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GV entrepreneurs take top three spots
12/6/2008
By Lauren Fitch GVL News Editor
Virtual dorm tours, custom sneaker designs and water monitoring systems earned Grand Valley State University students the top three places at Lakeshore's Next Top Entrepreneur Contest on Nov. 21.
Lakeshore Advantage has held the competition for two years as part of its business incubator efforts to encourage young entrepreneurs in West Michigan to launch new companies.
"It is important for young people to recognize opportunities and come up with innovative ways to solve problems," said Amanda Chocko, director of entrepreneurial development for Lakeshore.
To enter the competition, applicants must answer two essay questions about their views on entrepreneurship and their business concept.
This year brought an increase in applicants from nine last year to 14 this year. Nine students were accepted to participate in the competition, seven of whom attend GVSU.
"I was impressed with the applicants from GVSU," Chocko said. "It speaks to the support of entrepreneurship at GVSU."
Brian Rider won $1,000 and first place in the three-round competition with his company, Digital Wingman.
The first round of the competition was a 90-second pitch on the importance of entrepreneurship.
In the second round, the competitors explained the concept of their business. The final round required students to explain how they would make their business a reality.
Rider, a senior, started the company his freshman year as a result of using software for 3-D modeling as part of a class.
He came up with the idea of using photo realistic modeling on dorm rooms to put on school Web sites for incoming freshmen.
GVSU Housing became his first customer and since, Digital Wingman has sold software to Michigan State, Central, Eastern and many other universities.
"It was a great honor to be recognized by (Lakeshore Advantage)," Rider said. "My success is in large part due to my team, GVSU Housing and all my professors."
Tyler Way took second place, winning $350. Way launched his hand-painted sneaker company, T.WayCustoms, in August 2007.
Way, a senior, came up with the idea of custom designing shoes his freshman year and spent the next couple years making his company a reality.
At $1,000 a pair, some of his customers are mostly NBA players, including Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton of the Detroit Pistons.
He is currently working on a pair of shoes for LeBron James and hopes to branch out into an apparel line in the future.
"I was pretty excited about (second)," Way said. "My professors were always there to help. I have nothing but good things to say about them."
Rounding out the top three was Tom Mort winning $200.
His business idea was a device to continuously check city water quality within storm sewers to detect illegal dumping.
Mort is still developing his product.
Lakeshore Advantage plans to continue the competition in years ahead as an effort to improve the future of Michigan's economy.
news@lanthorn.com
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