Business Plan Competition finals at Fairfield University April 14 | Press Releases

Prizes totaling $20,000 go to students to develop their businesses

When: Monday, April 14, 2014, 6 p.m. Finalist will present six minute pitches starting at 6 p.m.; Judges decide winners about 7:15 p.m. Media is invited to attend the 6 p.m. event as well as practice pitch rounds from 3 p.m.-5 p.m.

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

What: A capacity crowd of students, faculty, staff and friends are expected for the final round of the University-wide competition, an endeavor that has introduced "a whole new style of learning" at Fairfield. The finalists include an exciting mix of undergraduate student entrepreneurs who will present 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 six minutes to make their pitch. The judges will then deliberate and decide on a winner before the event is over. A reception will follow. Past participants have included students from the Dolan School of Business, School of Engineering and the College of Arts & Sciences, with faculty mentors and area business professionals serving as mentors.

Venture Track for new business ideas with a profit focus:

BoneSmart - a wearable, wireless, non-invasive medical device that will measure bone mineral density and blood flow.

Dash Spice Bar & Grill - a place to create a custom spice rub from a vast array of herbs and spices to put on locally sourced meats.

EquipMe Toolchest - a web application that provides members of the construction industry the ability to rent out and temporarily acquire heavy machinery.

EverSafe - a smoke detector that never needs new batteries and never needs to be thought about powered by solar and electromagnetic energy.

Glove guard - a batting glove protection product.

Smart Tech - a smart, filtered watch that gives easy access for users to connect and view top apps without wasting time using phones.

The Stadium - a place that reinvents the sports watching experience by bringing a whole new concept to the sports bar industry.

Ventured - an app to enable young professionals to gain access to microcosms of platonic, social meet-ups so that they can cultivate new friendships and network.

Social Enterprise Track for new organization ideas with a social mission:

Safe Drive - a smartphone application that will limit touch screen functionality while the user is driving in a car. It was created in response to statistics that show 23% of automobile accidents were linked to texting and driving.

Team Veritas - a personal transportation device for the paraplegic and other handicapped individuals.

The Match University - aims to aid in the college process by not only providing matching software for the academic, financial and geographic aspects of higher education institutions but also the personality characteristics of the collective student bodies.

AfricaRequest - An online market place tailored to serve the African consumer.

Why: The Entrepreneurship Program at Fairfield University's Charles F. Dolan School of Business 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, new classes, plus the Business Plan Competition - an out of the box way to teach undergraduates about entrepreneurism.

Visit www.fairfield.edu/businessplan .