WRITTEN BY ALLISON WAY, SENIOR COPYWRITER & CHIEF EDITOR
The Gigabit Challenge announced the Semi-Finalists who will
continue on in pursuit of the $100,000 Grand Prize, the $250,000 “Born Global”Prize and the opportunity to create disruptive innovation on the Google Fiber Network. These Semi-Finalists were selected by a panel
of judges including entrepreneurs, angel investors, venture capitalists, public
and private sector organizations, community leaders and other experts. Executive summaries were judged based on
market opportunity, growth potential, impact, brevity, clarity and how
effectively the ideas utilized the Google Fiber Network. The Semi-Finalist companies cover a wide
range of applications including telemedicine, ecommerce, nonprofit fundraising,
video delivery, digital city management and much more.
“The Gigabit
Challenge is a great example of a community working together to capitalize on a
fantastic opportunity for the region to connect with entrepreneurs, inventors
and investors from around the globe to catalyze ideas that can change the
world,” said Chris Bernard, Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Design Startup Director
and Advisor for Microsoft, and a judge for The Gigabit Challenge. “We congratulate all of those who entered the
competition and we’re looking forward to the final round of judging. We are proud to offer programs like MicrosoftBizSpark to the Semi-Finalists, which will help those startups and
entrepreneurs focus on a great idea and get to market quickly.”
The Gigabit
Challenge Semi-Finalists:
Abhi Ray, Heart
To Heart Network Inc.
Adam Geller,
Edthena
Andrea Tappy,
ClassTap
Andrew Ying,
Hong
Annie Hwang,
Cloud Integration LLP
Bob Wray, CourthouseUSA LLC
Bob Wray, CourthouseUSA LLC
Brendon Collier,
SocialCloud
Brett Simpson,
record life
Cecilia Bakker,
Cecilia Bakker & Tim Brown
Corinna West,
Wellness Wordworks
Dallas Kranker,
Everything Computers LLC
David
Windhausen, TiBi.tv
Don Peterson,
BigIris.com
Eddie Tapper,
GET-GIV-GOT System Technologies
Edgar Sarmiento, HuMuch?
Edgar Sarmiento, HuMuch?
Ellen Ervin,
Connected-4-Learning
Ernie Johnston,
iNet2
Fortunato
Cardenas, Green Earth Aerogel Technologies
Jason Arnold,
Paruzia Technologies
Jeff Stull, Risk
Analytics LLC
Jeremy Kissell,
Jeremy Kissell
Jim West,
Somametric
Kristin Kenney,
RE:Cite
Marc Canter,
Digital City Mechanics
Mark Hellevang,
Capital Infinity Research LLC
Mary Poehler, In
Touch Beacon
Merlin Owens,
East West TeleMedia International
Michael McKinzy
Sr., Voter Integrity Party (V.I.P.)
Michael Shear,
Strategic Office Networks LLC
S. Vaideeswaran,
Damascus Fortune
Sally Smith,
Esipro Technologies LLC
Samuel
Belu-John, SEIN Analytics & Asset Management
Scott Hardiek,
Virtual/Real World Wallet System
Seak Meng Lay,
Photaic
Sonia Lin, Kauzu
Su Sanni,
WeDidIt
Tim Sylvester,
Integrated Roadways
Troy Norris,
TalentHelix
Willow Lundgren,
PlanetReuse LLC
Semi-finalists
have until December 9, 2011 to submit eight to ten page business plans and
Powerpoint presentations which will be reviewed by the judging panel. Finalists will be announced on December 16,
2011. At The Gigabit Challenge Finale on
January 18, 2012, the winners will be awarded a Grand Prize valued at $100,000
and a “Born Global” Prize of a $250,000 investment from Gramercy Private
Equity.
“It has been a
pleasure reviewing submissions for The Gigabit Challenge,” said Greg Kratofil,
Shareholder at Polsinelli Shughart and judge for The Gigabit Challenge. “It feels like I’m looking through time and
getting a glimpse at what the future will hold.
I have been extremely impressed with the quality of the ideas and have
little doubt about the opportunities enabled by gigabit speed.”
For more information about The
Gigabit Challenge or to express interest in becoming a partner, please
visit
http://www.gigabitchallenge.com or
contact Ann DeAngelo at (816) 842-5244.
About The
Gigabit Challenge:
The Gigabit
Challenge is a global business plan competition to find disruptive ideas that
will turn the tech industry upside-down and change the world. The Gigabit Challenge is focused on unique
applications that are enabled by Google’s first-in-the-nation 1 Gigabit Fiber
network. It is a business plan
competition looking for the brightest, hungriest and most passionate
entrepreneur superstars who are looking to think big...with a gig. In early October 2011, individuals, teams and
early-stage businesses were invited to enter for the chance to win the Grand
Prize valued at $100,000 and be the first to work on the Google Fiber Network. For more information, please visit http://www.gigabitchallenge.com.
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