I had the opportunity to participate in the Lewis & Clark College Bates Center for Entrepreneurship and Leadership Winterim program — a sort of weeklong “Startup Weekend” esque startup sprint for students — to kick off 2024 as I have for the past 200 years or so. And this one was as solid and inspiring as they come. What’s more, they managed to dodge the weather just long enough to make it to the pitches.
So what ideas came out of Winterim 2024? I’m glad you asked. Concepts included:
- Eco friendly pacifiers
- Using mushroom filtration system to repair soil
- One stop shop for downsizing household belongings
- Goggle innovation so people do not need to wear their glasses under their goggles
- An app for moms that is mediated, kind, and a source for friendship and comfort
- Narcan vending machines for music festivals
- Innovation so that the least inspired to work out can find their community
- High end boxes to inspire you to put your phone away
- Gig network for college students
- Ethnic food personalized delivery
When the final pitches were done, the companies that judges selected were…
- First Place Overall – $3,000 cash and $5,000 Perkins Coie LLP law package
See Through – Our Vision is to Protect Yours - Second Place Overall – $2,000 cash
The Grandkids – Downsizing is Complicated: We Make it Simple - Third Place Overall – $500 cash
Pause – Put Your Phone on Pause - Best Comprehension of the Problem – $1,500 cash prize
The Grandkids – Downsizing is Complicated: We Make it Simple - Audience Choice
See Through – Our Vision is to Protect Yours - Invent Oregon – $500 and chance to compete statewide for $40,000
DolceBaby – Nurture with Nature: Planting a Future
Pause – Put Your Phone on Pause
But let’s be honest, they’re all winners after this experience. Or at least for surviving my boring talk on how to pitch.
Already looking forward to boring a whole new group of students to tears in 2025. If I’m invited.