Student Entrepreneurs Rise to the Innovative Minds Challenge
The Arizona Center for Innovation (AzCI) launched the 2015 Perkins Coie Innovative Minds Challenge at the University of Arizona (UA) in partnership with InnovateUA and Perkins Coie LLP to link UA students with business savvy mentors and help fund innovation. The Challenge culminated with UA student teams demonstrating their innovative ideas and commitment to commercialization during the 2015 Perkins Coie Innovative Minds Demo Day at AzCI.
University of Arizona student teams presented their innovative and creative ideas to solve real business and social challenges. Student teams competed for three top cash prizes sponsored by Perkins Coie and business development services sponsored by the Arizona Center for Innovation which includes six months of one-on-one business mentoring as part of the Mentored Launch Program as well as use of AzCI's world-class office space.
Innovative Minds Challenge winners include:
Top Winner -$5,000 cash prize sponsored by Perkins Coie and 6 months business development at AzCI
Infinurja: Provides low-cost, renewable electricity to underserved and underdeveloped areas to improve standard of living and economic strength by using patent pending products.
$2,500 cash prize sponsored by Perkins Coie and 6 months business development at AzCI
Edible Optics: Provides kids and parents an engaging, hands-on introduction to optical engineering using edible lenses.
$2,500 cash prize sponsored by Perkins Coie and 6 months business development at AzCI
Agent Sage: Provides an online platform where homebuyers and sellers can efficiently find an amiable real estate agent while simultaneously feeding agents valuable intelligence that can be used to streamline home transactions.
$1,000 cash stipend sponsored by Innovate UA
Autism Technology Solutions, LLC: Developing an iPhone and iPad app that helps special education teachers and autism therapists collect better data for writing government mandated progress reports for the special needs children they teach.
$1,000 cash stipend sponsored by Innovate UA and scholarship to the Thryve program
CrateCrops: Provides K-12 schools and universities with a platform for experiential STEM education by combining aquaponics, vertical gardening and sensor and control systems.
$1,000 cash stipend sponsored by Innovate UA and scholarship to the Thryve program
Handle: Handle makes connecting with one another as easy as sharing your name.
$1,000 cash stipend sponsored by Innovate UA
LinkX: Provides a transparent health care database for pricing and availability of medications along with medication therapy management to facilitate a seamless transition of care from the outpatient facility to the home.
$1,000 cash stipend sponsored by Innovate UA
The Smart Mason: Provides a smart kitchen scale utilizing the Mason Jar lid.
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 called Mentored Launch, which offers a program 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, which is part of Tech Launch Arizona, a University of Arizona office of integrated teams creating an ecosystem of invention and commercialization.
Innovate UA is a program to foster a student-led culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across the the University of Arizona. Using a "student leadership" model, Innovate UA works to grow an authentic and lasting campus-wide culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. The Innovate UA leadership team of directors, organizers and volunteers is made up of students drawn from all corners of campus and ensures that the work of Innovate UA remains relevant to the student body.
Perkins Coie LLC is a premier technology-focused law firm. With over 1,000 lawyers in 19 offices across the United States and Asia, we represent great companies across a wide range of industries and stages of growth-from start-ups to FORTUNE 50 companies. We maintain a continuous focus on providing exceptional counsel to great companies and provide a full array of corporate, commercial litigation and intellectual property legal services to clients throughout the world. Perkins Coie'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 us for guidance on company formation, IP protection and enforcement, corporate governance, financings (including IPOs), and strategic transactions, among others. Representing startups throughout the arc of a company's growth, our team provides the necessary insight to help entrepreneurs thrive in fast-paced, competitive environments. Learn more about Perkins Coie's Emerging Companies and Venture Capital practice here.
