Four teams of UW-Milwaukee students and alumni placed in the 2016 New Ventures Business Plan Competition, hosted by the Lubar School of Business.
Grand Prize, $8,000: Coinigy
Derek Urben, Finance and Economics, presented this cybercurrency company, which offers a unique database, software tools and services that provide advantages to individuals and companies trading within digital currency and other digital assets.
Second Prize, $4,000: Intelligent Composites
This company is producing a cylinder liner for internal combustion engines that outperforms other commercially available cylinder technologies. Made with a self-lubricating metal composite, this product will effectively lower fuel consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and wear in internal combustion engines. UWM alumni partners are Simon Beno, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Chris Jordan, Civil Engineering.
Third Prize (tie), $2,000: Popspace and University Exchange
Popspace, brainchild of Alexis Nash, Human Resources and Labor Relations, is a web-based marketplace for micro-entrepreneurs looking for affordable access to temporary spaces, without the hassle of traditional commercial leases. University Exchange is a website and mobile site created by Joe Kotlan, Art and Design, that serves as a classified advertising space for the UWM community the way that Craig’s List does for the general public.
This annual competition is made possible by private support from La Macchia Enterprises, parent company of Mark Travel and Trisept Solutions.
Judges included Alan Katz of Katz Consulting; Joe Kirgues of gener8tor; Brian Morello of Drink Beer LLC; retired healthcare CEO Bruce Paler; and Paul Stewart of PS Capital Partners.
