20th Annual Paul J. Holloway Prize University-Wide Innovation-To-Market Competition 2008
Overall Winner!
Glycura™-A Catalyst For A Cure
Paul J. Holloway Prize Championship Round
Wednesday - May 14, 2008
2:00-5:30 p.m.
Holloway Commons
University of New Hampshire
(L-R): Professor Michael J. Merenda, WSBE Dean Daniel E. Innis, Anna Boisvert '08 WSBE, Gregory Richardson '08 WSBE, Sebastian Titz '08 MBA, UNH President Mark W. Huddleston, Paul J. Holloway, Harold C. "Bud" Albin.
Welcoming remarks, officially opening the final Championship Round of the Paul J. Holloway Prize University-Wide Innovation-To-Market Competition, were given by Daniel E. Innis, Dean of The Whittemore School of Business and Economics in the Squamscott Room of Holloway Commons. Following Dean Innis' comments, Michael J. Merenda, Chair of the Management and Marketing Departments and Professor of Strategic Management, offered recognition to the Judges and Faculty Advisors for their dedication to the students, school, business leaders and to the 20th anniversary of the Holloway competition.
The three finalist teams (1st Place Winners from the Bud Albin Challenge Round) were each given 10 minutes to present their innovative product or service-to-market plan before the six championship judges (who were sitting directly in front of the teams as they made their presentations). Each team then had 15 minutes to respond to questioning from the judges. William Naumes, Associate Professor of Business Administration, officiated as the faculty time keeper to retain the guidelines set forth in the terms of the championship competition. The six judges preciding over the Championship Round were: Harold C. "Bud" Albin '55, Jude Blake '77, Cotton Cleveland '74, Joseph Faro '91, Craig Rydin '71 and Thomas A. Steele, '05P, '08P.
While the judges deliberated their placings in seclusion, students, faculty and guests moved to the Cochecho and Piscataqua Rooms for a reception to await the presentation of awards. Entertainment, offered by Ryan Parker '96, offered the guests a warm backdrop of musical melodies that set a festive atmosphere in anticipation of the awards. After guests dined on roasted vegetable appetizers and other edible treats, Dean Innis introduced the Keynote Speaker, Chris Stone '79, Managing Director of Epic Ventures. His humorous and witty experienced-based advice was warmly received by all, especially the student contenders.
Following the presentation of awards, guests were invited to an awards dinner in Huddleston Hall.
Championship Placings
1st Place -
Glycura™ - A Catalyst for a Cure
Concept: A sophisticated analytical system enhanced with software. It's function is to determine the carbohydrate sequence and structure found in glycoproteins. Glycura can perform a more detailed analysis of glycoproteins at a significantly faster rate than current technology allows. Glycura has the capability to aid in the analysis and evaluation of drug production consistency in R&D and manufacturing.
Anna Boisvert ’08, WSBE
Gregory Richardson ’08, WSBE
Sebastian Titz ’08, MBA
Faculty Advisor: Professor Venky A.R. Venkatachalam
2nd Place -
Novel Superabsorbent from Renewable Resource
Concept: A biodegradable superabsorbent prepared by a special crosslinker and itaconic acid which is a low-cost biochemical derived from the fermentation of sugar. One hundred times swelling ratio can be reached.
Ming Cao ’08G, CEPS
Faculty Advisor: Professor Yvon Durant
3rd Place -
Energy Portfolio Solutions (EPS)
Concept: An intelligent decision support (IDS) system for the electricity industry. ESPO recommends a portfolio of energy sources to be used in generating electricity that will maximize the return for a given risk. The product can also be used in buying a portfolio of electricity generated from different fuel sources that will maximize the return for a given source mix or price preference. The key service provided by the product is the ability to match demand and supply in a changing marketplace.
Amit Savant ’07, MBA
John Dow ’08, Part-time MBA
Padmabala Venugopal ’08, Part-time MBA
Thandapani Palanichamy ’08, Part-time MBA
Faculty Advisor: Professor Robert Gough
Student Contenders participating in the Paul J. Holloway Prize Competition were: Team ARGOS-The Unleash: Go Unleash Your Life, Chalk Talk, Eco-Oasis (Climate Controlled Sleep System Environment), Energy Portfolio Solutions (EPS), Energy Products Intelligent Decision System (EPIDS), EnerTrac and EnerSess (Energy Monitoring Product and Assessment Service), Eyo E-Book Reader, FitVending Company, LLC, Glycura™-A Catalyst For A Cure, Novel Superabsorbent From Renewable Resource, Optical Measurement Sensor, OxyBottle-The Water Bottle and Oxygen System Of The Future, ViBe Communications and WhoUcall.com.