Center for
nnovation
ncubator News
Grand Forks, North Dakota
November 2011
Inside this issue:
UND C ENTER FOR I NNOVATION PROFILED FOR V ENTURE D EVELOPMENT EXCELLENCE The Center for Innovation is one of just 10 programs nationally--and one of two from rural states--profiled by the Regional Innovation Acceleration Network (RIAN) on its web site. www.regionalinnovation.org Innovation-driven development programs from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Kansas, Tennessee, Michigan and California are also profiled with the UND Center for Innovation. “This profile is important because it is being done by State Science & Technology Institute that, since its inception in 1996, has developed a nationwide network of practitioners and policymakers dedicated to improving the economy through science and technology,” said Bruce Gjovig, Center founder, director and Ina Mae Rude Entrepreneur Center Skalicky Tech Incubator 4200 James Ray Drive Grand Forks, ND 58203
entrepreneur coach. “It is the comprehensive, prominent national organization on technologybased economic development (TBED) that works on research, policy, education, communication and information for those in innovation and economic development (TBED) nationally,” Gjovig said. “Many venture programs offer bits and pieces but few offer a comprehensive entrepreneur program like the Center, integrating and connecting students, emerging and successful entrepreneurs, researchers, and investors,” Gjovig said. “Our success of developing a strong entrepreneur and investor ecosystem has been part of the success and the Center has become efficient
through public and private partnerships.” RIAN is publishing just 10 profiles of selected venture development organizations around the nation that exemplify how different approaches tailored specifically to their regional assets and entrepreneurial needs are all yielding significant results. These results include impressive figures for job creation and successful innovation-based startup companies in their regional economies. RIAN’s goal is to restore resilience in America’s regional economies by approaching economic development strategy as a regional innovation system and create and improve the nation’s community of venture development organizations.
Phone: 701-777-3132 Email: newsletter@innovators.net Web: www.innovators.net
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L A R OYCE B ATCHELOR AWARDED FIRST T OM AND G AYLE C LIFFORD E NTREPRENEUR F ELLOWSHIP La Royce Batchelor is the first recipient of the Tom and Gayle Clifford Entrepreneur Fellowship at UND. Batchelor is an alum of UND’s communications program and an instructor in the College of Business and Public Administration’s (CoBPA’s) entrepreneurship program. She is completing a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership with a cognate in entrepreneurship.
including the last 15 at Red River College in Winnipeg.
Batchelor teaches innovation and entrepreneurial communication in the CoBPA Entrepreneurship Department and also works at the Center for Innovation Foundation, aiding primarily with fund raising, communication, and student engagement in entrepreneurship. Her research focuses on the pedagogy of classroom management and student engagement; she also conducts research on innovation and creativity.
About the Tom and Gayle Clifford Entrepreneur Fellowship
Batchelor is a 1991 graduate of UND in speech and received a Master of Arts degree in political and cultural communication in 1993. She has been teaching for 20 years,
Batchelor also teaches Shotokan Karate for the UND Karate Club. She is an alum of Kappa Alpha Theta and plans to be an advisor to the group after completing her Ph.D. She has started four businesses since she was a teenager, showing her entrepreneur spirit.
rageous, and have uncommon energy. Clifford supported the launch of the UND Center for Innovation.
The Tom and Gayle Clifford Entrepreneur Fellowship was established by a gift from Tom and Gayle Clifford in 2009 to the UND Center for Innovation Foundation. The endowment was set up to support up and coming entrepreneur-minded leaders on campus who wish to build innovative programs on campus. Tom Clifford--a Langdon, N.D., native, a decorated World War II veteran, and president of UND from 1971 to 1992--was well known to support campus entrepreneurs who are innovative, cou-
C RAIG S ILVERNAGEL IS THE NEW CHAIR OF E NTREPRENEURSHIP P ROGRAM Craig Silvernagel is the new chair of the UND Entrepreneurship Program at the UND College of Business and Public Administration as of July 1st. Craig has been teaching entrepreneurship at UND since 2003. Two years ago he enrolled in a new PhD program at UND to attain his PhD in Educational Leadership with a cognate in entrepreneurship. Other cohorts include entrepreneurs LaRoyce Batchelor, Tom Clement, and Kevin Cooper. “One of the reasons Entrepreneurship is such a vibrant and exciting program at UND is the fact that it draws students, faculty and other talent from across our campus and community,” said Craig Silvernagel, Entrepreneurship Department Chair. “I am looking forward to growing the department and the pro-
gram in collaboration with the Center for Innovation to help our students and emerging companies flourish and find opportunity.” Craig came to UND from the University of Minnesota-Crookston (UMC), where he helped develop a new program emphasis in entrepreneurship while serving as a marketing faculty member. For the eight years prior to his time at UMC, Craig owned a full-service advertising agency he co-founded in 1994. The agency served several regional and national firms including Arctic Cat, Christian Brothers Hockey, and Simplot Soilbuilders. Craig sold the business in 2001. In addition to his own ventures, Craig grew up in a family business environment. For twenty years, his parents owned "Duo Plastics Inc.," a custom
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plastic injection-molding manufacturer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that employed more than 100 people. Craig is a native of Minneapolis and a UND graduate, receiving a BBA in marketing in 1992 and an MBA in 1995.
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C ENTER FOR I NNOVATION W ELCOMES N EW S TAFF M EMBERS Elisabeth Knapp, Entrepreneur Capitalist & Angel Fund Agent, began consulting for the Center fall of 2011, but previously worked for the Southern Valley Innovation Center in Wahpeton, ND. Elisabeth is originally from Fargo, ND. She graduated with a B.S. in Hospitality and Tourism from NDSU in 2009 and began a career in residential real estate development in Fargo. In 2010, Elizabeth’s parents introduced her to Bruce Gjovig and the angel fund community. As the Center for Innovation’s angel fund field agent, she helps entrepreneurs succeed by consulting, communicating, and coordinating with advisors, investors and entrepreneurs. 701-777-3281, elisabeth@innovators.net
Katie Langlie, Chaos Coordinator, joined the staff fall of 2011. She is a recent graduate of University of North Dakota, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in 2011, with majors in entrepreneurship and management. In addition to greeting visitors, answering the phone, and taking care of the Center’s administrative duties, Katie wears many hats at the Center. She is the Center’s Incubator Manager and is the go-to person for incubator tenants and staff. As the Event Coordinator, Katie also manages the many events that take place in our Idea Lab and Board Room and her organizational talents keep everything running smoothly. As a small business owner herself, Katie has a passion for helping other small businesses and takes great pride in her third role at the Center as an Entrepreneur Coach. 701-777-3132, katie@innovators.net
Brooke Riendeau, Student Assistant, is a recent graduate of Red River High School in Grand Forks, ND, joined the Center for Innovation staff in August, 2011, at the beginning of her Freshman year at UND. She is pursuing a degree in Nursing. Brooke works with Katie to welcome guests to the Center for Innovation and prepare for events. She cheerfully assists staff and tenants with administrative tasks and anything else that needs to be done. 701-777-3132, brooke@innovators.net
T HE N ORTH D AKOTA / M INNESOTA EB-5 R EGIONAL C ENTER W ELCOMES S USAN G EIB Susan Geib has recently joined the North Dakota/Minnesota EB-5 Regional Center after completing a year-long research project on transition economies interviewing government, business, education, and economic leaders in 18 countries with Dr. Peter Geib. Susan cofounded and led the North Dakota Trade Office growth from 2004-2010. Under her leadership, export volume tripled in North Dakota from $900 million to $2.8 billion and rose to become the #1 export growth state in the nation. She is a former Vice President and General Manager of International Business for Microsoft Business Solutions (formerly Great Plains Software). Geib’s international and export expertise comes largely from starting the international business practice
for Great Plains (now Microsoft) in 1989 and expertise on the EB-5 foreign direct which grew from no international sales to investment program. selling in 50 countries in nine years and accounting for 15% of company revenues. Over the course of her career, Geib has lived and worked in overseas countries. She is a former university professor teaching brand management and customer relationship management. Early in her career, Geib was with Kraft/Philip Morris Inc. (now Altria) in brand management and worked in client relations for Leo Burnett Advertising on the Proctor & Gamble and Nestle accounts. She is a graduate of University of North Dakota, Loyola Graduate School of Business, and Exeter College at Oxford University. The Center for Innovation Foundation welcomes her energy
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A NGEL I NVESTING W ORKSHOP FEATURING : E ARLY E XITS & T ERM S HEETS
On Tuesday, October 25, 2011, the Center for Innovation hosted an Angel Investing Workshop on Early Exits and Term Sheets for Early Stage Ventures, presented by nationally known presenter Bill Payne. Bill Payne, hands down presents the best Angel Seminars nationwide, and the Center for Innovation was happy to welcome him back for his 9th angel seminar since 2001. Bill is an engineer, entrepreneur, angel investor and educator. He started Solid State Dielectrics, Inc. (SSD), a capacitor dielectric materials company, in 1971 and sold the company to DuPont in 1982. Since founding SSD, Mr. Payne has accomplished the following: Invested as an angel in over 50 startup companies Over 120 man-years of service on private company and non-profit boards of directors Consulted in materials technology to the multilayer capacitor industry Served as an Entrepreneur-inResidence to the Kauffman Foundation Served on six university advisory boards Taught over 80 workshops and seminars on angel investing in five countries.
Assisted in the founding of four angel groups in the US Served on the founding committee of the Angel Capital Association (US) Payne has been an active founder of four angel organizations: Aztec Venture Network – AVN was founded in 1999 as a membermanaged pooled angel fund with 31 members in the San Diego area. AVN is fully invested at this time. Tech Coast Angels – TCA is a large network of 300 angels located in Southern California. TCA has five chapters located in the Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Diego areas. TCA has invested in over 100 startup companies since 1997. Mr. Payne helped organized the San Diego chapter of TCA in 2000. Vegas Valley Angels – VVA is a network of 45 angel investors in Las Vegas who have invested over $10 million in 12 companies since 2003. Mr. Payne is a founding organizer. Frontier Angel Fund – Mr. Payne helped organize this pooled fund of 30 accredited investors in rural Montana in 2006. FAF has invested in seven new companies since inception and has several more in the pipeline.
A Summary of the Angel Workshops The Early Exits Workshop made a comeback, for a 2nd year, after being requested by North Dakota angels. This workshop on exits was timely since many of North Dakota’s angel investments are 3-4 years along. Exits are not well understood in private investing and entrepreneurship. Little has been written about exits as the traditional focus has been on starting, growing
and financing ventures. This workshop was based on the research done by Dr. Basil Peters of Vancouver who just released a new book “Early Exits: Exit Strategies for Entrepreneurs and Angel Investors.” Attendees received a copy of his new book. Dr. Peters is the Fund Manager for Fundamental Technologies II - an angel investment fund (seed ventures). He also founded a venture capital firm and a hedge fund and has been a CEO in Vancouver and Silicon Valley. Basil is an active, early-stage, technology investor and writes a blog on best practices for entrepreneurs and angel investors at www.AngelBlog.net The Term Sheet Workshop, covered what a term sheet is and what it does. Payne explained that in layman terms, a term sheet is a funding offer from a capital provider, it lays out the amount of an investment and the conditions under which the investors express how they expect entrepreneurs use their money. The key is to remember that it's just an offer, and the entrepreneur can counter that offer and negotiate all the terms before finally accepting the funds.
Sponsors
UND Center for Innovation Angel Capital Educational Foundation Economic Development Administration University Center program Dakota Venture Group
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NNOVATION The UND Center for Innovation Foundation is planning and developing a 26 acre Innovation Park, the first Green Park on the Great Plains. The Foundation identified a site south of its two tech incubators and north of the Alerus Center along 42nd Street. The Foundation has applied for an EDA grant to install infrastructure for this new tech park, and the City has approved a Renaissance Zone Fund with the Foundation to help raise funds to launch the project and support Renaissance Zone projects. Further announcements are expected by year-end. Innovation Park will offer attractive infrastructure for companies with high tech jobs relating to datacenters, UAS, engineering and software firms. Key features include
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redundant fiber, redundant power, geothermal field, solar LED lighting, water cooling pond, and more. Innovation Park will become an ideal site for datacenters by offering robust infrastructure that is a cost effective, yet green, solution to their data center needs. Data centers are energy hogs, with their extensive information technology equipment (high power needs) coupled with equally extensive cooling equipment (more power needs). Datacenters and cloud computing companies are searching for ways to reduce costs, reduce their environmental impact, and rely more on “green” energy sources. Grand Forks is well situated with its cool weather, low cost power, Un-
manned Aerial Systems missions, and an educated workforce. The proposed park will be located in an area protected from disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, forest fires and 500 year floods. Cold weather and flood protection are great attributes as is the access to talent from the UND, area colleges, and the Grand Forks Air Force Base. The Chamber and the Grand Forks Economic Development Corporation strong proponents for Innovation Park as a site for datacenters. For more info on Innovation Park, contact Bruce Gjovig, CEO, UND Center for Innovation Foundation, 777-3132, Bruce@innovators.net
6 TH A NNUAL I NNOVATE ND O PENS FOR E NROLLMENT
The Innovate ND 2012 competition kicked off on October 5th in conjunction with the Governor's Workforce Summit in Minot, highlighting the addition of five categories of competition that participants are eligible to enroll in to encourage additional entrepreneur participation.
to service providers like the Center for Innovation.
The 2012 Industry Specific Categories include: Value-added agriculture/advanced manufacturing Energy/technology-based businesses Retail based businesses Women, minorities and rural entrepreneurs Youth entrepreneurs (Ages 14-24)
Registration is available online at InnovateND.com through Nov. 14. The program includes online entrepreneur education, business planning tools and coaching and mentoring from successful entrepreneurs and proven business owners.
Innovate ND is a statewide initiative designed to help emerging entrepreneurs turn innovative concepts into viable new North Dakota business ventures through online entrepreneur education, educational software tools, entrepreneurship coaching, and access
For a $250 registration, participants receive access to a proven venture-building process and a chance to win one of five $15,000 prizes.
For more information contact Brandi Schoenberg at 701-328-5373.
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I NCUBATOR W ELCOMES F OUR N EW TENANTS Solargy Lights Solargy Lights focuses on providing green solutions for street lighting. The company was started by Jim DeSeyn in 2010 and is head quartered in Neche, ND. Their satellite office is located at the Center for Innovation in Grand Forks, ND. They provide off-the-grid outdoor lighting solutions for various sectors including municipal street lighting, parking lots, mobile home parks and sports facilities. The system is self-sustaining and runs solely on solar and wind power. The standard system comes equipped with a 70-Watt solar panel and a 400-Watt wind turbine. However, other models are available to fit customer needs. The 70-Watt LED street light has a luminance of over 60,000 candles. The exquisitely designed hybrid street lighting system features limited disturbance of landscaping with minimal installation costs. This makes Solargy Lights an environmentally friendly, aesthetically pleasing and cost effective lighting solution. They have also expanded into designing and engineering site specific power generation to assist with data transmission. This is especially valuable for remote oil and gas well sites. Solargy Lights sets themselves apart from others by putting the customer in the heart of everything they do. Customization is highly valued and they seek to provide their customers with unique pole colors that match their needs. Every sale is extremely important, regardless of the size and location. Solargy Lights strives to provide customers with the solutions they need and the service they deserve. For more information visit www.solargylights.com or contact them at info@solargylights.com
V2 Aerospace
EduTech
V2 Aerospace was founded in 2010 to become the leading company to provide maintenance services for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for line and depot level maintenance in the military and civil sectors. V2 is forming alliances with respected industry leaders and respected training and logistical service providers to offer quality, comprehensive offerings to UAS operators across the country. V2’s executive team has extensive experience in aircraft maintenance and is well positioned to become a leader in the UAS industry. V2 opened its offices in the incubator in August. www.v2aerospace.com
EduTech is a division of the State Information Technology Department. They provide educational technology services to the K-12 schools in the state. Every school in the state is required to use PowerSchool, a student information system. Jack, Janet, and Jill are located in the incubator to provide training and support for Power School. Other colleagues of EduTech are located in Fargo, Valley City, Bismarck, and Killdeer. EduTech also has other staff located regionally across the state that provide training and support for schools with a multitude of different topics such as Online Tools for Educators, Digital Citizenship, Microsoft Products, and iPads in Education to name a few. More details regarding EduTech and the services they provide are located on their website: www.edutech.nodak.edu
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Unmanned Applications Institute International (UAII) UAII is a 501(c) (3) Non-Profit organization formed in 2010 for the unique purpose of fostering emerging unmanned applications through professional teaming among Industry partners, Government agencies and Educational institutions. UAII enhances both economic and academic growth within all areas that deal with unmanned systems and robotic technology by connecting key leaders working within the industry. UAII assists companies and schools to facilitate the growth of businesses, regional economic development and expertise in advanced research relating to unmanned operations within all academic institutions. In conjunction with furthering unmanned technology, UAII functions as a key focal point for unmanned safety and standardization, working to ensure future unmanned technology is developed to support government and commercial purposes in the safest methods possible. The UAS industry is in the infancy stages, with extensive use in the military around the world. UAII wants to be on the ground floor of setting the standards in safety, research and development as this industry expands in the military and commercial applications for ground, air and sea. More details regarding UAII and the services they
provide are located on their website: www.uaiinternational.com
Maynard Herting
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Maynard Herting joined UAII as Executive Director. He will manage and co-develop curricN EW ulums focusing on remote sensing and intelligence I NCUBATOR analysis of data from aerial surveillance efforts and serve the emerging UAS industry by providing T ENANTS : program management, consulting and acquisition support. UAII Founder Tom K. Kenville noted Maynard is the right team leader for UAII, and having someone with Maynard’s background is exciting and will propel the organization forward. E DU T ECH Herting’s previous experience includes 20 plus ~ years in the US Air Force, where he served as a Master Navigator in the KC-135 A/R and the C141B. After retirement he entered civil service and worked as a program manager in the Wing Planning (XP) Office at the Grand Forks, Air S OLARGY L IGHTS Force Base, ND for three years. Prior to joining ~ UAII, Herting served as the as the Field Operations Program Manager for UAS operations for the State of North Dakota with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. where he supported the US Customs and Border Protection UnUAII manned Aerial Systems (UAS) Operations Center I NTERNATIONAL at the Grand Forks Air Force Base, ND.
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V2 A EROSPACE ~
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MORE INFORMATION REGARDING OUR INCUBATOR SERVICES , PLEASE CONTACT
K ATIE @ INNOVATORS . NET
OR
K ATIE AT 701-777-3132
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S TUDENT E NTREPRENEUR A LUMNI B RET T B RUNETEAU - G IMME H OCKEY . COM GimmeHockey was founded by Omaha, Nebraska native Brett Bruneteau, UND ‘11. Brett graduated with honors from the UND Entrepreneurship program in May of 2011, starting his venture as part of his senior class project with coaching from Entrepreneurship Instructor and Center for Innovation staff member, LaRoyce Batchelor. Brett utilized the Mueller Entrepreneur Internship Program to help launch his venture. Brett is currently pursuing his MBA at the University of Vermont, with a year of hockey eligibility remaining. The venture idea came to Bruneteau after years of struggling to find quality and specific hockey camps to meet the goals he had for himself on the ice rink. This perpetual struggle to find the places that could allow him to further his development in the game would take him to Shattuck -St. Mary’s preparatory school which is renowned for turning out players such as Sidney Crosby, Zach Parise, Jon Toews, Drew Stafford, Jack Johnson, and Kyle Okposo. After his time there, Bruneteau played in the country’s only tier I junior league, the United States Hockey League (USHL). During that time, Bruneteau was a captain for both the under 17 and 18 United States national teams that won gold and silver in the world championships. After his exposure on an international stage, he was
drafted in the fourth round of the 2007 NHL entry draft by the Washington Capitals. Bruneteau went on to play for the University of North Dakota in the WCHA where he won two Broadmoor trophies (Playoff championship) and one McNaughton Cup (Regular season championship). He was also a part of the Sioux’s frozen four berth this past year. With this background in the sport, Bruneteau began to use his experience to help other players find the right camps in order to help them achieve their own goals. In doing so, GimmeHockey was created. GimmeHockey will provide a unique service to both camps and users that is currently unmatched. GimmeHockey will use a complex and detailed, yet simple and easy template for each camp to design. Camps will have the ability to market in their own language using an array of features, such as photos, videos, and testimonials, to better connect and appeal to their hockey playing customers. They will be able to set camp capacities, monitor registration more effectively, and receive automatic payments upon user registration. Users will be taken through a process upon entering the site in which they will be asked their preferences. These will include skill,
age, date, location, price, and name. If one or multiple areas are not important, they will not be factored into the users end results. Upon completing this information (which will take 20 seconds), the user will be delivered the camps that meet their matches. The user then will have the opportunity to view the camp profile pages; reviewing and comparing through the generalized personal page template, yet having the ability to decipher between the camps based on their marketing language, camp information, videos, photos, and various other information they choose to update. Finally, users will have the ability to pay and register on the site eliminating the traditional need to bring a check to the first day of camp. Check out www.GimmeHockey.com or contact Brett at Brett@GimmeHockey.com
M ICKAYLA Z INSLI -USAFA I NTERNSHIP Mickayla Zinsli was named as a UND Center for Innovation Entrepreneur Intern at the United States Air Force Academy Center of Innovation (USAFA CoI) in Colorado Springs, CO. Mickayla is the second entrepreneur intern at the USAFA following Aaron Sykes who worked there from 2009 to 2011. Mickayla is utilizing the skill set she learned through involvement at the UND Center for Innovation and Dakota Venture Group that prepared her for this position. Her entrepreneurial mindset and critical thinking skills are the building
blocks to becoming a valued asset and integrated part of the USAFA CoI team. She is working in a fast paced environment on disruptive innovation and technologies, assessing the commercial applications and implications of new technologies. In the first month she has surprised her counterparts at the USAFA CoI with how well prepared she is for work in this environment. The UND Center for Innovation has had a strong working relationship since 2008 with DVG students and cadets interface on innovation and rare event simulations.
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A SHLEY P UTNAM - T HERATAINMENT Theratainment is an early stage, prerevenue medical device company based in Fargo, ND. Founded in 2011 by Ashley Putnam, UND ’09, ’11, the idea for the venture was formulated two years prior. During Ashley’s graduate work at UND she and three other electrical engineering students realized the inherent need to help with the lack of motivation for physical therapy patients to complete their exercise regime at home. Ashley Putnam was named the first Ethel Torreson Stone Entrepreneur Fellow in 2010 through the Center for Innovation to encourage women to be entrepreneurs.
ternet Flash game on a computer. Electrodes placed on the targeted muscle group pick up muscle signals, process these signals in a portable device, and in turn, operate a computer game. The software tracks the data and compiles it into a series of Excel-like tables and graphs used to track the patient’s progress. This information is stored in the patient’s secure, online web account which can be viewed by their physical therapist at any given time. The tracking process holds the user accountable as therapists are now able to monitor how often and how well their patients are engaging in their recommended therapy.
Current methods begin with a patient referral to a physical therapist where the patient’s condition is assessed and an at-home and clinical exercise regime is established in order to work towards the betterment of the patient’s health. Theratainment’s hardware and software package puts a gaming twist on the traditional method of physical therapy. The process becomes more interactive – with body and mind – as well as a trackable process. The patient uses his/her muscle contractions to control a customized or In-
Insurance companies are looking for effective ways to validate their insurees’ progress which is why quantifiable results are desirable. The quantifiable and graphical results are also helpful to the patient and therapist
to easily display their progress – where they started, where they are at now, and how close they are to their goal(s). Theratainment’s product has been found applicable to an array of injuries and disabilities such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, sports injuries, and stroke. However, the current focus has been narrowed down to amputees. Bionic prosthetics, such as DEKA’s Luke Arm, are becoming more developed and available, but require a great amount of physical therapy. Theratainment will be helping the amputees along in the preprosthetic fitting process. Theratainment is currently completing its third prototype with wireless capabilities. They will begin a feasibility study on healthy individuals in Grand Forks, ND during the Spring 2012. A pilot study will follow in Fargo, ND in the Summer-Fall 2012 involving amputees. If you would like to participate in an upcoming study or would like to learn more about Theratainment’s initiatives, please contact Ashley Putnam at Ashley@innovators.net.
P RESTON P AGE – G LARESTRIPS Intuitive Innovation, LLC was founded by Preston Page, a 2009 graduate of the UND Entrepreneurship Program and a current UND MBA Student. Intuitive Innovation, LLC recently purchased Glarestrips, a company that sells promotional products in the form of glare reducing strips, with customized logos. In purchasing Glarestrips, Intuitive Innovation’s main focus was in revitalizing and redirecting the brand to a new market, the promotional products industry. Upon revamping Glarestrips’ internal operations, products are now sold through distributors in the promotional
products industry who have strong relations with current customers. Founder, Preston Page, says “if it were not for a partnership formed with John Blower, owner of Western Print and Label, out of Winnipeg, the entire project would likely never been able to reach positive cash flow”. Preston recently brought on two entrepreneur interns, Dustin Ramage and Landon Furhman, to run day-to-day operations of the company. Preston and the two interns developed a relationship in the Dakota Venture Group and the UND Entrepreneurship Program. “I could not be more proud of the work that both Dustin and Landon have done, they have taken own-
ership and run the company as if it were their own,” Page stated. Preston is working to step back from the Glarestrips project and allow Dustin and Landon to operate the company. Preston’s goal is to have an internship program, in which the company brings in an intern each semester, who will learn the ropes from the previous intern, and continue grow the company, all while gaining valuable experiential learning. “I was given the chance by Bart Holaday and the Center for Innovation to completely manage a $300,000 private equity fund and I cannot explain how great of an experience this was for me, therefore I want be able to provide similar opportunities for students,”
stated Page. For more information regarding Intuitive Innovation, LLC or Glarestrips, please contact Preston Page at prestonjpage@gmail.com or 701-228-4105. www.glarestrips.com
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E NTREPRENEUR F ORUM S PEAKER M AUREEN C LEMMONS H ELPS S OLVE R URAL R OAD P ROBLEMS IN N ORTH D AKOTA When Maureen Clemmons spoke at the Center for Innovation n April of 2010, she shared her passion for the innovation process and her theory about how the pyramids and other large, ancient structures could have been built using kites to lift large stones. Her visit to the UND Center for Innovation also inadvertently introduced a new technology to the state. Although Clemmons is wellknown for projects that support her theory about ancient construction innovations, her education and background are in organizational change. She runs Transformations, a consulting business that she calls a “change-management consulting practice.” During her 2010 visit to UND, Clemmons was visiting with Bruce Gjovig, Director of the UND Center for Innovation. Clemmons’ parents both grew up in North Dakota and attended UND and she has a special interest in the state. While Clemmons and Gjovig were discussing current North Dakota needs, Gjovig mentioned problems with deteriorating rural roads as a result
of oil development activity in the western part of the state. Clemmons told Gjovig about Permazyme, an enzyme product that is used to harden damaged or wet roads in a way that is similar to how Clemmons suggests the ancient Egyptians stabilized soil for construction. Gjovig was intrigued and arranged for a demonstration of Permazyme in Grand Forks where representative Bob Skarphol, a state representative from Tioga, agreed that Permazyme would be a good solution for road problems in North Dakota. The contact with Skarpol lead to a demonstration project using Permazyme on two miles of 84th Street Northwest near Wildrose, N.D., in 2010. The demonstraton project was funded by the North Dakota Petroleum Council. Later, a UND communications professor and director of the university’s Center for Community Engagement, Lana Rakow, introduced Permazyme to her hometown of Buffalo and to and Jerry Melvin, a commodities trader and farmer.
“Our rural roads are shot,” Melvin says. “That’s happening everywhere.”
blended with a surfactant that carries the enzymes into the soil.
Melvin used Permazyme on his farmstead and hosted a group of about 40 people to learn about the product. Among those in attendance were highway department representatives from North Dakota and Minnesota.
According to Johnson, the enzyme concentrate is diluted in water at a ratio of “no less than” 500 parts of water to one part of Permazyme. The water is a carrier.
Permazyme is applied to deteriorating rural roads or soft, wet spots in farm yards. The area is worked up, sprayed with a mixture of the enzyme and water which will bind the clay particles in the soil. The soil is packed and almost immediately hardens. Bob Johnson, senior adviser and road specialist for Pacific Enzymes Inc., says the enzyme’s use for road improvement is more than 40 years old. Permazyme has been promoted commercially for road construction since about 1978, but never in North Dakota. Permazyme is a brown liquid, made with feed molasses which is fermented in a process that is similar to that of making beer. The enzymes that are produced are then
Johnson adds, “If the soil materials need moisture, more water can be added later.” Permazyne is manufactured by a Las Vegas-based International Enzymes, founded in 1969 by John Bottistoni of Fresno, California. Bottistoni was a hog farmer who discovered that the hogs’ feed would ferment in the soil and create an enzyme that would harden the clay. Dr. Maureen Clemmons returned to UND again in October of 2011 to speak at the UND Center for Innovation’s Entrepreneur Forum. More information on her 2011 presentation can be found on page 11 of this issue of the Center for Innovation’s Incubator News.
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F ALL E NTREPRENEUR F ORUMS C HAD S ALSTROM & M ARK S OUTH S OCIAL E NTREPRENEURS & F OUNDERS OF O RIGIN C OFFEE AND T EA
The founders of Origin Coffee and Tea were featured at the Center for Innovation’s September 21st, Entrepreneur Forum. Chad Salstrom holds a BA in Theology with vast experience in commerce. Most recently, Chad has been working as a paralegal specializing in small business clients. He has also taught
courses in Entrepreneurship at universities throughout California. Mark South holds an MA in Theology and founded the Origin Church in 2008 in Rocklin, California, also cofounding Origin Coffee Shop with Chad in 2009. Origin Coffee & Tea is a non-profit, social entrepreneurship coffee shop resolved to end sex trafficking, through giving, serving, and sacrifice. Located in Rocklin, Califor-
nia, Origin endeavors to aid sex traffic victims, sending 100% of its profits to fight against sex trafficking. Origin employs an all volunteer staff, attracting 386 applicants since January with 105 current volunteers on the schedule and 10-20 behind the scenes volunteers. Origin truly defies existing business models, proving truly innovative.
D R . M AUREEN C LEMMONS I NTERNATIONALLY Dr. Maureen Clemmons’s October 13 Entrepreneur Forum presentation was entitled "Innovation: why we need it, what to do with it.” She also talked about her new book, “Soaring Stones: A Kite-Powered Approach to Building Egypt's Pyramids” which was just released this month. Clemmons’s work was the subject of a 2004 History Channel documentary, "Flying Pyramids, Soaring Stones.” At the Entrepreneur Forum she discussed her role and adventures as an innovator, the innovation process, maps, barriers and impediments to innovation. Among many innovations, Clemmons theorizes that the
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ancient Egyptians, being sailors, built their pyramids by harnessing wind energy, may have used beer as a soil stabilizer to move the big stones, and perhaps some of their ancient Egyptian symbols had their origins as tools. To test her theory, she raised her first stone obelisk (3.5 tons) in 25 seconds with a kite, a sled, and two guy wires. Clemmons and her team from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) demonstrated that kites could raise a 16 ton obelisk and transport the large stones used to build pyramids. Using wind power, Clemmons and 100 students from California Polytechnic State University, Pomona, built a 200
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ton pyramid in the Mojave Desert. Her demonstrations support her theory. Clemmons parents, Loering and Maral Johnson of Tariffville, CT, are UND alumni from Belfield and Bismarck, North Dakota. Clemmons is the president of Transformations, an innovation and change management consulting practice in Los Angeles. She has a doctorate in organization change from Pepperdine University and an executive Master’s in Business Administration (MBA). Clemmons has lectured at many notable institutions, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Jet
Propulsion Laboratory. Her clients include Interorbital Systems Kiteship, Taberco Inc, University de Monterrey, Mexico, MGM, Monsanto, Bausch & Lomb Surgical, Goodwill Industries, The Hazelton Foundation, Xerox, and Oce.
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Congratulations to S & S Promotional Group on their recent graduation from the Center for Innovation to their new building. S & S is now located at 1604 South Washington, Suite 101 Grand Forks, ND 58201 701-772-2226 www.sspromotionalgroup.com
S&S Promotional Group was founded in 1979 in the basement of a house in Fargo, ND. Today in Fargo, S&S has grown into a 6,000 sq. ft. office and warehouse with employees scattered across the region. In 2005 S & S set out to enter the Grand Forks market. With the same entrepreneurial spirit that its founders had in 1979, S & S Grand Forks was launched in an apartment bedroom. In March of 2008 that expansion continued when S & S joined the Center for Innovation’s incubator program. After 3 years of continued growth in the Grand Forks region, the branch recently moved into a new 3 office and large showroom suite at 1604 South Washington. S&S has built its business on the philosophies of hard work, ethical business practices, and a dedication to serve customers and employees. S & S believes its products and services will help make our clients more successful, and the company is committed to providing quality products at competitive prices with superior service. Dedicated to creating on time, on target, on budget promotions for their clients, the Grand Forks staff of Matt Fischer and Shannon Baker bring professionalism and creativity to the table as they represent the S&S team in the Grand Forks area.