Posted on April 22, 2015 by KC Gonzalez
Seven UTSA teams comprised of undergraduate business and engineering students will compete in the $100K Student Technology Venture Competition, hosted by the UTSA Center for Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship (CITE).
Speedometer with business terms
The competition will be held from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 28 in the H-E-B University Center Ballroom on the UTSA Main Campus and is open to the public.
Established in 2007 and held semi-annually, the UTSA student technology venture competition gives students hands-on experience as early-stage entrepreneurs.
Since the competition’s inception, 650 students have participated, more than 85 company ideas have been pitched and a dozen patent applications have been filed.
To prepare for the competition, teams of business and engineering seniors work throughout the semester to develop a technology-based company. The students collaborate to create a prototype and a fully developed business plan. This semester’s competitors will offer new technologies poised to enhance healthcare, manufacturing and biomedical industries.
As in past competitions, each of this semester’s competing teams were mentored by professionals from the SA Tech Boosters.
Local academic, business and entrepreneurial experts will judge the teams on their technologies, business plans and presentations. The competition culminates with each team making a seven-minute pitch to potential investors.
The top three teams will each receive a cash prize and in-kind business services such as marketing, consulting and office space should they decide to launch their new companies.
Financed by the Texas Research and Technology Foundation, the competition also receives support from Cox|Smith, the San Antonio Technology Center, Rackspace, the Whittington Group, the UTSA College of Business, the UTSA College of Engineering and the UTSA Office of the Vice President for Research.
CITE is an interdisciplinary center in the College of Business and College of Engineering. It was established in 2006 to create a pipeline for UTSA faculty, students and the business community to develop new technology ventures. The center coordinates resources supporting early-venture execution within the university or in collaboration with companies and provides linkages to IP protection, incubation and funding that support the launch of new technology ventures.
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Event Schedule
9 a.m.-noon: Project viewing and interaction with teams
1-3 p.m.: Competition
3-3:30 p.m.: Award presentations
Competitors
CJ3 Engineering created a Durable Automated Air Sampler (DAAS) to autonomously collect discrete air samples from the Robber Barron Cave. This instrument will provide critical information leading to the discovery that the Aquifer and the Robber Baron cave may be connected. The team includes business students Bernardo Barrera and Drew Dyer and engineering students Casey Bordelon, John Delgado, Jessica Lovelace and John Maldonado.
Conceptum Biologics has designed a site identification tool to create emergency airways in people who are suffocating from asphyxiation in emergency medical situations. The device allows for greater accuracy of decision-making at lower operational costs and is intended for infield use by paramedics, firemen and military medics. Business students are Zachary Expericueta and Paula Nguyen, and engineering students are Ehab Abdelaziz, Victor Aguero, Daniela Arriaga and Jair Castillo.
Focus created a device that will stimulate specific functional regions and lobes in the human brain to induce an enhanced state of being that increases concentration and minimizes distraction through auditory and visual cues. Team members are business students Amanda Johnson, Erin Lawson and Antonio Lombardi and engineering students Sultan Alotaibi, Christopher Herzing, Rikki Pilgrim and Kenneth Poulin.
JDOT Innovations designed a unique mouthpiece that removes plaque from teeth surfaces using water jets. The device was developed for use in assisted living facilities and among the elderly population. Team members are business students Jordan Herrera, Carlton King and Horacio Mata and engineering students William Dennis, Isaac Jefferson, Laura Oranday and Jeff Trizinsky.
OXYvo is dedicated to improving asthma sufferers' quality of life by providing a new innovative smartphone compatible peak flow meter device. Through the device, users will be able to monitor lung measurements, keep track of breathing ailments and be alerted to pending asthma attacks. Team members include business students Sarah Olivarez and Kimberly Todd.
SR Cubed designed a portable proof of concept model that demonstrates the potential of utilizing gas dynamic lasers for industrial and military uses. Business students are Clesmie Burden and Lance Kimbro, and engineering students are Jack Lloyd-Reilley, Devin Richardson, Jennifer Rodriguez and Pourya Samari.
Vita Ingenium has developed a contact lens removal, storage and disinfection device. This device can be used in situations where the cleanliness of surroundings or a person’s hands is questionable. The device is low cost and its small dimensions allow for portability. Business students are Maria Acevedo and Ryan Quinn, and engineering students are Xabier Basanez, Analaura Villarreal Berain, Alejandra Hernandez Molina and David Zhang.
Wendy Frost—
Please send your comments to: wendy.frost@utsa.edu
— KC Gonzalez
