The other projects were a new water
a laugh after the winners were an-
Putting together the AEDC presentation
nounced.
helped Wheeler and his wife think about
filtration system, a software subscrip-
how to grow, he said.
tion to control unmanned aerial systems,
Wheeler won a three-month member-
Wheeler was just one of several Alas-
fractional aircraft ownership and a way
Airlines miles donated by Travelocity.
kans who presented their business ideas
to use bitcoins on a conventional debit/
com and Kayak.com founder Terry Jones
at the second annual event.
credit card.
ship to The Boardroom, 50,000 American
and 25,000 Alaska Air miles donated by GCI. He also went home with a better idea of how to grow his business, he said. Wheeler was nominated for the AEDC
A panel of judges including Bittner, Jones and others from banks, investment groups and other Alaska organizations heard the pitches, and questioned
Bittner said all of the pitches were well done. “Everybody did a fantastic job,” he said.
the teams at the end of each presenta-
competition because he was a finalist in
tion, pressing them for details on how
Molly Dischner can be reached at
Juneau Economic Development Corp.’s
each business would work as the train
molly.dischner@alaskajournal.com.
Path to Prosperity competition in 2013.
traveled from Anchorage to Whittier.
AEDC: Continued from page 16 what they learned through the process. Local crowdfunders included Travis Smith and Kyle Aramburo of Hybrid Color Films, Brett Woelber and Chelsea Ward-Waller of Expedition Arguk and Clark James Mishler, author of Portrait Alaska. Mid-week, on Wednesday, July 30, 2014, AEDC hosted the Three-Year Economic Outlook for Anchorage, featuring guest speaker Terry Jones, the founder of Travelocity.com; co-founder of Kayak.com and author of ON Innovation. AEDC President Bill Popp gave a presentation on the
Terry Jones, founder of Travelocity.com and co-founder of Kayak.com, signs copies of his book ON Innovation after AEDC’s annual 3-year Economic Outlook Luncheon in Anchorage.
three-year economic outlook for Anchorage. AEDC produces a digital report on
Anchorage to Whittier. The winner of the
Overall, the week was filled with
the Three-Year Outlook. If you would like
competition is featured on the opposite
numerous events and the energy level
to review it, go to www.AEDCweb.com.
page.
was high. We are excited to see what the
Photos/Andre C. Horton
Photo/Molly Dischner/AJOC
The final event that AEDC held during
These events weren’t the only events
next year brings for entrepreneurship in
Alaska Entrepreneurship Week was the
during Alaska Entrepreneurship Week.
second annual Pitch-On-A-Train competi-
Other events included a 1 Million Cups
tion. Five startups from around Alaska
presentation, various classes put on by
director for Anchorage Economic De-
joined AEDC and a panel of judges to
the Alaska Small Business Development
velopment Corp. and can be reached at
pitch their business idea to the judges,
Center and a daylong seminar arranged
vwalsh@aedcweb.com.
while riding the Alaska Railroad from
by the 49th State Angel Fund.
Alaska! Valerie Walsh is the communications
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2014
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