CFI July 2012 Newsletter

Center for

nnovation

ncubator News

Grand Forks, North Dakota

July 2012

M ORRISON ELECTED C HAIR OF THE UND C ENTER FOR I NNOVATION F OUNDATION 2004 to 2012 and continues to serve as a trustee of the foundation.

The trustees of the UND Center for Innovation Foundation elected Dale Morrison of New York, N.Y. and Naples, Fla as their new chairman of the board for a three year term at their annual meeting.

Morrison is co-founder of TriPointe Capital Partners, a middle market private equity firm based in New York, N.Y. He was president of McCain Foods of Toronto, Canada, for many years.

Dale is a 1971 graduate of UND and a native of Milton, No. Dak. Morrison replaces A. Bart Holaday, retired venture capitalist and chair of the Dakota Foundation of Jamestown, No Dak and Colorado Springs, Colo. He served as chair from

Ina Mae Rude Entrepreneur Center Skalicky Tech Incubator 4200 James Ray Drive Grand Forks, ND 58203

Elected as vice chair for a threeyear term is Randy Newman, chair, CEO & president of Alerus Financial Corp. of Grand Forks, No. Dak. Re-elected Treasurer is James Ray, Chair of the Ray Foundation and Aerospace Capital Group of Naples, FL. Other trustees are Howard Dahl, President of Amity Technology of Fargo, No. Dak.; Bill Ness, retired chair and CEO of Arctic Cat of Thief River Falls, Minn; and Gerald Van Eeckhout, retired chai r a nd C EO of ACT Technologies of Evergreen, Colo.

There are five ex-officio members of the board: Bruce Gjovig who serves as CEO of the foundation and director of the UND Center for Innovation; UND President Robert Kelley, Vice President of Finance Alice Brekke, Vice President of Research Phyllis Johnson and Dean of the UND College of Business & Public Administration Dennis Elbert.

Inside this issue: R ECORD N UMBER

OF

The UND Center for Innovation M UELLER E NTREP RENEUR Foundation supports and fosters I NTERNS entrepreneurship, innovation, and private investment across North Dakota and supports the UND Center for Innovation department L YNN H OLADAY E NTRPRENEUR - IN and the Entrepreneurship program at the UND College of Business & R ESIDENCE E STABLISHED Public Administration. Since 2001, the Foundation has increased its assets from $1M to S UNSHINE M EMORIAL $8M including building the Ina F OUNDATION J OINS Mae Rude Entrepreneur Center to I NCUBATO R further the mission of the Center for Innovation by providing entrepreneur infrastructure.

The seven trustees are: Chair: Dale F. Morrison Vice Chair: Randy Newman Treasurer: James C. Ray Trustees: Bart Holaday Howard Dahl Gerald Van Eeckhout Bill Ness Trustee Emeritus: Russell Brown Fran Jabara

Phone: 701.777.3132 Email: newsletter@innovators.net Web: www.innovators.net

2

2

3

T ENANT S POTLIGHT

4-6

M INI -S OCIETY 速 S UMMER C AMPS

7

I NNO VATE ND

8

G IANTS E NTREP RENEURSHIP C HALLENGE

9

S PRING 2012 E NTREP RENEUR F ORUMS

10

P AGE 2

Center for Innovation

L YNN H OLADAY E NTREPRENEUR -I N -R ESIDENCE E STABLISHED The Lynn Holaday Entrepreneur-in-Residence program was established by A. Bart Holaday of Grand Forks, No. Dak. and Colorado Springs, Colo. to honor and remember his late wife, Lynn Buckingham Villella Holaday. To launch the program within the Center for Innovation, Bart established an endowment through the UND Foundation and received a 1:3 match from the B. John Barry Foundation.

part-time with the UND Center for Innovation to work with entrepreneur-minded students and emerging entrepreneurs. The entrepreneur named the Holaday Entrepreneur-in-Residence will be announced this fall. The serial entrepreneur should have a strong track record of success, a passion for the next generation of entrepreneurs (students), and a commitment to entrepreneurial education as the donor wished.

Since 2001, Bart and Lynn Holada y ha ve suppor ted numerous hands-on learning programs with the Center for Innovation including establishing the nation’s first fully student run venture fund, the Dakota Venture Group. The students learn venture capital investing through building a portfolio fund. The Holadays believe in learning by doing and learning from those who are experienced and successful.

Lynn Holaday passed away, from ALS at age 69 on October 1, 2010 in Colorado Springs, Colo. She is buried at the Holaday family plot at the US Air Force Academy Cemetery. On New Year’s Eve, 1998, she married A. Bart Holaday in Las Placitas, New Mex. This was the culmination of a romance that begun in the mid-1960s when Lynn was in college and Bart was a junior at the U.S. Air Force Academy. During their marriage the couple maintained homes in Placitas, New Mex., Colorado Springs, Colo., and Grand Forks, No. Dak., while they traveled the world: all seven continents and more than 90 countries.

The endowment supports an experienced entrepreneur to reside

R ECORD N UMBER OF M UELLER E NTREPRENEUR I NTERNS This spring, the Center for Innovation awarded Mueller Entrepreneur Internships to a record number of students. Eight students have been busy creating, developing, operating, and perfecting their venture ideas with assistance and coaching from the Center for Innovation staff. Three additional students received entrepreneurship internships for the summer and are making considerable early progress on their ventures. As part of their internship, students are expected to complete a business plan or develop a viable business model for a for-profit venture to launch their business.

The Mueller Entrepreneur Internship program is made possible through the generosity of Kurt Mueller, ‘62, of Kansas City, MO. Students may apply as an individual or a team for support up to $1,500. Additionally, the Center for Innovation provides office space and access to staff expertise and coaching. The total value of the Internship is $4,700.

The spring semester interns and their businesses were: Matt Dunlevy - NomaDiagnostics: iPhone, Android, and other handheld device repair and consulting Nickolaus Pickard – BarTrenders: Beverage catering company Tom Borvan and Anders Nervold – myQuub: Mini hotel kiosks located in airports Matt Halverson – Halverson Family Vineyard: Vineyard and winery in East Grand Forks, Minn.

Sam Eriksmoen – Simple Bean Coffee: Unique coffee shop in south Grand Forks, No. Dak. Casey Erickson – Lakes Lawn Services, LLC: Expanding lawn care business specializing in lake homes Tanner Pruess – DebtGallery: Storefront where profits from student art directly pays down student loan debt Summer interns and their businesses are: Junyu Yang – Bubble Tea: Café and retail shop selling bubble tea and other items Matt Marynik and John Fitzgerald – Night Team: Vehicle delivery service as an alternative to taxi cabs Since the program was launched in 1997, 120 students have received Mueller internships. For more information contact Jordan Schuetzle at 701.738.2461 or Jordan@innovators.net

Center for Innovation

P AGE 3

Sunshine Memorial Foundation Joins the Incubator The Sunshine Memorial Foundation: Van Larson, one of the Center for Innovation’s first clients with his company Sure Foot Corporation, has recently returned to the incubator. Larson has taken interest in social entrepreneurship and philanthropy. The exciting news is that Van has chosen to come back to the Center for Innovation Foundation to help develop the new foundation. The Sunshine Memorial Foundation is the newest tenant of the Center for Innovation.

The Sunshine Memorial Foundation is a North Dakota non-profit that was established in 2010 by Van and Dee Larson. The Larsons established the fund in memory and in honor of their daughter, Shannon Leah Larson, a.k.a. “Sunshine”, who passed away in 2007, at the age of 31, from heat stroke while she was hiking in Arizona. The purpose of the foundation is to raise money for charitable programs promoting Shannon's attitude of helping others.

Specifically, the foundation supports programs and opportunities to help others relating to health, wellness, hydration, and hiking safety.

The foundation’s mission is “to support the development and implementation of programs and projects locally and throughout the United States that focus on providing education and resources in areas of health, wellness, hydration, and hiker awareness.”

Main Project: Sunshine Hospitality Home The Sunshine Memorial Foundation’s main proposed project and goal is to, by fall of 2015, plan, fundraise, and build a hospitality house on Altru Health System’s campus in Grand Forks, No. Dak. The Sunshine Memorial Foundation would then like to donate the hospitality house to the Altru Health Foundation. Throughout this project The Sunshine Memorial Foundation is plans to: complete a capital fundraising campaign, complete the planning and building of the hospitality house, and form an endowment fund for the continued support of the house’s day-to-day and ongoing operations.

Board Members Bruce Gjovig, Entrepreneur Coach, Director, & CEO of the UND Center for Innovation Foundation Carma Hanson, RN, at Altru Health System/Coordinator of Safekids Rohinee Damle, Realtor at Greenberg Realty/Avid Volunteer and Fundraiser Alice Hoffert, Former Vice President for Enrollment Management at UND Representative Dan Fabian, District 1A Representative in Minnesota House Randy Hatzenbuhler, President of the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation Kenton McGregor, Retired CPA of Drees, Riskey & Vallager, LTD Staff Members Donovan Larson, Icon Architectural Group Executive Direct/Project Leader/Development & Construction Leader/Lead Fundraiser Katie Langlie, UND Center for Innovation Administrative Director/ Business Development Leader/ Assistant Fundraiser For more information on the organization, how to get involved or how to make a donation, please contact Katie Langlie at Katie@sunshinememorial.org or 701.738.2462.

Center for Innovation

P AGE 4

C OPE W ELL F OUNDATION The Cope Well Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping those affected by cancer overcome the emotional challenges of cancer survivorship through positive coping, while bringing awareness to ALL survivors of ALL cancer types.

to participate in a variety of ways according to their specific needs. Caner survivors or someone who has or is supporting someone with cancer who is utilizing the foundation’s services are considered to be a member of the Cope Well Member Program.

The foundation’s partners, leaders, board members, and even their founder understand the needs of cancer survivors because they either have had cancer themselves or have supported someone who has had cancer.

The Cope Well Foundation understands that the affects of cancer can also have an emotional impact on those who support the ones in need. For that reason, its services are available to those individuals as well to show how grateful they are for the support and commitment. The program is also open to spouses, children, parents, siblings, close family members or friends.

The Cope Well Foundation believes that from the moment one is diagnosed with cancer, their survivorship journey begins, so no matter what stage of the survivorship journey one’s in, the Cope Well Member Program is here to help.

It also understands that each of their members will have their own unique set of survivorship needs, therefore the customizable program allows members

The core principles of The Cope Well Foundation are, and will continue to be, inspired by the needs of its members and the challenges they face throughout their survivorship journey. The members and the true difference that

the foundation makes in their lives is the driving force behind this foundation, its ultimate goal to help their members ‘Cope Well to Live Well.

Getting involved with The Cope Well Foundation is a meaningful and powerful way to honor and remember someone special or to support your own survivorship journey. Involvement with the program has taken on many forms.

Whether it is as a Cope Well member, partner, leader, advocate, event participant, volunteer, donor, staff or intern, involvement with their foundation will fully benefit and make a difference in the lives of those the foundation supports.

For questions or more information, please contact Ashley at 701.738.4897 or visit www.copewell.org.

G RAND F ORKS AND F ARGO P ROPERTY M ANAGEMENT & P HOENIX , A RIZONA R EAL E STATE I NVESTMENTS Precision Property Management provides quality management services to rental property owners in Fargo and Grand Forks, No. Dak. The company believes that a strong focus on tenant selection is essential to providing quality services to both the owner and the property tenant. A good tenant will save an owner time and money. The company analyzes the local markets to help maximize the owner’s return on investment. Its proactive approach to maintenance helps preserve property conditions while promoting appreciation over time. Frequent updates are sent out to owners to keep them up to date on the events taking place on their property. For more information contact Tom at

tom@precprop.com.

Precision Venture is in the business of purchasing distressed real estate in the Phoenix, Arizona area. Over the past six months the company focused on the Phoenix market because of its expected appreciation. The Phoenix housing market was hit hard when the recent real estate bubble burst; housing values dropped to one third of their inflated prices. This decrease in value helped the company find good deals on real estate. The company has been very successful at finding properties that have appreciated at a high rate for its investors.

Company contacts in the Phoenix area work to service and maintain the properties. Purchased properties are readied for rental status and leased by local agents. Based on the company's calculations, the properties will be held for five to seven years and then sold. For more information contact Tom at tom@precprop.com.

Center for Innovation

P AGE 5

S OLARGY L IGHTS We exist!! So does the Sun and the Wind!

Did you know that HPS (High Pressure Sodium) and Metal Halide lamps used in street lighting produce over 0.93 cubic tons of CO2 every year? Running these lights for just about 8 hours every night of the year, continuously adds to the carbon footprint, which sooner or later will have adverse effects on the environment. Solargy Lights focuses on providing green solutions for street lighting. The company was founded by Jim DeSeyn and is headquartered in Neche, No. Dak. Solargy Lights provides off-the-grid outdoor lighting solutions for various sectors including municipal street lighting, parking lots, mobile home parks and sports facilities. Its street lighting systems are completely self-sustaining and run solely on either solar power or a combination of both solar and wind power.

Solargy Lights are exquisitely designed to limit the disturbance of landscaping and minimal installation costs. This makes Solargy Lights an environmentally friendly, aesthetically pleasing and cost effective lighting solution. The company has also expanded into providing utility grade street lights and outdoor security systems powered by solar energy.

They company is focused on bringing the best product to its customers while making the least negative impact on the environment.   

Solargy Lights have zero operational carbon footprint.

Its LED Lights consume less power and yet have a higher luminosity than HPS and Metal Halide lamps.

Not only do Solargy Lights lower customer’s energy bills, the installation does not require costly digging pavement and trenching to connect to a transformer.

For more information, visit www.solargylights.com or contact us at info@solargylights.com.

UAII Expansion “Swimming in sensors, drowning in data” is a common refrain of end users of aerial imagery and photography. With the rapid growth in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in civil and commercial sectors - including law enforcement, first responders, precision agriculture and land use planning and monitoring - the Unmanned Applications Institute, International (UAII) is expanding to meet the needs of this growing market place.

UAII has added staff now totaling five employees to meet the growing demand. “The need for this type of training is robust, and we are pleased to be adding staff to meet the growth of this industry,” notes Executive Director Maynard Herting.

Providing specialized curriculum in the training of imagery analysts, UAII’s training is designed to prepare students to effectively work in the field of imagery analysis related to satellite, spectral imaging, full motion video, synthetic aperture radar, and understanding of future trends in the field.

For more information contact info@uaiinternational.com or visit their website www.uaiinternational.com.

UAII Team Tommy Kenville, Founder Maynard Herting, Executive Director Doug McDonald, Curriculum Manager Darryl Jorgenson, Finance Shawn Bullard, Government Relations

Center for Innovation

P AGE 6

T HE N ORTH D AKOTA S MALL B USINESS D EVELOPMENT C ENTER D EFENSE E CONOMIC T RANSITION A SSISTANCE (DETA) The federal government buys nearly a half trillion dollars of goods and services every year and buys nearly every type of product or service imaginable. If it is made, odds are the government buys it. Federal procurement laws make it a policy for agencies to provide the maximum practicable opportunities for small businesses to sell to the government. Major agencies provide an office of small business utilization that affords a window of access to assist small businesses in their quest to sell to the government. Nearly 23%, or $115 billion annually awarded to small businesses provides ample opportunity for small businesses to participate.

There are several advantages to selling to the government. First of all, the government operates under a large budget and their checks never bounce. The Prompt Payment Act ensures payment to small business contractors within 30 days of an approved invoice. Second, contractors don’t need a massive product distribution system or substantial advertising budget. A simple capabilities statement and investment of time and patience are primary tools in the small business’ toolbox. Third, small business preference programs encourage small business participation and help to level the playing field by limiting competition of certain solicitations to only those contractors that meet qualifications. Finally, a government contract

will supplement existing revenue and may level the peaks and valleys every business experiences.

However, for many businesses, government contracting is unfamiliar territory. Contracts often have very stringent requirements and specifications and contain language a small business owner doesn’t often see. Contractors are required to consistently maintain quality levels and the contractor is locked in to contracts for five to ten years. Therefore it is extremely important for a small business owner to know what they are getting into before a proposal is submitted. If a business is having financial problems, a government contract will not save a business and, because of the requirements, may doom the business to fail.

A business interested in selling to the government must demonstrate that it is both responsive and responsible. To do this, it must be eligible under existing laws to do business.

They must have adequate financial resources.

The business must have a good performance record with demonstrated ethics and integrity.

And the business must have the necessary skills, facility, and capacity to perform the job, or the ability to acquire them.

Assistance (DETA) program, is available to assist small businesses to navigate the minefield of government contracting. The DETA program is located at the Center for Innovation and Program Manager Robert Monette, will help small business owners complete the registration process, review federal regulations and discuss how the business may be affected. He will show business owners and managers where to find contracting opportunities and how to use the information to pursue prime and subcontracting opportunities.

Contact Robert Monette at 701.738.2457 or rob@ndsbdc.org or visit www.ndsbdc.org

The North Dakota Small Business Development Center through its Defense Economic Transition

S MALL B USINESS I NNOVATION R ESEARCH P ROGRAM The SBIR Program The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is a highly competitive program that encourages domestic small businesses to engage in research and development/federal research (R&D/R) that has the potential for commercialization. Through a competitive awards-based program, SBIR enables small businesses to explore their technological potential and provides the incentive to profit from its commercialization.

By including qualified small businesses in the nation's R&D arena, hightech innovation is stimulated and the United States gains entrepreneurial spirit as it meets its specific research and development needs.

SBIR Mission and Program Goals The mission of the SBIR program is to support scientific excellence and technological innovation through the investment of federal research funds in critical American priorities to build a strong national economy.

The program’s goals are four-fold:  Stimulate technological innovation  Meet federal research and development needs.  Foster and encourage participation in innovation and entrepreneurship by socially and economically disadvantaged persons.  Increase private-sector commercialization of innovations derived from federal research and development funding.

The Center for Innovation provides outreach and educational services to assist in proposal writing. Center staff can review proposals along with making suggestions. If a company cannot write funding proposals the center has a network of freelance grant writers. North Dakota also has a Phase 0 program that can reimbursed a company up to $1,500 for expenses incurred in writing the proposal, ie: hiring a grant proposal writer, SBIR/STTR proposal review and enhancement.

More Information For more information on SBIR and how the Center for Innovation can help contact Eric Veidel, North Dakota SBIR/STTR Director at 701.777.3132 or sbir@innovators.net .

Center for Innovation

P AGE 7

NORTH DAKOTA YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION The goal of the ND Youth Entrepreneurship Education Program is to give youth and teachers the authentic experience of entrepreneurship while building a better community through individual initiative and collaborative action. Youth and teachers think and act as entrepreneurs and community leaders. They apply their academic, social, and technological skills in a true-to-life environment. Teachers, who register for the camp to earn continuing education credits, learn how entrepreneurial thinking in the classroom can be an effective strategy for meeting many other academic achievement, social interaction, and personal development goals. The program is part of a statewide effort encouraging youth to consider business ownership as a real career option and community leadership as a rewarding outlet for their natural creativity.

To learn entrepreneurship, kids must do entrepreneurship.

In our weeklong summer camps, 9 -13 year olds organize themselves into a community, start up, market and manage their own businesses and form a town council to resolve their own problems. They meet local leaders and visit businesses where experienced entrepreneurs demonstrate how youth can discover their own opportunities for success right here in North Dakota.

By doing entrepreneurship, youth experience: * the risks and rewards of being their own boss * the personal value of classroom learning and * the benefits of community collaboration.

We are helping grow North Dakota entrepreneurial communities from the ground up!

To learn more about the ND Youth Entrepreneurship Education Program and Mini-Society® Young Entrepreneurs Summer Camps contact Barry Striegel at 701.741.6985 or b.striegel@my.und.edu or visit www.ndyoungentrepreneurs.org

2012 Summer Camps Grand Forks - UND Center for Innovation

June 4-8

Pembina County

June 4-8

Williston – Williston State College

June 11-15

Rolette County

June 11-15

Minot – Minot State University

June 18-22

Sioux County

June 25-29

Dickinson – Dickinson State University

July 9-13

Jamestown – Jamestown College

July 16-20

ND State College of Science

July 23-27

Bismarck/Mandan – IDEA Center

August 6-10

Cultivating Emerging Entrepreneurial Talent by Connecting Kids, Curriculum, Commerce and Community

Center for Innovation

P AGE 8

UND alumni, students Catch the Spirit! at Innovate ND 2012 Catch the spirit! That resonates perfectly with two University of North Dakota alumni and a current student who scored top honors at the Innovate North Dakota competition for their business ventures. The students and their ventures were honored recently at an Innovate ND awards ceremony held at the Ramada Plaza and Suites in Fargo.

Ashley Hahn, a UND Electrical Engineering alumna and C.E.O and founder of Theratainment, won one of the top five prizes of $15,000 and top honors in the elevator pitch competition. Hahn, a native of Hazen, N.D., earlier received the Ethel Torreson Stone Entrepreneur Fellowship from the UND Center for Innovation. She received both her bachelor of science and master of science degrees in electrical engineering from UND.

Ashely Hahn receives $15,000 cash prize

Brett Bruneteau, a recent UND Entrepreneurship graduate, CEO and founder of GimmeHockey, won $500 for the People's Choice Award and second place in the elevator pitch competition. While he was a student, Brunetau, an Omaha, Neb, native, received the Mueller Entrepreneur Internship from the Center for Innovation; he was also named a WCHA Scholar-Athlete while playing hockey for UND. Anders Nervold, a current student in the UND Entrepreneurship program and MyQuub co-founder, won third prize in the elevator pitch competition.

Nervold, who is from Norway, also received the Mueller Entrepreneur Internship from the Center for Innovation. He also is majoring in space studies and has been a console operator for UND's ISSAC (the International Space Station Agricultural Camera).

Jeff Stamp, educational provider, speaks at Innovate ND Awards ceremony.

"The three competitors came home with trophies and cash, but more importantly with feedback and experience from Innovate North Dakota," said LaRoyce Batchelor, a faculty member in the UND Entrepreneurship program, part of the College of Business and Public Administration.

Innovate ND started this year's competition with 74 entries that, through rigorous coaching and judging, was reduced to the top 20 business ventures. Out of the top 20 ventures, five were selected to receive the top prize of $15,000, individual category winners received $500 each, the People's Choice Award winner received $500, and the Elevator Pitch winners received a trophy.

All competitors from UND received coaching from UND Entrepreneurship Department faculty as well as staff at the Center for Innovation. Judge and entrepreneur mentor Jay Schuler stated at the May 21 awards dinner that UND is doing "amazing things for student ventures." The Entrepreneurship Department and the Center for Innovation work in concert to support student ventures and to prepare venues for development.

The top five winning entries (unranked) are: Zoovio, Mandan; Webcast America, West Fargo; Stop Sensor, New Salem; Equinox Analytics, Bismarck; Theratainment, Fargo. For more information about Innovate ND visit www.innovatend.com

Center for Innovation

P AGE 9

UND I NTERNATIONAL STUDENT ENTREPRENEURS WIN NATIONAL BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION Tom Borvan (right) and Anders Nervold (middle), two University of North Dakota students, recently took home first prize in the 2012 Giants Entrepreneurship Challenge business plan competition, the competition was held April 13-14 at the Ina Mae Rude Entrepreneur Center for their clever idea to provide private, restful spaces to weary air travelers inside airports.

At airport hubs, myQuub will provide small and efficient cubicle units that consist of a desk, chair and a bed. These require only a power outlet and about 50 square feet of space. The idea is that when a traveler has a layover, a flight is delayed or altogether cancelled, travelers can rent the cube for the time needed. These units will have complimentary Wi-Fi access, individual environmental control, entertainment system, supreme sound isolation and will be cleaned between each use. They will provide a quiet, private atmosphere for a tired traveler.

Borvan said the idea for "myQuub" originated in an entrepreneurship class he and Nervold took at UND. They also developed their venture while completing Mueller Entrepreneur Internships through the Center for Innovation, which support students startups. "We brainstormed several ideas, but came back to this one because it offered the greatest potential for success," he said. "The competition proved that we could actually do this." Borvan and Nervold are now working with a manufacturing firm in India on design ideas.

The Giants Entrepreneurship Challenge business plan competition supports innovation, entrepreneurship and development of future business ventures. Thirty-four student teams applied to compete in this year's competition, but only about 20 were selected to compete. In a concept a bit like the hit TV show "Shark Tank," 20 student teams from nine universities across the United States and Canada, conducted a 90second "elevator pitch" and presentations on their business in front of expert, business savvy judges and the other competing teams. The award consists of a $5,000 prize plus $4,800 of incubator services from the UND Center for Innovation.

There were 15 judges from places such as Winnipeg, Minneapolis, Wahpeton and Grand Forks. They included successful entrepreneurs, bankers, economic developers and business leaders.

Apart from the UND team of Borvan and Nervold, other top placers came from Johns Hopkins University and Ball State University. Cash prizes were awarded to the top three teams and separate prizes were handed out for "Best Elevator Pitch," "Most Innovative Idea" and "Most Improved."

The competition was sponsored by Giants Seeds, JLG Architects, EcoEnvelopes, Construction Engineers, Valley Dairy of Grand Forks, UND Center for Innovation Foundation, and Skips Gourmet.

For more information on the Giant’s Entrepreneurship Challenge please contact Craig craig.silvernagel@business.und.edu or 701.777.2463.

For more information regarding, myQuub, visit: www.myquub.com

Silvernagel

at

Center for Innovation

P AGE 10

S PRING 2012 E NTREPRENEUR F ORUMS Intellectual Property The Center for Innovation’s Entrepreneur Forum hosted Brett Bornsen on January 16, 2012. Bornsen provided an instructional overview of how intellectual property protection can benefit new companies and how entrepreneurs can best utilize patents, trademarks, and copyrights in their strategies.

He also answered questions from attendees.

Bornsen is a Partner of the firm Duft Bornsen & Fishman, LLP in Boulder, Col. and is a registered patent attorney with over eleven years of experience in patent law. Bornsen handles various intellectual property matters including patent preparation and prosecution, patent opinions, patent analysis, and litigation support.

Bornsen earned his juris doctor degree from the University of North Dakota in 1999 and his bachelor of science in electrical engineering from North Dakota State University in 1996.

“How Does Grand Forks Grow From Here?”

The Center for Innovation hosted an Entrepreneur Forum featuring Chas Stoker and Barry Wilfahrt on February 22, 2012, focusing on the growth of Grand Forks using the quantitative study known as the Buxton Report.

The purpose of this report is to analyze and develop Grand Forks’ Customer Profile. The Buxton Report captures and catalogues the extent to which potential demand for a retailer’s goods and services are being met within the trade area.

Chas Stoker of Community ID Stoker works with public and private sector entities across the United States on issues related to economic development, retail recruitment strategy and utilizing analytics to run public sector entities in their retail economic development efforts.

Mark Stutrud, Founder of Summit Brewing Company Tuesday, February 28th, 2012, UND alumnus Mark Stutrud shared his story, provided secrets and lessons learned, and answered questions from the audience.

Summit Brewing products can be found in 15 states, including Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Nebraska, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Missouri, Kansas and Texas. To gain additional insight into Summit Brewing Company, visit www.summitbrewing.com In 2000, Stutrud received the Business Innovator of the Year award from the UND Center for Innovation for his entrepreneurial accomplishments. In addition, he was a 2000 finalist in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Summit Brewing Company received the Deubener Award for small business excellence in manufacturing from the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce in May 2004 and the H.E.R.B.I.E. award from the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce in February 2006. Those who attend learned how North Dakota transplant and entrepreneur Mark Stutrud made his brewery successful, and how Summit has become the "beer of choice" among UND alumni.

Mark, a Wahpeton native, earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from UND in 1975. He received post-graduate training in family therapy and specialized in adolescent and young adult substance abuse and addiction.

About the Entrepreneur Forum: Entrepreneur Forum is a series of entrepreneur-minded speakers hosted by the Center for Innovation to provide inspiration, networking opportunities, and education for the community. The Center for Innovation hosts about 10 forums per year. The event is sponsored by the UND Center for Innovation and the Red River Valley Research Corridor EDA University Center. Entrepreneur Forum is open to the public and space is limited. For more information contact Ryan Mayer @ 701.777.3132 or ryan@innovators.net

Center for Innovation

P AGE 11

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID

Ina Mae Rude Entrepreneur Center Norm Skalicky Tech Incubator 4200 James Ray Drive Grand Forks, ND 58203

Fargo, ND 580 PERMIT NO. 1159

Address Service Requested Phone: 701.777.3132 Fax: 701.777.2339 E-mail: newsletter@innovators.net

V ISIT

US ON THE

W EB:

WWW.INNOVATORS.NET

THE CENTER FOR INNOVATION HELPS ENTREPRENEURS, STUDENTS AND RESEARCHERS LAUNCH NEW TECHNOLOGIES, PRODUCTS AND VENTURES, DEVELOP BUSINESS AND MARKETING PLANS, ACCESS TALENT OF UNIVERSITIES AND SECURE VENTURE FINANCING. WE ARE A DIVISION OF THE UND COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.

Support Students and Entrepreneurs The success of the UND Center for Innovation is made possible by previous investors in our quality programs resulting in national recognition for excellence and quality. Our programs favorably impact future and existing entrepreneurs who will innovate, grow our economy, solve problems and make this a better world. For more information on how to help pay it forward in our entrepreneur community please contact Bruce Gjovig or Tom Kenville.

Opportunities to Give Center for Innovation - Priority Needs Entrepreneur Assistance EB-5 Program Angel Education International SBIR outreach Entrepreneurship Department - Priority Needs Experiential Leaning Experiences  Faculty & Recruiting Student Entrepreneurs - Entrepreneur Internships Sponsorship of Entrepreneur Speakers and Forums Dakota Venture Group (Student Venture Fund) Unrestricted- Priority Use Other

Bruce Gjovig, Entrepreneur Coach & CEO Center for Innovation Foundation Ina Mae Rude Entrepreneur Center 701.777.3134 | bruce@innovators.net

Tommy Kenville, VP Development Center for Innovation Foundation Ina Mae Rude Entrepreneur Center 218.779.9950 | tom@innovators.net *Donors may qualify for up to a 40% income tax credit with an endowment. Contact Kim Woods at kimw@undfoundation.org or 701.777.4106 for more information. * Contributions to the Center for Innovation Foundation are tax deductible and included in your UND Foundation giving record.