award: Wasabi, Know It, Win It
Judges Runner Up: ImmunoDispense Pro
Energy & Environment Track:
People’s Choice Award: Token Energy
Judges Choice Award: Token Energy
Judges Runner Up: CarBone
Healthcare & Life Sciences Track:
People’s Choice Award: Biogenic Medical Devices
Judges Choice Award: Medici Medical Technologies
IT & Media Track:
People’s Choice Award: AdStream
Judges Choice Award: National Field
Judges Runner Up: DEVILHEEL
Women-led Startups Track:
People’s Choice Award: ImmunoDispense Pro
Judges Choice Award: Optimal Surgical
Social Enterprises Track:
People’s Choice Award: StumpWorks
Judges Choice Award: StumpWorks
Judges Runner Up: The Produce Purity Project
Products & Services Track:
People’s Choice Award: 25th Hour Media
Judges Choice Award: General Nano
For the Finals Competition, prizes are awarded for the best overall business concept and presentation. Judging the Finals Competition were:
Bill Maris - Co-founder of Google Ventures
Bill Maris is a Managing Partner of Google Ventures. Bill brings more than a decade of diverse operational, entrepreneurial and leadership experience to Google Ventures. Bill's past successes include founding Web hosting pioneer Burlee.com, which he subsequently sold to Interland, Inc., now known as Web.com. Prior to that, Bill was a portfolio manager for Stockholm, Sweden-based Investor AB, one of the world's largest industrial holding companies, where he co-managed the biotechnology and health care portfolios. Bill’s background also includes scientific research into cholinergic visual pathways, cell membrane patch clamping techniques and in-vivo neuronal cell injection at Duke University Medical Center, Department of Neurobiology. Bill is based in Mountain View, CA and received an A.B. with honors in Neuroscience from Middlebury College.
Catherine Massey’71 - Co-Founder of LawDocsXpress
Catherine E. Massey is the co-founder of LawDocsXpress. She has more than 15 years of experience as Owner & President of Legal Resources, Inc., a legal temporary and placement service based in Atlanta, Georgia, with clients all over the United States. In addition, she has more than 10 years experience in corporate management with emphasis in human resources. She has a BA from Duke University and an MS from Georgia State University.
Matt Megaro - Co-founder and CEO of Quill Medical
Matt Megaro: Matt has extensive experience in starting and developing biotechnology and medical devices ventures. Most recently, he was President and CEO of Quill Medical, Inc., a medical device company that he co-founded in 2000 in Research Triangle Park, NC. Quill was sold to Angiotech Pharmaceuticals in 2006 in a $200 million structured acquisition. Prior to Quill, he was President of Trimeris, Inc., a Durham, NC biotechnology company focused on treatments of infectious disease. At Trimeris, he led the Company’s business development and financing initiatives including private and public stock offerings and an IPO in 1997. Prior to Trimeris, he was Chief Financial Officer of Athena Neurosciences which developed treatments for neurological disorders. At Athena, he was responsible for various product licensing and acquisition programs and for financing initiatives including Athena’s IPO in 1991. He serves as a board member of several life science companies and is currently engaged as an entrepreneurship advisor to the US Embassy and Consulates in Italy. He received his B.S. in Finance from the University of California, Berkeley. Matt is also an Executive-in-Residence for the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.
David Samuel - Co-Founder of Freestyle Capital
A serial entrepreneur and Internet pioneer, Dave has specialized in software & media since 1994. In early 2004, David served as President and co-founder of Grouper.com, a website specializing in Internet Video. The company raised $5 million in Angel & VC financing. In August 2006, Sony Pictures Entertainment acquired Grouper for $65 million. In late 2003, David co-founded Brondell, the first American-based company to develop high-tech toilet seats. David currently serves as Chairman of the Board. In early 1996, David, as CEO, founded Spinner.com, the first and largest Internet music service. In May 1999, AOL acquired the firm for $320 million. During Spinner's growth, David employed and managed 75 personnel at Spinner, and raised $15 million from Sony Music Entertainment, Intel, Amerindo, and several others. From May 1999 to June 2000, Mr. Samuel worked as Vice President of Technology for AOL. Prior to founding Spinner.com in early 1996, David worked at Oracle within the application development group. He graduated from MIT in 1994 with a degree in Electrical Engineering.
Opening the evening was special guest speaker and elevator pitch judge Bill Maris, Co-founder of Google Ventures. Thanks to the generous donation of time and expertise by all contributing judges and for a dedicated group of sponsors of the Duke Start-up Challenge.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Duke Start-up Challenge 2009 – Day 4 Products & Services Track Summary
Welcome to Day 4 of the Duke Start-up Challenge
Taking the spotlight on Thursday night’s continuation of the Duke Start-up Challenge were the Social Enterprises Track and the Products & Services Track. With only a matter of hours remaining before the start of the Finals competition, tonight’s Tracks competed for $250 in cash prizes and the right to compete for $1,000 in the Finals.
Hosting the evening held at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, were Duke MBA candidates Dan Weinstein and Jonathan Gibbs. For the Products & Services Track, 15 company start-ups pitched their company concepts to a panel of distinguished judges. Judges for tonight’s competition were:
Jay Mebane ‘90, ‘99 – Co-Founder and CFO of US Handbags.
In addition to serving as the co-founder and CFO of US Handbags, Jay has also co-founded or owned several other North Carolina companies including such names as Rapidata.net, Thundershirt.com, First Analytical Laboratories and Arcametrics. Jay graduated from Duke University in 1990 and the Fuqua School of Business in 1999. Prior to Fuqua, Jay practiced corporate finance law with Moore & Van Allen, PLLC in Charlotte, NC.
Michael Olander – President and CEO of Apple Gold Group.
Michael Olander is the president and owner of the Apple Gold Group, which he founded in 1979 after graduating from law school. The Apple Gold Group currently owns and operates a total of 80 restaurants in four states.
Peter Heffring – President of Futures, Inc.
Prior to joining Futures, Peter was the co-founder and CEO of Ceres Integrated Solutions, which quickly became a leading provider of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software and analytical services for clients such as Wal-Mart, JCPenney, Lowes Home Improvement, Wells Fargo, and Travelocity. Ceres was acquired by NCR for $90M in 2000. Prior to founding Ceres, Peter served in senior executive management at the IBM Corporation.
After an insightful introductory speech by Jay Mebane featuring his experience with founding and developing start-up companies, the Products & Services Track took flight with a persuasive first pitch by Intelligent Irrigation Solutions.
Products & Services Track Update
An innovative line-up of prospective company pitches filled the evening at the Fuqua School of Business. The live audience was treated to multiple hi-tech product pitches including a derivative of an MIT innovation called Micropower.
The Micropower system attempts to revolutionize contemporary battery technology by utilizing a miniature combustion engine which runs on ethanol. With just a few ounces of fuel, it has the capacity to run a typical netbook laptop for over a day. Additional competing companies included:
Intelligent Irrigation Solutions - Using advanced sensor technology and localized weather forecasts, IIS can optimize existing irrigation systems to reduce water use by 20-40%.
Dorm Room Cleaning Service - Does your room look like a tornado went through it? Never able to find anything after your room party last night? We'll set your room in order.
Wasabi - Wasabi is the first restaurant franchise to serve fresh, high quality sushi using the have-it-your-way ordering system. Rivals Subway and Chipotle's convenience and quality.
Micropower - Developed a microscale heat engine for use in portable power applications.
Kibbitz - Offers to help student groups find and get the resources they need to make innovation happen.
25th Hour Media - 25th Hour Media focuses on creating streaming audio, with a human voice, from blog and news text content which is delivered to mobile devices.
Start-up Concepts for the Products & Service Track
During the second half of the evening, the Products & Services Track continued to showcase exemplary business concepts from agricultural irrigation solutions, to a revolutionary fabrication of the world's longest carbon nano-tubes.
General Nano, a start-up affiliated with Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, has produced the world’s longest carbon nano-tubes which are stronger than steel, conduct electricity better than copper, and lighter than cotton. General Nano’s nano-tubes, which are 300 times stronger than steel, currently have applications with the US Air Force, the US Navy, Boeing, Northup Grumman, and other defense contractors. They are also developing an application of their nano-tubes to replace the copper wires in fighter jets resulting in an average weight savings of 5,000 lbs. Additional Products & Service Track contestants included:
Catch-a-Ride – A Duke car-pool system. Student drivers going off campus post vacant seats on our website, where other students can see and buy those spots.
Sound Syntax - A Language Maintenance Company that provides opportunities for people with strong foreign language skills to use their target language after being abroad.
Duke International Youth Challenge - We seek to satisfy Asian students’ desire for awards for college applications by hosting contests in Asian countries with participatory fees.
General Nano - Spinning carbon nanotubes (stronger than steel and lighter than cotton) into electrically conductive thread for use in multiple industries.
DukeBoxes - DukeBoxes is a summer storage company providing students the affordable, most convenient option for insured shipping and storage.
eFit Health Solutions - Web-based hub for all people to get highly personalized fitness and diet plans tailored to their goals, ability and motivation.
Entrepreneurship Week – Day 4 Wrap-up: Products & Services Track
A full evening of start-up pitches concluded with a round of affirmation from the judges to all pitches in the Products & Services Track. Directly after the final pitch by eFit Health Solutions, the judges retreated to an undisclosed location to decide the recipient of the Judges Choice Award. Simultaneously, the audience was invited to participate in the Duke Start-up Challenge’s live text-message voting system to determine a winner of the People's Choice Award.
The suspense finally broke once the judges returned and the winners of both categories were announced:
For participants in the Products & Services Track:
People’s Choice Award: 25th Hour Media
Judges Choice Award: General Nano
Congratulations to the winners of tonight’s Products & Services Track!!!
The winners of the People’s Choice Award and the Judges Choice Award will be eligible to compete tomorrow night at the Fuqua School of Business for the Duke Start-up Challenge Elevator Pitch Finals Competition. The competition will feature Bill Maris as a guest judge and keynote speaker from Google Ventures. This will be the capstone event for the week and is sure to be a memorable time for everyone.
Less than 24 hours left until the Finals competition at the Geneen Auditorium at Duke University! See you there!
Entrepreneurship Week – Day 4 Wrap-up: Products & Services Track
A full evening of start-up pitches concluded with a round of affirmation from the judges to all pitches in the Products & Services Track. Directly after the final pitch by eFit Health Solutions, the judges retreated to an undisclosed location to privately decide the recipient of the Judges Choice Award. Simultaneously, the audience was invited to participate in the Duke Start-up Challenge’s live text-message voting system.
Within minutes, votes were tabulated electronically to decide on the People’s Choice Award. Finally, after the judges returned, the winners of both categories were announced:
For participants in the Products & Services Track
People’s Choice Award: 25th Hour Media
Judges Choice Award: General Nano
Congratulations to the winners of tonight’s Products & Services Track!!! The winners of the People’s Choice Award and the Judges Choice Award will be eligible to compete tomorrow night at the Fuqua School of Business for the Duke Start-up Challenge Elevator Pitch Finals Competition. The competition will feature Bill Maris as a guest judge and keynote speaker from Google Ventures. This will be the capstone event for the week and is sure to be a memorable time for everyone.
Less than 24 hours left until the Finals competition at the Geneen Auditorium at Duke University! See you there!
Within minutes, votes were tabulated electronically to decide on the People’s Choice Award. Finally, after the judges returned, the winners of both categories were announced:
For participants in the Products & Services Track
People’s Choice Award: 25th Hour Media
Judges Choice Award: General Nano
Congratulations to the winners of tonight’s Products & Services Track!!! The winners of the People’s Choice Award and the Judges Choice Award will be eligible to compete tomorrow night at the Fuqua School of Business for the Duke Start-up Challenge Elevator Pitch Finals Competition. The competition will feature Bill Maris as a guest judge and keynote speaker from Google Ventures. This will be the capstone event for the week and is sure to be a memorable time for everyone.
Less than 24 hours left until the Finals competition at the Geneen Auditorium at Duke University! See you there!
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