CITE Hosts New Technology Venture Start-up Competition
The Center for Innovation and Technology Entrepreneurship (CITE) in the UTSA Colleges of Business and Engineering hosted its spring New Technology Venture Start-up Competition in April. The competition, which pairs innovative technologies developed by engineering students with quality business plans developed by business entrepreneurship students, is hosted each semester to give students a hands-on opportunity to develop new technology ventures.
Thirty-three students spent the past semester developing their companies for the end-of-year competition. Projects developed included a wearable glove-based cursor control device, a low cost biodiesel manufacturing system, a telemetry system for model rockets, an athletic swimming monitoring device, a wireless electronic coaster, and oil and gas cleaning equipment.
The winner of this year’s competition was LiveLynx Enterprises which developed The Palma, a glove-based cursor control device. Team members were Marcos Bird, Chelsey Blake, John Collins, Jon Davis, Mark Finch and Phillip Hamby.Â
“Being an entrepreneur is more about action than analysis,†said Dr. Cory Hallam, director of CITE. “CITE’s programs are focused on using analysis to drive action, and that is the key to launching new business ventures. We are helping to unlock the inner entrepreneur in our students.â€
The second place team was Aquafit Company, which developed a wrist device that can measure calories, laps and distance while someone is swimming. Team members were Jorge Alonso, Hugo Alvarado, Brad Carney, Kate Cornett, Luis Garcia and Adrian Saenz. The third place team, Biotex, developed an alternative fuel processor. Team members were Dominic Garcia, Jorge Gonzalez, Ben Hammond, Ross Hosket and Eric Vazquez.
Judges for the competition were local entrepreneurs Junab Ali, president and co-founder of Mobius Partners; Nick Anthony, founder and president of GreekTown Restaurants; Dave Clark, director of enterprise services at the San Antonio Technology Accelerator Initiative; and Greg Perkins, president of In Home Senior Care.
The project was supported by UTSA faculty members Gus Allo, lecturer in engineering; Abigail Erwin, lecturer in management; Dr. Cory Hallam, director of CITE; Dr. Anita Leffel, senior lecturer in management; and Dr. Jack Simonis, senior lecturer in engineering.
Through a process of education, experiences, resources and support, CITE is focused on fostering the growth of new technology-based ventures. The center creates a pipeline for UTSA faculty, students and the surrounding business community to develop new technology ventures. CITE works to unlock the entrepreneurial spirit through education and experiential activities. The center also hosts entrepreneurship boot camps for the community and has established the new Roadrunner Business Incubator.
Please send your comments to: wendy.frost@utsa.edu
