NC State University Entrepreneurship Initiative Celebrates Successful eGames and Lecture Series

April 26, 2011 - PRLog -- Raleigh, NC – On Thursday evening, NC State University Entrepreneurship Initiative (EI) hosted its 3rd annual eGames Awards Expo and Ceremony and Entrepreneurship Lecture Series (ELS) at the McKimmon Center.  Thanks to event sponsors The Huang Family Foundation, Andy and Jane Albright, Coca-Cola, and Lenovo, the eGames continued its tradition as a celebration of the spirit of student entrepreneurship across all colleges and disciplines at NC State.  

More than $30,000 in prize money was awarded at the event, in addition to two students winning new T series laptops donated by Lenovo and Coca-Cola donating $1,500 to the EI program and an additional $1500 for the University Finish the Bell Tower Fund.  A total of 24 teams presented ventures and potential ventures to a panel of judges, who collaboratively rated and awarded prize money to multiple teams across four categories.  The event’s top prizes were as follows:

Coca-Cola Sustainability Challenge Category:
Paint Life Funny   
New Free Expression Program for NC State Students & the surrounding community using approved surfaces and biodegradable paints for public display.

Extreme Website Makeover Challenge Category:
Jonathan Stephens   

New Venture Challenge Category:   
Greensleeves   
Innovative design group targeting some of society’s toughest problems, looking to make the world a better place.

Design & Prototype Challenge Category:   
Critical Reload Device   
Enables a handgun operator to instinctively reload his/her firearm with a single hand, should both hands be unavailable.

Josh Whiton, founder and CEO of TransLoc, was the featured ELS speaker and helped award medals to the winning teams. Whiton, an N.C. State alumnus, is an entrepreneur with a bent for social and ecological reform. His company TransLoc helps makes mass transit easier to use. Already used by N.C. State and many others across the country, the company was awarded a contract to unify the Triangle region’s mass transit systems under its technology.

To find out about the NCSU Entrepreneurship Initiative, visit http://ei.ncsu.edu, or to view videos from the event, http://www.youtube.com/user/NCState?feature=mhum#g/c/927A....

For media interviews, please contact Heather Barbour at heather_barbour@ncsu.edu, 919-513-1688 or Carla Williams at carla@thejdanielgroup.com, 919-623-0818.


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About Entrepreneurship Initiative at NC State
The Entrepreneurship Initiative (EI) at NC State distinguishes itself by encouraging multi-disciplinary participation on every level – faculty, staff, industry and outreach partners, and most importantly, students. With Dr. Tom Miller as its first executive director, the initiative was formed In July 2008 in response to the Chancellor’s call to “develop an educated and entrepreneurial work force.” NC State has long been widely recognized as a strong presence in the entrepreneurial community of the region. By organizing and energizing its efforts through the Initiative, NC State will provide a comprehensive springboard for ideas, projects, and partnerships. By leveraging its core strengths in science, engineering, and technology, NC State will develop entrepreneurial solutions to society’s current problems and future needs.

About eGames
The First Annual eGames were held in April 2009 and were NC State’s inaugural Olympics-style competition for students to showcase their ability to sell their ideas to the entrepreneurial community.  From business plans to elevator pitches; from working prototypes to visual demonstrations; students competed for prizes totaling $30,000. Team and individual competition opportunities are available in areas that include but are not limited to web/IT innovations; B2B and retail products and services; bio tech and energy; as well as social, nonprofit and education development.

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