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| Zoko, the winning team of the venture category and recipient of a $5,000 grant (left to right) Andrew Hapk, Yale University School of Management; competition judge Joe DeMartino, chairman of the Angel Investor Forum; Enka Anderson of Yale, and Christopher Kieran of Yale. |
Participating schools are Central Connecticut State University, Gateway Community College, Housatonic Community College, Manchester Community College, Quinnipiac University, Southern Connecticut State University, the U. S. Coast Guard Academy, University of Bridgeport, University of Connecticut, University of Hartford, Western Connecticut State University, and Yale University.
After reviewing the written plans, 15 finalists were chosen by a committee composed of Kelly DeKeyser of Simsbury Capital; William Guerrero, entrepreneurship professor at SUNY Purchase (and winner of the first competition); Manny Ratafia of Ratafia Ventures; and Mike Roer of the Entrepreneurship Foundation.
Judges for finals were Joe DeMartino of the Angel Investor Forum; and Cliff Ennico, national speaker and author on entrepreneurship; Lindy Gold of DECD; and Mary Anne Rooke, president, Angel Investor Forum.
The judges chose ZOKO, a Yale team comprised of team leader Erika Anderson of New Haven, Andrew Hapke, Christopher Kieran, and Bradley Baer, and advised by Professor Maureen Burke, as the winner of the "Venture" category and recipient of a $5,000 grant.
The student company is launching a web-based networking and organizational service for dining clubs.
The first runner up in the venture category and winner of a $3,500 grant was My Kiducation from Quinnipiac University, a business plan developed by Morgan Zollman of New Haven and Ben Wald, and advised by Dr. Dale Jasinski, Dr. David Tomczyk and Professor Brett Orzechowski.My Kiducation develops interactive children's stories that are based on current events and designed for viewing on tablets.
The top personal business and winner of a $1,000 grant was Za Wine Bar, a West Hartford wine and pizza restaurant conceived by Elisabeth Sanseverino and mentored by Dr. Irina Naoumova of the University of Hartford.
A $500 prize for the best presentation and was awarded by Cliff Ennico to Innovrr.com, led by Wen Jie Li of New Britain, a senior at the University of Connecticut at Storrs, and advised by Professor Luke Weinstein. Innovrr is raising $80,000 for a crowd-funded interactive website to develop and sell new products. The website allows innovators to receive feedback on their ideas and to book advance orders. Ennico was impressed by the team's professional delivery and solid answers to the probing questions by the judges.
Entrepreneurship Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Fairfield, with support from the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), Warbros Venture Partners, Connecticut Innovations, the Angel Investor Forum, Cliff Ennico, and Launch Capital.
