Ideas to Market Place - Entrepreneurs Rise to the Innovative Minds Challenge | Tech Parks Arizona
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Ideas to Market Place - Entrepreneurs Rise to the Innovative Minds Challenge

Tech Parks Arizona and the Arizona Center for Innovation held the 4th Annual Innovative Minds Challenge in partnership with Perkins Coie.  The Innovative Minds Challenge is designed to link University of Arizona (UA) students with business savvy mentors and help fund innovation as well as provide one-on-one business coaching.  The Challenge culminated with UA student teams pitching their innovative ideas and commitment to commercialization during the 2018 Perkins Coie Innovative Minds Challenge.

University of Arizona student teams presented their innovative and creative ideas to solve significant business and social challenges.  Student teams competed for two top cash prizes – up to $5000 per team - sponsored by Perkins Coie.  Teams also won business development services sponsored by the Arizona Center for Innovation (AzCI) which includes six months of one-on-one business coaching from mentors experienced in technology innovation, product development and business management.  Additionally, AzCI provides access to the UA Tech Park’s facilities such as wet and dry labs and specialized equipment such as a 3D printer which allows companies to work concurrently on their prototypes and business strategies. AzCI will be working closely with the founders of these companies over the summer to move their ideas to the market place.

Innovative Minds Challenge winners are:

Guardian – Technology that keeps Alzheimer’s patients independent and safe
Team members: Peter Siqueiros, Teresa Portela, Michael Lewelling, Daniel Situ

Sew Adaptive – Adaptable clothing for unique medical needs of patients
Team members: Danny Dawson, Darci Reidhead,

The participating teams received education through the University of Arizona prior to applying for the Challenge. Some of the teams participated in the Eller Class 485 Innovation: Creating the Future or the yearlong entrepreneurship program at the McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship.  Other teams participated in the IdeaLaunch program of InnovateUA, a student-led program that fosters a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across the University of Arizona.

Additionally, the emerging startups housed at AzCI showcased their businesses during the Innovative Minds Challenge. The showcase allowed current AzCI clients to showcase their companies, network with the public, and encourage the student entrepreneurs.

Tradeshow pitching is one important component of the business development program training that AzCI provides startups. AzCI clients perfect their brand presentation and networking and pitch interaction to refine their public profile. Startups that participated in the showcase included: Audivity (also one of the recipients of the 2017 Perkins Coie Innovative Minds Challenge), Capienda, Nanopec and Reglagene.

Arizona Center for Innovation (AzCI) fosters technology startups, emerging, and mature companies in the development of their ideas, inventions, and next evolution of product.  AzCI provides facilities including office, wet and dry lab space, and a structured business development program, which offers a variety of workshops, seminars and networking opportunities.  Participating companies also receive individual coaching from mentors experienced in technology innovation, product development and business management. AzCI is located at the UA Tech Park and is a component of Tech Parks Arizona.

Perkins Coie LLC is a leading international law firm that is known for providing high value, strategic solutions and extraordinary client service on matters vital to their clients’ success. With more than 1,000 lawyers in 19 offices across the United States and Asia, Perkins Coie provides a full array of corporate, commercial litigation, intellectual property and regulatory legal advice to a broad range of clients, including many of the world’s most innovative companies and industry leaders as well as public and not-for-profit organizations. The firm’s Emerging Companies and Venture Capital practice is one of the nation’s premier legal resources for venture-backed companies that have IP as a key value driver. Founders rely on Perkins Coie for guidance on company formation, IP protection and enforcement, corporate governance, financings (including IPOs), strategic transactions, and much more. Representing startups throughout the arc of a company’s growth, the lawyers at Perkins Coie help entrepreneurs thrive in fast-paced, competitive environments. Learn more at www.startupPerColator.com.

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