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RISK
DARE
DREAM
R
Congratulations 2015 Competitors
1
State of Possibility
Rams believe business is a force for good. We see
potential everywhere. Even in tiny fungi.
A business born at CSU discovers a way to turn
rice straw waste into a livelihood for Vietnamese
farmers. What was once waste and pollution
becomes pride, profit, and gourmet mushrooms.
What was once a small idea grows into a global
venture that makes people healthier and happier.
That’s moving business forward. That’s progress.
2
WELCOME
Welcome
to the second annual CSU Blue
Ocean Enterprises Challenge, a celebration of entrepreneurship,
business innovation, and the Colorado startup ecosystem.
The CSU Blue Ocean Enterprises Challenge is presented
by founding partners Colorado State University and Blue
Ocean Enterprises and is one of the nation’s richest business
pitch competitions as measured by its $250,000 grand prize.
The competition honors great ideas and entrepreneurs while
showcasing the healthy startup community in Colorado.
So cheer for your favorite team and watch young companies
risk it all for a chance to make their dreams come true.
The Challenge is held in conjunction with Fort Collins Startup
Week. To register for Fort Collins Startup Week events, visit
www.ftcstartupweek.co
CONTENTS
Schedule5
Overview6
Company Showcase/Expo
7
Collegiate Competition
9
Schedule Overview
9
Competitor Profiles
10
Schedule Details and Brackets
13
Prizes14
Seed Round Judges
15
Semi-Final and Final Judges
16
2014 Winner Profile
17
Trolley Pitch Competition
19
Overview19
Invest-in-Me Game Overview
19
Schedule20
Judges21
23
Keynote Speaker
Enterprise Competition
24
Schedule Overview
24
Competitor Profiles
25
Schedule Details and Brackets
28
Prizes29
Seed Round Judges
30
Quarter-Final Judges
31
Semi-Final and Final Judges
32
2014 Winner Profile
33
Youth Entrepreneur Showcase
35
Rockies Venture Club
36
Celebrations37
39
Competitor Conference Recap
Sponsors40
Map
Back Cover
BlueOceanChallenge.com
CSUBlueOceanChallenge
@CSUBlueOcean
3
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SCHEDULE
5
LORY STUDENT CENTER
Wednesday
May 27
7 a.m.
Friday
May 29
Saturday
May 30
7 a.m.
Registration
8 a.m.
8 a.m.
Registration
Registration
9 a.m.
9 a.m.
Youth Entrepreneur
Showcase
11 a.m.
12 p.m.
Collegiate Competition
Seed Round
Enterprise
Competition
Seed Round
11 a.m.
Enterprise
Competition
Quarter-Finals
1 p.m.
2 p.m.
3 p.m.
4 p.m.
Networking
Collegiate Competition
Semi-Finals
5 p.m.
Break
6 p.m.
Collegiate Competition
Finals and Awards
7 p.m.
8 p.m.
9 p.m.
Collegiate Bash
Trolley Pitch
& Invest-inMe Game
401 W.
Mountain Ave.
10 a.m.
Break
Company Showcase/Expo
10 a.m.
12 p.m.
1 p.m.
2 p.m.
Break
3 p.m.
Keynote Event
with Jeff Hoffman
4 p.m.
Enterprise
Competition
Semi-Finals
Enterprise
Competition Finals
and Awards
Blue Ocean Bash
5 p.m.
6 p.m.
7 p.m.
8 p.m.
9 p.m.
6
OVERVIEW
Collegiate Competition Seed Round
May 27, North Ballroom, Lory Student Center
Thirteen Collegiate startups from throughout Colorado
will compete in the CSU Blue Ocean Enterprises Challenge
Collegiate Competition. In the Seed Round, each competitor
will pitch individually to the panel of judges. The four highest
scoring competitors move on to the Semi-Finals, when the
head-to-head action begins.
Collegiate Competition
Semi-Finals and Finals
May 27, North Ballroom, Lory Student Center
After the Semi-Finals, the two finalists will make one last headto-head pitch to the judges in the Finals. The Finals will wrap
up with questions from judges and audience members before
First and Second place winners are announced. The winning
competitor receives $20,000 in cash, six months of business
mentoring with executives from Blue Ocean Enterprises, other
prizes, and will move on to the Enterprise Competition for a
chance to win $250,000. The second place team walks away
with $5,000 in cash and other prizes.
SEED ROUND
SPONSORED BY
SEMI-FINALS AND FINALS
SPONSORED BY
Trolley Pitch Competition
May 29, 401 W. Mountain Avenue (registration)
and along Mountain Avenue
Innovation, both old and new, comes together in this highenergy, competition as Collegiate competitors hop on the Fort
Collins Municipal Railway’s historic trolley car to pitch their
startups to judges on board. Putting a Fort Collins twist on the
classic “elevator pitch,” competitors will have the time it takes
to ride to the next trolley stop to present their best two-minute
business pitches. The first place winner will receive $2,000 in
cash and second place will receive $1,000.
Invest-in-Me Game
Spectators can also sign up to play the Investin-Me Game and receive “blue bucks” to make
mock investments in Collegiate companies.
The competitor with the most “blue bucks”
will receive $2,000 in cash.
TROLLEY PITCH
SPONSORED BY
OVERVIEW
Enterprise Competition Seed Round
May 29, Ballrooms C & D, Lory Student Center
SEED ROUND
SPONSORED BY
Fifteen Enterprise competitors from around the country and
the winning Collegiate competitor will pitch their businesses in
the CSU Blue Ocean Enterprises Challenge Enterprise Competition. In traditional business pitch competition style, the competitors will pitch their startups to a panel of expert judges on
stage in front of a live audience. Judges’ scores will determine
eight teams that will move to the next day’s Quarter-Finals
when the head-to-head action begins.
Enterprise Competition Quarter-Finals
May 30, Ballrooms C & D, Lory Student Center
The eight highest scoring teams from the Seed Round move on
to the tournament-style Quarter-Finals. Two competitors will
pitch head-to-head on stage to a panel of expert judges and in
front of a live audience. Four competitors will move on to the
Semi-Finals.
Enterprise Competition
Semi-Finals and Finals
May 30, Ballrooms C & D, Lory Student Center
Four competitors will compete in the Semi-Finals and two
will make it to the Finals Round. They will pitch head-to-head
where judges and audience members will question the teams
about their startups. The winning team receives $250,000 in
cash, 12 months of business mentoring with executives from
Blue Ocean Enterprises, and other prizes. The second place
winner receives $25,000 in cash and other prizes.
Company Showcase/Expo
May 30, Ballrooms C & D entrance,
Lory Student Center
Come meet some of the great businesses in Colorado, existing
and new, as they showcase their products and services in the
Company Showcase/Expo outside the Lory Student Center
Ballroom.
QUARTER-FINALS
SPONSORED BY
SEMI-FINALS AND FINALS
SPONSORED BY
COMPANY SHOWCASE/EXPO
SPONSORED BY
7
8
You bring the
idea, we’ll bring
the resources.
Proudly Supported by FirstBank.
We care about small business.
Visit www.startandgrowtoday.com
to find the business solutions and
answers you need.
Member FDIC
TeCh - eneRgy - Ag - ouTdooR
Proud supporters of the
2015 CSU Blue Ocean
Enterprises Challenge
A Trusted Colorado
Public Relations and
Marketing Firm
PRoud SPonSoR oF The
CSU Blue Ocean
Enterprises Challenge
www.meldpr.com - 303.909.0530
www.eksh.com
COLLEGIATE COM PETITION
SCHEDULE OVERVIEW
WEDNES DAY, MAY 2 7
8 a.m.
Check-In/Registration
9 a.m.
10 a.m.
Collegiate Competition – Seed Round Group 1
North Ballroom
11 a.m.
12 p.m.
1 p.m.
2 p.m.
Break
Collegiate Competition – Seed Round Group 2
North Ballroom
3 p.m.
Mid-Day Networking
Cherokee Park Ballroom
4 p.m.
Collegiate Competition Semi-Finals
North Ballroom
5 p.m.
Break
6 p.m.
Collegiate Competition Finals and Awards
North Ballroom
7 p.m.
Collegiate Bash
Ramskeller
8 p.m.
#CollegiateComp
9
COLLEGIATE COM PETITION
10
COMPETITOR PROFILES
Axios Impact Investments
Colorado State University
Axios Impact Investments offers point-of-sale financing
solutions to companies selling income-producing agricultural
technologies (for example: drip irrigation, greenhouses, water
pumps) proven to significantly increase farmers’ income in the
developing world.
BOOM Algae
University of Colorado
The first algae CO2 co-locator in the world to capture
waste gas produced when sugars ferment into alcohol
during the production of beer. Algae, which is processed
into products such as omega-3 oils and animal feeds, can be
harvested at a concentration thousand times greater than
conventional methods with BOOM’s revolving algae biofilm
reactor.
Change Composites
Colorado State University
Change Composites makes the Umbo bicycle helmet, which
uses a patented innovative shock absorption technology that
results in a superior amount of shock absorption to reduce the
distributed force transferred to the brain during an accident.
Chem with Ray
Colorado State University
A web-based platform that provides high-quality online
tutoring for college-level and Advanced Placement
general chemistry students. The mission of Chem with
Ray is to be the most tailored, precise tutoring resource
available to help students pass their courses.
Gamecentrics
Colorado State University
A cloud-based gamification platform that provides
organizations with the ability to launch a variety of intuitive
and easy to understand games designed to engage employees
and provide incentives for them to do their best on a consistent
basis while also providing organizations the ability to measure
performance data in real-time be it productivity, quality, or
safety metrics.
COLLEGIATE COM PETITION
COMPETITOR PROFILES
Native
University of Colorado
A personal travel assistant for everyone. Native plans, books,
and handles the headaches of travel — all from a mobile app
for only $25 per month. Native’s human travel assistants and
machine learning technology combine to provide a concierge
travel planning experience at an affordable price.
NüBrü Coffee
University of Colorado
Brewed in Boulder County for over 14 hours using cool Rocky
Mountain water, NüBrü is significantly less acidic than hot
brewed coffee. NüBrü, served cold, is bottled in a lightweight,
recyclable plastic bottle.
QuadshoX
Colorado State University
QuadshoX creates advancements in wheelchair
technology and is deeply dedicated to improving the
quality of life for people living with paralysis. The CEO and
founder is a C-4 quadriplegic. QuadshoX is truly a company
providing solutions for people in wheelchairs, designed by
people in wheelchairs.
Rocky Mountain Sriracha
Colorado Mesa University
Made with just five simple ingredients, no preservatives, and
jarred directly after cooking, Rocky Mountain Sriracha is one
of the healthiest hot sauces on the market.
The Space Research Company
University of Colorado
TSRCo builds, launches, and operates standardized small
satellites — known in the space industry as CubeSats — to
conduct cutting-edge space-based research with applications
such as drug discovery, synthetic biology, biomedical
engineering, materials research, combustion, thermofluids,
and fundamental physics.
11
COLLEGIATE COM PETITION
12
COMPETITOR PROFILES
Viagozo
Colorado State University
Launching in Nicaragua in 2015 with plans to expand
throughout Latin America, Viagozo connects tourists with
local people through an online platform. This provides
additional income to locals while creating one-of-a-kind
experiences for the curious traveler, who can share the culture
in a mutually beneficial exchange that promotes greater
cultural understanding.
Wise Art Foods
Colorado State University
Manufactures and distributes functional foods to retailers and
website consumers. Functional foods are whole foods, not
extracts or isolated compounds; they provide a health benefit
beyond the nutrients they contain.
YOUglycemia
University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus
Colorado State University
YOUglycemia offers expertise in diabetes care including
insulin pump management, registered dietitians, and aerobic
endurance coaching, founded by four individuals with type
1 diabetes who are aerobic endurance athletes and span the
range of expertise in the clinical management of diabetes, basic
science research in immunology, nutrition counseling and
education, and financial management.
Viagozo
Axios Impact Investments
Wise Art Foods
QuadshoX
Native
Rocky Mountain Sriracha
Change Composites
Gamecentrics
NüBrü Coffee
Chem with Ray
BOOM Algae
YOUglycemia
The Space Research Company
9:15 a.m.
9:36 a.m.
9:57 a.m.
10:18 a.m.
10:39 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
11:21 a.m.
12:40 p.m.
1:01 p.m.
1:22 p.m.
1:43 p.m.
2:04 p.m.
2:25 p.m.
SEED ROU ND
Semi-Finalist
Semi-Finalist vs.
Semi-Finalist
Semi-Finalist vs.
SEM I-F INALS
Finalist
Finalist vs.
F IN A LS
COLLEGIATE COMPETITION
Collegiate Competition
Winner – moves onto
Enterprise Competition
COLLEGIAT E
COM PETITION
W IN N ER
COLLEGIATE COM PETITION
SCHEDULE DETAILS AND BRACKET
13
COLLEGIATE COM PETITION
14
PRIZES
FIRST
PLACE
$20,000 in cash and move on to compete in
the Enterprise Competition
Six months Blue Ocean Enterprises mentoring
Other prizes valued at over $40,000
SECOND
PLACE
$5,000 in cash
Other prizes valued at over $5,000
BLUE OCEAN ENTERPRISES
MENTORING
The grand prize winner of the CSU Blue
Ocean Enterprises Challenge Collegiate
Competition receives a check for
$20,000 and a six-month mentorship
program with the business experts at
Blue Ocean Enterprises, a management
company started by OtterBox founder
Curt Richardson and based in Fort
Collins, Colorado.
With consultation from Blue
Ocean Enterprises management,
the winner will explore sales and
distribution strategies, legal and
intellectual property issues, marketing
recommendations, and financial
structure, making the company
stronger, smarter, and more focused.
OTH E R PR IZ E S
PROVIDE D BY:
AllProWebTools
Galvanize
Growth Curve Institute
Kendall, Koenig & Oelsner PC
Lewis Roca Rothgerber
Meld + Strategy Communications
The Shuuk
For full prize descriptions, visit
BlueOceanChallenge.com
COLLEGIATE COM PETITION
SEED ROUND JUDGES
Gerry Caron
Christine Hudson
Vice President of Innovation
and Product Management,
Otter Products
Solutions Manager,
Rally Software
Russ Kittel
Meade Malone
Former Director of
Subcontract Management
and Procurement, United
Launch Alliance, LLC
Robert Ward
Audit Partner, Technology
Industry, PwC, LLC
Senior Business Advisor, MWM
Global Holdings Limited
Kyle Kirkpatrick
Founder and CEO, Decibullz
and 2014 Grand Prize
Winner of The Enterprise
Competition
David Tolson
Managing Director, Capital
Value Advisors
15
COLLEGIATE COM PETITION
16
SEMI-FINAL AND FINAL JUDGES
Libby Cook
Daniel Epstein
Founder and Executive
Director, Philanthropiece
Foundation
Founder and CEO,
Unreasonable Group
Sanjay Mehta
Alex Welch
Vice President US Sales,
Trend Micro
Co-Founder and CEO, Lasso
Media; Co-Founder and
former CEO, Photobucket
Lawrence Mandes
Co-Founder and Managing
Director, Galvanize
COLLEGIATE COM PETITION
2014 WINNER
GOING FAR WITH FARGREEN
Fargreen, founded as part of CSU’s Global Social and
Sustainable Enterprise MBA program, won $20,000 in the
Collegiate Competition of the inaugural CSU Blue Ocean
Enterprise Challenge and earned a spot in the Enterprise
Competition where the team won an additional $10,000.
CEO Trang Tran added those winnings to those from
the Echoing Green Climate Fellowship and the Postcode
Lottery Green Challenge, and several other pitch
competitions, to launch the company in her native
Vietnam in July 2014.
Fargreen works with local rice farmers to divert waste
straw from the rice harvest from open burning
and turns it into substrate to grow high-quality
mushrooms. This closed-loop model adds no
net waste to the production process, stops the
release of greenhouse gases and increases
farmers’ income by 50 percent by adding
another crop to their growing year.
The company expects to launch its first
branded, premium mushroom products to
the Vietnamese market in 2015.
17
18
GREAT MINDS
DON’T THINK ALIKE.
CONGRATULATIONS.
TROLLEY P ITCH COM PETITION
OVERVIEW
TROLLEY PITCH COMPETITION
Most entrepreneurs can give an elevator pitch, describing
their business to investors in a few minutes. In a local twist,
all Collegiate competitors, except the winner of the Collegiate
Competition, have two minutes to give their pitch and answer
judges’ questions on a moving trolley. Unlike a quiet elevator,
competitors must do this on a loud trolley with noise and
cheering from spectators. There will be limited seating for
people to ride the trolley with the competitor; available on a
first-come, first-served basis. The Trolley Pitch winners will be
announced at the Awards Ceremony on May 30.
INVEST-IN-ME GAME
Give Collegiate competitors the chance to win
additional funding by playing the Invest-in-Me
Game. The first 100 people to register receive a
bundle of “blue bucks” to invest in their favorite
companies. Register to play at the Trolley Pitch
or the Lory Student Center until 2 p.m. on May 30. All “blue
bucks” must be “invested” in the competitor investment boxes
near the registration table by 3:30 p.m. on May 30 when the
boxes will be pulled and counted. The competitor with the
most “blue bucks” wins a cash prize.
#TrolleyPitch
#InvestInMe
TROLLEY PITCH
SPONSORED BY
19
TROLLEY P ITCH COM PETITION
SCHEDULE
20
F RI DAY, MAY 2 9
4 0 1 W. MOU NTA I N AVE .
A N D ALONG MOU NTAI N AVE .
3 p.m.
Check-In/Registration
Invest-in-Me Game
3:30 p.m. Howes
Competitor #1
Loomis
Competitor #2
Shields
Competitor #3
City Park Competitor #4
4 p.m.
Shields
Competitor #5
Loomis
Competitor #6
Howes
Competitor #7
Loomis
Competitor #8
4:30 p.m. Shields
Competitor #9
City Park Competitor #10
Shields
Competitor #11
Loomis
Competitor #12
5 p.m.
Last Collegiate competitor exits the trolley
Invest-in-Me Game continues at the Lory Student Center on
Saturday, May 30 until 3:30 p.m.
TROLLEY P ITCH COM PETITION
JUDGES
Congressman Jared Polis
will be ringing the Trolley
Car bell to officially kick
off the Competition at
3:30 p.m. at Mountain
Ave and Howes St.
Jared Polis
U.S. Representative (D)
Colorado, Second
Congressional District
Tamara Kleinberg
Founder, The Shuuk
Lisa Tessarowicz
Co-Founder, Epicentral
Coworking; President, CALM
Foundation
Jose Vieitz
Co-Founder and
Co-Director, Boomtown
Accelerator
21
22
Congratulations
You and your team have worked hard to get
to this point. So, take a moment, and give
yourself some much deserved credit. When you
are ready, Growth Curve will be here to help
you realize your company’s goals.
As a thank you for your participation, we are
discounting our offerings for all CSU Blue
Ocean Challenge participants. Contact us today
for more details.
[email protected]
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
S AT U RDAY, MAY 3 0 , 3 : 3 0 p.m.
LORY ST U D E NT C ENTER, BALLROOMS C & D
Jeff Hoffman, successful entrepreneur,
global business adviser, and motivational speaker, will
deliver the keynote address on the topics of innovation,
entrepreneurship, and business leadership. Mr. Hoffman
will also serve as a judge for the Enterprise Competition
Semi-Finals and Finals.
Mr. Hoffman has served as CEO of numerous public
and private companies and has been part of well-known
companies including Priceline.com, uBid.com, CTI,
ColorJar, and more. He supports entrepreneurs and
small businesses around the world, serving on the global
advisory boards of Global Entrepreneurship Week, the
U.S. State Department’s Global Innovation through
Science and Technology Program, the APEC Startup
Initiative, and many others.
He also works with the White House, the State
Department, USAID, and other international
organizations on economic growth initiatives and
entrepreneurship programs.
23
ENTERPRISE COM PETITION
SCHEDULE OVERVIEW
24
F R IDAY, M AY 2 9
S ATU RDAY, MAY 30
7 a.m.
Check-in/Registration
8 a.m.
Enterprise Competition
Seed Round
Group 1
Ballrooms C & D
9 a.m.
10 a.m.
12 p.m.
Enterprise Competition
Seed Round
Group 2
Ballrooms C & D
Announcement
Thank You
1 p.m.
Break
2 p.m.
Enterprise Competition – Quarter-Finals
Ballrooms C & D
3 p.m.
Break
4 p.m.
Keynote Event, Jeff Hoffman
Ballrooms C & D
5 p.m.
for sponsoring the
private VIP reception
for competitors,
sponsors, and judges.
Enterprise Competition – Quarter-Finals
Ballrooms C & D
Enterprise Competition – Semi-Finals
Ballrooms C & D
6 p.m.
Enterprise Competition – Finals
Ballrooms C & D
7 p.m.
Awards Ceremony, Ballrooms C & D
8 p.m.
Blue Ocean Bash
Theater and Sutherland Gardens
9 p.m.
#EnterpriseComp
Company Showcase
Expo
11 a.m.
Break
ENTERPRISE COM PETITION
COMPETITOR PROFILES
Behavioral Response Technologies
Boulder, Colorado
Committed to improving the health, welfare, and profitability
of production animals. Fresh Cow Manager enables dairy cows
that have just calved, or “freshened,” to overcome their health
challenges naturally before hormones, steroids and antibiotics
are prescribed.
Conspire
Boulder, Colorado
Finds the strongest path of connections in a person’s extended
network to any person or company of interest to get the
best introduction to whomever you want to meet – a
customer, employer or investor. By analyzing email data, its
professional network understands who knows each other
and how well.
Content BLVD
Los Angeles, California
Makes buying and selling product placements fast and efficient
for brands, who can now get products placed inside the content
their target consumers already enjoy on YouTube, TV, films
and more.
Extrude To Fill
Loveland, Colorado
Manufactures machines and tooling for molding parts that
eliminate shearing of the material and relies on conducting
electrically generated heat to melt the plastic.
Kapta
Boulder, Colorado
An enterprise SaaS platform that helps internal and customerfacing teams to drive explosive growth through collaboration,
feedback and execution. The Kapta platform breaks down
important goals and objectives into specific actions and
tracks measurable results that can be used to manage internal
strategies, or customer interactions.
25
ENTERPRISE COM PETITION
26
COMPETITOR PROFILES
Jebbit
Boston, Massachusetts
Allows a brand to drive more revenue and engagement from
consumers AFTER they click on a given ad/social post/email
message with an interactive question-and-answer experience
that overlays landing pages, enticing consumers to learn more
and spend extra time engaging with content.
Membrane Protective Technologies
Fort Collins, Colorado
On-farm testing has shown that Membrane Protective
Technologies’ organic, antioxidant technology has improved
pregnancy in milking dairy cows that are artificially
inseminated by up to 30 percent. This patented technology can
also be applied to horses, pigs, turkeys and humans.
Mozio
San Francisco, California
Allows an app or website to digitally integrate any form of
ground transportation, directly in-app or in-path. Google Maps
can sell commuters transit cards, airlines can book travelers on
airport shuttles or express trains, and OpenTable can reserve
limousines or parking spots for foodies in 1,600 locations
around the world with 900 partners.
Notion
Denver, Colorado
An all-in-one sensor for simplified home monitoring. Eight
powerful capabilities are packed into each Notion sensor to
make a product that is easier to buy, faster to install and more
capable than anything on the market.
OptiEnz Sensors
Fort Collins, Colorado
Breakthrough technology for making real-time decisions –
biosensors based on a combination of enzymes and fiber optic
technology providing real-time continuous measurement
results with the same accuracy as laboratory equipment.
ENTERPRISE COM PETITION
COMPETITOR PROFILES
Parkifi
Morrison, Colorado
All about solving the world’s parking challenges with data.
By gathering, filtering and sharing data in real time, Parkifi
helps parking owners and operators manage parking far more
efficiently and revolutionizes the way they monetize it.
QB Labs
Parker, Colorado
Apple-integrated digital health wearable technology. QB
stands for quantitative bioanalytics and its first product,
MovementTek, transforms wearable tech, empowering
physicians, sports trainers and physical therapists to quantify
and streamline client progress for better movement analysis
and improved treatment outcomes.
ShelvSpace
Scottsdale, Arizona
Innovating ways of promoting and selling products into U.S.
retail channels by improving the way CPG sales teams manage
their business. ShelvSpace lets you put down the paper binders,
Power Points and Excel data sheets and replace them with
cloud-based mobile tools that make the sales process faster,
smarter, and cheaper.
Synkera
Longmont, Colorado
Designs and manufactures Micro Electric Mechanical System
(MEMS) sensors to detect gases in the air and in breath,
to improve the comfort, health and safety of individuals
worldwide. Synkera’s sensors offer world-class performance in
the smallest physical size available.
VerbalizeIt
New York, New York
A language translation platform that empowers businesses
to expand globally through access to a suite of technology
tools and a curated community of 23,000 translators
through website, mobile app, document translation, and
video subtitling. The seamless technology and translator
community enables businesses to better engage with the
global customer across 150 languages and over multiple
communication media.
27
ENTERPRISE COM PETITION
SCHEDULE DETAILS AND BRACKET
28
2:06 p.m.
1:45 p.m.
1:24 p.m.
1:03 p.m.
12:42 p.m.
12:21 p.m.
12:00 p.m.
10:42 a.m.
10:21 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
9:39 a.m.
9:18 a.m.
8:57 a.m.
8:36 a.m.
8:15 a.m.
OptiEnz Sensors
Parkifi
Jebbit, Inc
Notion
Synkera Technologies, Inc
Conspire
Behavioral Response
Technologies
QBLabs
Mozio
VerbalizeIt, Inc
ShelvSpace, Inc
Collegiate Competition
Winner
Content BLVD
Kapta
Extrude to Fill
Membrane Protective
Technologies, Inc
S EED ROU N D
2:27 p.m.
Semi-Finalist
Semi-Finalist vs.
Semi-Finalist
Semi-Finalist vs.
SEM I- F INALS
ENTERPRISE COMPETITION
QUARTERF INALS
Quarter-Finalist vs.
Quarter-Finalist
Quarter-Finalist vs.
Quarter-Finalist
Quarter-Finalist vs.
Quarter-Finalist
Quarter-Finalist vs.
Quarter-Finalist
F I NALS
Finalist vs.
Finalist
ENT ERPRISE
COM PETITION
WINNER
Enterprise
Competition
Winner
ENTERPRISE COM PETITION
PRIZES
FIRST
PLACE
$250,000 in cash and startup stardom
SECOND
PLACE
$25,000 in cash
One years Blue Ocean Enterprises mentoring
Other prizes valued at over $40,000
Other prizes valued at over $5,000
BLUE OCEAN ENTERPRISES
MENTORING
The grand prize winner of the CSU Blue
Ocean Enterprises Challenge Enterprise
Competition receives a check for
$250,000 and a 12-month mentorship
program with the business experts at
Blue Ocean Enterprises, a management
company started by OtterBox founder
Curt Richardson and based in Fort
Collins, Colorado.
With consultation from Blue
Ocean Enterprises management,
the winner will explore sales and
distribution strategies, legal and
intellectual property issues, marketing
recommendations, and financial
structure, making the company
stronger, smarter, and more focused.
OTH E R PR IZ E S
PROVIDE D BY:
AllProWebTools
Galvanize
Growth Curve Institute
Kendall, Koenig & Oelsner PC
Lewis Roca Rothgerber
Meld + Strategy Communications
The Shuuk
For full prize descriptions, visit
blueoceanchallenge.com
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ENTERPRISE COM PETITION
30
SEED ROUND JUDGES
Scott Bergquist
David Gold
Kyle Hansen
Bill Heuston
Sue Kunz
Juan Velez
Senior Market Manager,
Silicon Valley Bank
Senior Director of Sales,
ViaWest
Jeff Wood
Vice President of Worldwide
Product Management, Work
Stations and Thin Clients, HP
Managing Director,
Access Venture Partners
CEO, Thrive On Group
Chief Woof Officer and
Founder, Outward Hound
Executive Vice President,
Aurora Organic Farms, Inc.
ENTERPRISE COM PETITION
QUARTER-FINAL JUDGES
Gary Wayne Clark
AJ Dye
Venture Capitalist and
Angel Investor
Project Manager, Corporate
Investment, Delta Electronics
Capital
John Marotta
Ashok Reddy
Former CEO, Chairman of
the Board and Co-Founder,
Emerge Medical
Co-Founder and Partner,
Unreasonable Capital
Todd Lemley
Founder, Thrive On Group
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ENTERPRISE COM PETITION
32
SEMI-FINAL AND FINAL JUDGES
Peter Adams
Kyle Cox
Jeff Hoffman
Kate Shilo
Executive Director, Rockies
Venture Club
Entrepreneur, Former CEO,
Hollywood film producer
Managing Director, ATP Fund
Director, Galvanize Ventures
Sue Heilbronner
Co-Founder and CEO,
MergeLane
ENTERPRISE COM PETITION
2014 WINNER
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DECIBULLZ GETS OUT OF THE BASEMENT WITH A WIN
What would you do if you won $250,000 for
your startup company? Kyle Kirkpatrick of
Decibullz Custom Molded Earphones has
spent a year living the dream after winning
the grand prize in the inaugural CSU Blue
Ocean Enterprises Challenge in 2014.
During his pitch to the judges last year,
Kyle said he had sold his car to finance his
startup, which was shipping product out
of his basement in Loveland. He was still
working his day job as a gymnastics coach,
and although orders were increasing for
the earbuds designed to stay in your ears
no matter how physically active you are, he
didn’t have the capital to scale up, despite a
successful Kickstarter campaign.
Kyle used his winnings to move out of
the basement into commercial space in
Loveland to continue manufacturing and
product assembly, add employees, develop
new products — and patent them. He’s also
taken advantage of the mentoring services
that were part of the prize package to manage
the growth wisely.
Decibullz are available online and in retail
stores, including the CSU Bookstore and at
www.decibullz.com.
34
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Lewis Roca Rothgerber
salutes the
CSU Blue Ocean Competitors
and all Entrepreneurs
We look forward to providing
$2,500 pro bono legal services
to each winner.
Legal Services include:
Intellectual Property Protection
Entity Formation
Contracts
International Business
from any of our 9 offices.
Dick Clark | 303.628.9531
[email protected]
LRRLaw.com
Albuquerque | Casper | Colorado Springs | Denver
Las Vegas | Phoenix | Reno | Silicon Valley | Tucson
Complete Toolkit
for
Small Business
YOUTH ENTREPRENEUR SHOWCASE
S AT U R DAY, M AY 3 0
LORY ST U D EN T C ENTER
Watch young entrepreneurs give fiery, TED-style talks on the
life lessons they’ve learned as wunderkind business owners.
Once you’re motivated with inspiration, help us choose the
Young Entrepreneur Tournament Champion. Four young
business owners will pitch their companies and the audience
will decide who walks away with the $1,000 Grand Prize.
Whether you’re a parent, business owner, or aspiring young
entrepreneur yourself, you’ll walk out of the morning feeling
like you can take on the world.
Young Entrepreneur Stories
9 – 10:15 a.m., Ballrooms C & D
Five young entrepreneurs will give TED-style talks about
lessons they’ve learned through running their companies. They
have six minutes to talk with four minutes for questions.
Young Entrepreneur Tournament
10:15 – 11:30 a.m., Ballrooms C & D
Four young entrepreneurs will compete in the Young
Entrepreneur Tournament Championship, complete with
company videos, live presentations, and competitor question
and answer sessions with the audience. The winner will be
chosen by the audience and will win $1,000 to help their
company grow.
YOUTH ENTREPRENEUR
SHOWCASE SUPPORTED BY
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36
ROCKIES VENTURE CLUB
INVESTOR ONLY TRIAGE
Collegiate Triage
May 27, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Check-in at North Ballroom,
Lory Student Center
Enterprise Triage
May 29, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Check-in at Ballroom C & D, Lory Student Center
Rockies Venture Club will be supplying an Investor Only
Triage in coordination with the CSU Blue Ocean Enterprises
Challenge for both the Collegiate and Enterprise Competition.
The Investor Only Triage is a process of group evaluation
of companies pitching for investment. Investors share their
industry expertise and Triage outcomes are either “declined,”
“request further information” or “move to the next phase.”
Companies receive feedback, investor questions, due diligence
issues and advice on next steps.
If you are an accredited investor, you’re welcome to take part in
the Investor Only Triage. Please select “Investor Only Triage”
when you register at BlueOceanChallenge.com
SMART INVESTING IN NORTHERN COLORADO
May 30, 10-11:30 a.m., Check-in at Ballroom C & D,
Lory Student Center
Have you ever wondered what it takes to make smart
investments in startups, an inherently risky asset class? The
answer to this question is complicated. This is where angel
groups step in. A large group of investors can share in this
process and together they can make smarter investments that
are much more likely to succeed.
This workshop will be led by Peter Adams, the executive
director of Rockies Venture Club, and he will talk about
the many opportunities to collaborate with like-minded
individuals in Northern Colorado, where to find high-quality
companies that are raising angel capital, and the best practices
for angels.
CELEBRATIONS
After the final rounds are finished
and the winners are announced,
join us at the after party bashes
to toast the competitors and
celebrate innovation and
entrepreneurship. Enjoy food and
drink along with great music. Must
be a registered attendee of
the CSU Blue Ocean Enterprises
Challenge to attend.
COLLEGIATE BASH
May 27, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Lory Student Center
Ramskeller
BLUE OCEAN BASH
May 30, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Lory Student Center
Theater and Sutherland Gardens
37
38
WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF
BUSINESS GROWTH
MAY 26-31
DISCOVER
100+ Free Events
& Biz Mentorship
BUILD
Come Visit The LaunchPad at
200 Mathews Street
Details/RSVP at ftcstartupweek.co
GROW
NerdyMind.com
 970.744.3918
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YYr tii designn,
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BUT W
Ethos3.cc
COMPETITOR CONFERENCE RECAP
The Competitor Conference is an
added benefit of competing in the CSU
Blue Ocean Enterprises Challenge.
The two-day conference held April
17-18 at the Fort Collins Innosphere
included social events that encouraged
competitors to meet each other and
powerful learning opportunities that
will influence their businesses for years
to come.
Past competitors have commented
the relationships they developed with
fellow competitors throughout the
conference have lasted long after the
Challenge is over.
Day 1 of the Competitor
Conference featured a workshop with the Growth Curve Institute that gave competitors new
knowledge, skills, and tools to systematically grow their companies profitably and sustainably.
On Day 2, Ethos3, a leader in presentation design and training, conducted a workshop that
will help competitors build, design, and deliver pitch presentations to impress the judges and
captivate the CSU Blue Ocean Enterprises Challenge audience.
Both sessions prepared competitors for success during the competition and beyond.
THANK YOU TO OUR
PRESENTERS
39
Thank You
Sponsors
40
A competition of the size and scale of the CSU
Blue Ocean Enterprises Challenge would not
be possible without the financial and in-kind
support of our sponsors. We are grateful for their
partnership and every generous donation of time,
talent, and resources.
PRESENTING SPONSORS
VISIONARY SPONSOR
SEED SPONSORS
LAUNCH SPONSORS
FINANCIER SPONSORS
ANGEL SPONSORS
STAKEHOLDER SPONSORS
FRIENDS
Gross Cutler Sieler Dupont
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Minor & Brown
Odell Brewing Co.
The Feet
Ben Reubinstein
Encompass Technologies
LORY STUDENT CENTER
CoMpAnY ShOwCaSe/ExPo
GrAnD BaLlRoOm
Restrooms
Enterprise Competition
AED Location
Elevator
Lactation Room
D
C
Ser
rea
A
vice
Family/Gender inclusive restroom
Visit BlueOceanChallenge.com
for information about the 2016 Challenge
BlueOceanChallenge.com
CSUBlueOceanChallenge
@CSUBlueOcean
NoRtH BaLlRoOm
Collegiate Competition