2011 - 2012
The 2011 - 2012 competition will open October 3, 2011 to students and to the public - to any entrepreneur team or existing business that has a new technology or technological product.
A winner or winners will be awarded based on the viability of their business plan and the potential for its economic impact to the Coastal Bend’s regional economy. However, every finalist will be given invaluable feedback from real investors on the viability of the business plan providing the catalyst for putting a business on the right track for success.
>>Download the 2012 Guidelines for eligibility, rules, entry forms, deadlines and prizes.
>>Download the 2012 Coastal Bend Business Plan Committee Bylaws.
>>Download the 2012 Prize Package.
Semi-Finalists:
American Signturbine - Using wind turbines in conjunction with signs to provide power for the signs and even put electricity back into the grid.
Guerrero - Small two bladed wind turbine that can be used by residential property owners.
M.O.P.A. - Optical property measuring device for scientific labs.
PiezoADG Technology - Using electric sensors to monitor airport taxi way traffic. Can be adapted for other uses.
WIL Electronics - Putting electrical actuators on aircraft to reduce drag and increase fuel efficiency.
JJS Inc. - A power generator that uses the water current to produce energy, for use onsmall boats.
CCASO - Launching payloads into Low Earth Orbit using high altitude balloons.
Third Coast Cable Lake - A cable lake allows patrons to water ski, wake ski, and wakeboard using automated tow cables over a predetermined route.
Congratulations!
The winner of the 2011 Coastal Bend Business Plan Competition was announced May 25, 2011 at the Small Business Awards Luncheon.
The 2011 Winner:
Glasram Technologies,
Dr. Magesh Thiyagarajan
Dr. Magesh Thiyagarajan with Richard Bill (Coastal Bend Business Innovation Center and Mike Culbertson, Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation)
Glasram, a team comprised of five members, won about $22,000 in in-kind services designed to jumpstart the business. Its project was a cold-plasma technology that would sterilize 99 percent of the bacteria possibly contained in mail and shipping parcels through companies such as the U.S. Postal Service, FedEx, UPS and DHL.
“This success will make it possible to bring innovative research to life and form a real company ultimately aimed at serving the public,” said Dr. Magesh Thiyagarajan, Glasram's founder and chief technology adviser. "We have gained tremendous knowledge and experience through this competition process and are very thankful to the organizers for their great support."
Sanda Billish (Chairman of the Coastal Bend Business Plan Competition Planning Committee) with Dr. Thiyagarajan
The other finalists were:
• InnerGeo LLC (Ronald L. Loveday) - RUNNER-UP
• Ensemble Group (Gracie Martin)
• RHM Chemical Co. LLC (Rick Maxey)
• C & B Feeders (Ben Mumme and Cory Lundschen)
Thank you to our finalist judges:
• Ralph Coker, SCORE
• Gloria Hicks, Ed Hicks Imports
• Melvyn Klein, Melvyn Klein Interests
• Leon Loeb, Landlord Resources
• Dr. Stephan Nix, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
• Richard Pittman, Bath Engineering
• James Poage, Startech, a Venture Capital Group
• Wade Smith, AEP Texas
• Alan Stoner, Venture Capital Partners
• Liza Wisner, Texas Techies, NBC’s The Apprentice 2010
ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERS
Coastal Bend Business Plan Competition Planning Committee
Texas A& M Corpus Christi, Coastal Bend Business Innovation Center
Del Mar College Small Business Development Center
SCORE Counselors to America’s Small Business
Corpus Christi Evening Rotary Club
Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation
Young Business Professionals of the Coastal Bend
HIGHER EDUCATION PARTNERS
Del Mar College Division of Business, Professional and Technology Education
Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, Mechanical Engineering Program
Texas A&M University – Kingsville, Frank H. Dotterweich College of Engineering
SPONSOR
PRIZE DONORS
Coastal Bend Business Innovation Center
Del Mar Small Business Development Center
SCORE Counselors to America's Small Business, Chapter 221
Swank & Salch, PC, CPA’s
Ochoa & Associates PC / Ferrells PLLC
National Geospatial Technology Center of Excellence-GeoTech, Del Mar College Geographic Information Systems Program
Feferman Law Offices
Fat Cat
Kailo Communications Studio LLC
C.C. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Branscomb /PC
Neovia Solutions
Del Mar College Cont. Ed.
PLANNING COMMITTEE
Front Row: Steve Deases, Dr. Haysam Dawod, Steve Moody, Michael Briones (Co-Chair), Sandra Billish (Chair), Richard Bell, Dr. Stephan Nix
Back Row: Alex Garcia, Korinee Caruso, Krystal Escobar, Dr. John Fernandez, Dr. Jim Needham, Dr. LD Chen, Ralph Coker, Ann Fierova, Debbie Wingfield
Not Pictured: Mike Culbertson, Dr. Larry Lee, John J. Nelson
The Coastal Bend Business Plan Competition emerged from a grass-roots effort to support economic growth in the Texas Coastal Bend region encompassing Nueces, San Patricio and Kleberg counties surrounding the city of Corpus Christi. As the idea began to form and was shared with others, a collaboration of partners organized to make this competition a reality.
The competition was inspired to support the best and the brightest entrepreneurial minds to start and build their businesses locally with a prize package of valuable services and expertise designed to jumpstart the business.
_________
Administrated by
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Coastal Bend Business Innovation Center
10201 S. Padre Island Dr. • Corpus Christi, TX 78418
Tel: 361-653-2575For more information contact Bill Cone