When: Tuesday, April 16, 2013, 6 p.m.

Where: Fairfield University's Charles F. Dolan School of Business Dining Room

What: The finalists of this University-wide competition include an exciting mix of student entrepreneurs who will pitch their business plan ideas to an impressive panel of entrepreneurs, business leaders, and faculty members, in an attempt to win prizes totaling $20,000 to develop their businesses. Each student team gets five minutes to make their pitch. The judges will deliberate and decide on a winner before the event is through.

Venture Track contenders - consisting of new businesses with a commercial focus - are:

BluStrip: WattU Control, a Smart Powerstrip that connects all of your devices, including Bluetooth-enabled smartphones. This team is comprised of two School of Engineering (SOE) students and a finance major from the Dolan School of Business (DSB).

House N Stuff, a music promotion website. It's the idea of a freshman from SOE.

SenseFit, an advanced fitness and activity monitoring device. The team is made up of three SOE students and a DSB accounting major.

Good2Go, a social app for organizing your nightlife, designed by four DSB students.

Social Enterprise Track contenders - consisting of new organizations with a social focus addressing a pressing problem that markets have failed to resolve - are:

inCognito Climate Controlled Hats, a personal heating and cooling system for cancer patients. This team consists of a freshman from DSB and a SOE student.

LuxoElemento, a marketer of solar-powered iPhone cases with a tie-in to solar power for third world countries.

Why: "[The competition] is introducing a whole new style of learning," said Chris L. Huntley, Ph.D., associate professor of information systems and operations management and competition co-chair with Mukesh Sud, Ph.D., associate professor of management.

The growing Entrepreneurship Program at the Dolan School began five years ago in the Management Department in response to robust interest from students wishing to become entrepreneurs or business owners. The program has grown to encompass a concentration within Management, a minor available to all University students, and four new classes.

Background: Accounting major Frank Serravalli '13, creator of "The Winning Trade," a web-based financial trading platform game, was the winner of the inaugural contest last year, besting 17 other contenders. He continues to build his business. Visit www.fairfield.edu/businessplan .

Media who would like to attend the event, please contact Meg McCaffrey, (203) 254-4000, ext. 2726.

Image: Pictured are finalists from the team, "Good2Go." (L-R) Michael Franco, Christopher D'Agostino, Gabriel Garcia, and Steven Velez.

Posted On: 04-12-2013 11:04 AM

Volume: 45 Number: 258