Team Summaries – 2013 Ohio State Business Plan Competition
2013 Finalists
Open Track
Awards sponsored by Deloitte & Touche, USA, LLP.
Deloitte’s continued support has been critical to the ongoing success of the Ohio State Business Plan Competition.
From the visionary leadership of local partners to the commitment from the national director of venture capital
services, Deloitte’s partnership has allowed the competition to grow at a rapid pace.
Buckeye Surgical Optimizations
Our mission is to provide surgeons with safer, more elegant, and faster laparoscopic circular
stapler devices for end-to-end anastomosis procedures. A project set out to initially develop a
single-action anvil based circular stapler for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery has led us to
develop and market a single design with different size options for laparoscopic end-to-end
anastomosis procedures for a variety of operational needs. Ultimately, our goal is to seek out
surgical procedures that have inherently high risk and associated cost, and provide a superior
product at a competitive price, to reduce end user and subsequently patient cost, making such
procedures more accessible and minimally invasive to the general public.
OncoFilter
The OncoFilter is a microbead mesh that can be used to separate rare cells from a complex
mixture. There is a clear need in cancer diagnostics for a sensitive and cost-effective screening
technique. Circulating tumor cells are shed from primary tumors to flow through the blood
stream; this is one of the earliest physiological signs of cancer. The ability to detect these cells
could result in earlier diagnosis than is currently possible. However, these cells are present in
very low concentrations. This technology has reached unprecedented levels of reliability,
sensitivity, and accuracy in isolating cells present in extremely low concentrations. It can be
used to isolate circulating tumor cells, an early indicator of cancer, from human blood samples.
Earlier diagnosis of cancer is associated with higher rates of survival, as well as more clinically
effective and cost effective treatment. To harness the advantages of this technology, the
OncoFilter can be used as a low-cost screening tool for breast cancer.
Employer Book by Virtuhire
Employer Book connects mid-size companies and university students in search of career
opportunities. Recruiters at lesser known organizations showcase their brand by uploading
workplace images, employee video interviews and responding to common job seeker
questions; allowing them to work more efficiently with limited resources and ensuring brand
awareness 24x7 on multiple campuses. Universities benefit from increased job
placement. Student job seekers can now search and tour a variety of firms virtually and selfselect the ideal cultural fit before applying.
energyhawc
energyhawc is the result of several years of exploring cooling and dehumidification solutions for
superinsulated homes. The current prototype of the energyhawc combines cooling,
dehumidification, ventilation, and water heating into one device. Not only is this product ideal
for homes with low cooling loads, but the energy savings associated with combining the devices
into one integrate package make the energyhawc appropriate for a wide range of homes. The
energyhawc prototype combines a heat pump with desiccant dehumidification and in the
process recaptures waste heat from the heat pump cycle; combining these systems enables the
development of hybrid cooling and ventilation systems with improved functionality and
reduced energy consumption.
Freight: Fresh Food, Fast
Busy families everywhere are struggling to serve healthy meals at afforable prices. Even families
that are able to access groceries often don’t have the time or ability to prepare a wholesome
meal that tastes great. Freight aims to remove the common barriers to healthy eating while
capturing this market with a combination of fast casual restraurant and mini-grocery store. At
Freight, fresh foods are served three ways: hot and ready to eat, precooked and ready to warmup, or as raw ingredients accompanied by a simple recipe to prepare at home. The meals will
consist of a base of whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, or barley and will be topped with
vegetables, sauce, and a portion of protein. This concept is aligned with the federal MyPlate
nutrition guidelines and provides a balanced meal at competitive prices.
MySocialInvite.com
My Social Invite LLC (MSI) is delivering a new and innovative online dating website aimed at a
younger generation. The average age of an online dating site member is 48 years old. Why?
Because Match.com and eHarmony were created in a different time, for a different audience.
There are 75,000,000 adults under the age of 35 in the United States and 25,000,000 are single,
and we are after them! MSI’s target market is prone to mobile applications and tight knit social
circles. With our website, iPhone, and Android apps, our marketing plan is to monetize launches
city-by-city, to ensure adoption and viral growth. Columbus, Ohio is home to one of the largest
universities in the world (50,000 students) and is ranked 4 in the U.S. for young professionals,
making Columbus the perfect city to test our pilot launch in the summer of 2013.
Single Cell Technologies
Single Cell Technologies is a Columbus, Ohio based company currently operating at the Nanotech West
research facility on Kinnear Road. We are a cutting edge biotechnology equipment manufacturer with
exclusive licensing rights to an exciting new chemical delivery system for single cell culture wells. The
SiCCWells, or Single Cell Culture wells will enable small pharmaceutical research laboratories to access
previously inaccessible cellular testing solutions. The SiCCWell is a competitively priced device that is
capable of delivering femtoliters of chemistry to individual cells. In addition to its unprecedented
volume delivery, the SiCCWell is an exceptionally simple, disposable fluidic device that is virtually
maintenance and expense free. Single Cell Technologies intends to initially capitalize on market
segments that find conventional solutions, such as automated liquid handlers and more expensive
microfluidic systems, cost prohibitive. We will then make efforts to capitalize on larger research
laboratories looking for a cost effective methods of cell culture and interrogation.
Team Summaries – 2013 Ohio State Business Plan Competition
2013 Finalists
Undergraduate Track
Awards sponsored by Venture Highway.
Venture Highway, which offers an integrated learning suite designed to augment university entrepreneurial
education courses, is the award sponsor of 2012 Undergraduate Business Plan Competition. This is the first year of
the undergraduate competition, which is designed to accommodate the growing number of undergraduate
student entrepreneurs. Venture Highway’s support will continue to encourage young entrepreneurs to pursue
their concepts and business ideas.
Bear Fuels
Bear Fuels believes that there is no greater cause than serving our community. In the center of
the State of Ohio we hope to start a movement that will reshape communities all over the
nation. Our business is recycling a waste bi-product of the restaurant industry, refining into
biodiesel and using those resources to strategically better the community. Biodiesel is much
cleaner than normal diesel fuels and can help reduce the effect of global climate change. Where
other companies struggle to produce this incredible fuel source at an affordable cost Bear Fuels
will succeed using innovation based off an ancient practice. Bear Fuels will disrupt a growing
industry in order to make room for an exciting opportunity and real and permanent good.
Bear Fuel's specializes in producing biodiesel as cheap as possible using an obvious technique:
we aren’t going to pay for it.
CHAARG
Young women love the idea of working out; more specifically, of enjoying it. More often than
not, the walls of University gyms are lined with elliptical-riding women in search of something
different. Young women yearn for community; for excitement. Founded in the spring of 2012,
CHAARG has dispelled the notion that young women are bound by the elliptical, and built a
community around fitness. Every week, CHAARG brings college-age women together to
exercise at various local studios, exploring new activities and building strong relationships along
the way. Already catching the attention of Victoria’s Secret Sport, CHAARG has won the hearts
of young women and brands nationwide.
JerkyBro
JerkyBro is a private label beef jerky distributor. It targets different market segments by utilizing
multiple brands which allows the premium beef jerky to be appealing to many consumers. To
establish market share, each brand will be for specific niches such as college students, gym
goers, sports teams, and more. Individual distribution channels will help avoid inner
competition and overall brand dilution. By developing strategic partnerships with sports teams,
clubs at universities and workout facilities, JerkyBro can compete against big jerky companies
and position itself as a premium product not normally sold at 'side of the road' gas stations. The
beef jerky itself is exceptionally moist and tender. The pieces are thick and hearty which makes
each bite a unique experience (and hard to put down the bag.) With low startup costs and
potential for high returns, JerkyBro has the potential to shake things up in the beef jerky
industry and be a very profitable company.
NMC Athletics
Inspired by the success of a unique wrestling gear customization company, NMC Athletics has
designed an innovative three-part head protection system to bring the sport into the twentyfirst century. Today, NMC Athletics is ready to launch the first component of the system, the
Titan Jaw Cup. Part two of the system, the Legend X Earguard, will provide wrestlers with
unprecedented customization options with improved ergonomic functionality. Through
extensive research, NMC has discovered existing technology that can be modified to provide
real time impact acceleration monitoring for immediate TBI diagnosis. The third part of the
system, the C3X, integrates this technology in a user-friendly, consumer focused product. The
company’s main focus is to provide athletes with state-of-the-art equipment to allow them to
reach their full potential while encouraging them to Conquer the Moment.
TaskIt
TaskIt facilitates contract partnerships between businesses and college students. Companies
post projects and TaskIt proactively suggests student users ideal to complete them. Students
gain real-world experience without being confined by the schedule or location requirements of
a traditional internship. Companies get work done and gain exposure to high-potential job
candidates without the costs or the hassle associated with hiring interns. It is hoped that TaskIt
can help introduce a new level of interaction and collaboration between the university and
business communities in Central Ohio.