QB Labs takes top prize in $50K Monfort Entrepreneurial Challenge
Monday April 13, 2015 0 comments
.png){kind=logo}
GREELEY -- Parker-based QB Labs claimed the top prize of $25,000 in the Sixth Annual University of Northern Colorado Monfort College of Business Entrepreneurial Challenge in Denver on Sunday.
QB Labs empowers physicians, trainers and physical therapists to quantify and streamline client progress for better movement analysis and improved treatment outcomes with MovementTek, their wearable tech system.
“This has been a great educational process to go through, and one I highly recommend to every entrepreneur out there with a big dream,” said Jennifer Maskrey, QB Labs founder and CEO. “The funds are making a huge impact on our company launch, giving us the power to hit the ground running at full speed.”
Second place winner of $15,000 is GameCentrics, a Fort Collins company founded by Colorado State University students, bringing gamification to daily workplace productivity with their Anti-Grind software. Instead of using a controller, their cloud platform integrates with a company’s existing data stream representing employee production information and creates a series of player vs. player, team vs. team, company vs. environment, and personal achievements to set to seasonal and company specific themes.
“More than anything this experience forced my team to nail down and explain key parts of our business plan,” said Sahan Jayasumana, GameCentrics co-founder. “As college students and recent graduates, it is challenging to fund our business. The vote of confidence and startup capital we received from the E-Challenge allows us to develop our beta product faster than I ever anticipated.”
Taking third place and winning $10,000 is Change Composites, a Longmont company and the producers of a new bike helmet that helps reduce traumatic brain injuries. The design is made of a composite outer shell, paired with a non-Newtonian liner that helps reduce the chances of traumatic brain injury by responding to the force applies to the user’s head.
“Entering a contest like this really makes you focus on the finite aspects of your business and was the biggest value of this process,” said Nate Saam, Change Composites co-founder. “The prize money will be used to manufacturer our first run of helmet shells, and the padding inside the helmet. We are incredibly grateful for the exposure and knowledge gained from this contest. “
The three winners of the Monfort College of Business Entrepreneurial Challenge were announced during the televised event on Sunday, April 12, on KTVD Channel 20. The event is now available on-demand at mcb-echallenge.com
Five finalists presented their business plans to a panel of judges in a “Shark Tank” format at 9NEWS studios in Denver. Judges for the Entrepreneurial Challenge included Peter Adams, executive director of Rockies Venture Club; Kevin Ahern, founder, chairman, and CEO of CIC Bancshares and UNC alum and Board of Trustees member; and Brad Florin, serial entrepreneur and strategic advisor. Gregg Moss, business reporter and 9NEWS anchor, was again the emcee for the event.
The winners received a total of $50,000 in prize money and business incubator services from UNC BizHub, the business incubator at University of Northern Colorado.
Greeley companies LUCAN Technologies, the creator of a two touch-screen, Android-based smart phone and VisePower.com, LLC, creator of “The Vise”, a weight belt that provides proper leverage when performing heavy lifts, also presented as finalists at the event.
“The competition was tough this year, but the judges did a great job evaluating each business plan, asking the right questions, and providing feedback to each finalist,” said David Thomas, assistant professor of management and director of the Entrepreneurial Challenge. “We are grateful for the support we receive from our corporate partners, including 9News who gives us the platform to showcase this competition and the incredibly talented entrepreneurs in our region.”
For more information about the competition, visit www.mcb-echallenge.com.
To learn more about the finalists who competed in this year’s challenge, visit their respective websites:
Change Composites: changecomposites.com
GameCentrics: gamecentrics.com
LUCAN Technologies, Inc.: lucantech.com
QB Labs: qblabs.co
VisePower.com, LLC: visepower.com
InnovatioNews
InnovatioNews is an online news magazine spotlighting innovative companies, products and people in Colorado. Launched in June of 2012, the site is the recipient of multiple awards.
IN Sponsors
Browse
Entrepreneurial by Nature
