Fowler Competitions 2020 Annual Report

Fowler Competitions 2020 ANNUAL REPORT UNIVERSITY OF ST.THOMAS

A GLOBAL STAGE

IGNITING INNOVATION

FOWLER GSIC LAUNCHES AT ST.THOMAS

11TH FBCC AWARDS $84,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS

BRAILLEAZY MAKES TOP 5 STUDENTS RESHAPE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE BLIND

FY2020 Annual Report

igniting entrepreneurs, pushing boundaries What a year it has been! We kicked-off the fall semester with the Fowler Business Concept Challenge (FBCC) engaging 78 students across 29 majors. Between faculty, alumni and local business people with a heart for our student entrepreneurs, the competition clocked 50 mentoring hours in one month! The 2019 FBCC sparked and nurtured ideas ranging from reducing harmful micro-plastics through the use of water-soluble shopping bags to leveraging TV White Space to bridge digital divides. These ideas showed once again the change that is possible when students are empowered to explore the entrepreneurial spirit within. Invoking the nostalgia of a great surprise on Christmas morning, this year's group of semifinalists received an unexpected gift that left everyone pleasantly astonished. Page 12 tells it all.

Since its founding in 2011 by the University of San Diego, the Global Social Innovation Challenge has inspired and supported social innovators around the world. In 2019, with the generous support of Ron and Alexis Fowler, the Challenge was renamed and a collaboration with the Schulze School of Entrepreneurship at the University of St. Thomas was launched. Despite having to go virtual in our first year of participation, student teams pushed the limits, discovering new strengths in the process. Teams DigiConnections and BraillEazy, both of whom had secured runnerup spots in November's FBCC, also emerged as the top two Global Finalists to represent the university on a global stage. BraillEazy made us all proud when they placed among the top 5 teams, sweeping up three awards.

When it's all said and done, it is our students' drive, creativity and resilience that inspires us. Despite the uncertain times ahead, we celebrate what has been achieved and remain expectant of what is to come. In the words of Ron Fowler on our student innovators,"It’s truly special to see what the next generation is going to be able to achieve.

We’re in very good hands with you, your attitude and your capability to contribute.”

So to our Tommiepreneurs, supporters and friends, we say thank you for a successful year!

Onward and Upward,

Nana Yaa Bankah

Jessica Cooley

Laura Dunham

Program Manager, Fowler Competitions

Senior Director

Associate Dean Fowler Competitions

CONTENTS 05 ABOUT THE FOWLER BUSINESS CONCEPT CHALLENGE

06 WINNER & FINALIST PROFILES

12 HIGHLIGHT: SURPRISE TWIST

14 FBCC IMPACT & FINANCIALS

16 ABOUT THE FOWLER GLOBAL SOCIAL INNOVATION CHALLENGE

18 A VIRTUAL CONVENING

19 ST. THOMAS WINNERS & FINALIST PROFILES

28 MEET BRAILLEAZY

31 FGSIC IMPACT & FINANCIALS FY2020 Annual Report

2019 FBCC Finalists with Ron Fowler and President Julie Sullivan

11TH ANNUAL

FOWLER BUSINESS CONCEPT CHALLENGE

Named after alumnus Ron Fowler '66, the Fowler Business Concept Challenge (FBCC) focuses on igniting the entrepreneurial spirit of students across the St. Thomas campus. Competitors explore the entrepreneurial process by developing a concept with potential to become a viable, high-growth business.

The top 32 teams in two tracks (business and social venture) compete in a semifinals round, with four teams from each track advancing to the finals where they compete for $62,000 in scholarships. Each finalist wins a scholarship, with the top business and social ventures winning $15,000.

In the following pages, we share the profiles and awards of our 2019 FBCC winners and finalists.

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WINNER SOCIAL TRACK

ANNA BOSAK JUMP START AUTO

Anna Bosak '20 is an MBA alumna and was the recipient of the first prize scholarship of $15,000.

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Jump Start Auto is an auto repair shop that will train and employ ex-offenders committed to changing their lives. Jump Start offers accessible, trustworthy and educational repair services specifically tailored to women and young or firsttime vehicle owners.

Social Track

FINALIST PROFILES

$7,500

ABENEZER AYANA & AMANDA BAUMGART Runner-up BRAILLEAZY A smartphone case with built-in braille reader and writer that helps the blind access braille from the comfort of their palm.

$5,000

BRIANNA KIRK & HIMANI JOSHI Second Runner-up DIGICONNECTIONS A TV White Space distributor combating the negative effects of the digital divide in rural and educational markets.

$2,500

ADAM WRUCKE Third Runner-up CORRECYCLE Correcycle makes consumers better recyclers by equipping waste departments to educate customers and encourage better disposal habits.

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WINNER BUSINESS TRACK

AMY HELGESON SOLUPAL

Amy is an Entrepreneurship major and co-founder of Solupal. She won the first place scholarship prize of $15,000.

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FY2020 Annual Report

Solupal offers an innovative and convenient alternative to traditional plastic bags. Their sustainable bags are completely water-soluble and leave no negative environmental effects after use.

Business Track

FINALIST PROFILES

$7,500

MOLLIKA TAHSIN Runner-up LAUNCH A revolutionary end-to-end recruiting platform that uses artificial intelligence and innovative solutions to better place IT professionals.

$5,000

JACK VINCENT & JEREMY ZIEMER Second Runner-up CHEF IN THE FRIDGE A business that uses state-of-the-art technology to turn standard household fridges into smart fridges of the future.

$2,500

ANDREW DAILY Third Runner-up TOWEL TAGS Towel Tags are water-resistant, silicone, color-coded identifiers that clip onto any towel with the help of embedded magnets.

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WHAT PARTICIPANTS SAY

I've learned how to better use my education and leadership skills.

By competing in the Fowler Business Concept Challenge, I've learned how to better use my education and leadership skills to help society. It has been an amazing platform for me to turn my idea and passion for technology into a software that is currently being developed. This amount of progress in a short time span would have never been possible without the great mentors and experience I gained from the Challenge.

SAM MIELKE '22, INCENTA HEALTH

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FY2020 Annual Report

WHAT PARTICIPANTS SAY

Feeling encouraged in my entrepreneurship endeavors was priceless.

Competing in the 2019 Fowler Business Concept Challenge was the highlight of my school year. The opportunities to connect with judges, present solo on stage as a finalist, and walk away feeling encouraged in my entrepreneurship endeavors was priceless. I’m very grateful to the Fowlers for their continued generosity and commitment to St. Thomas.

ANDREW DAILY '21 , TOWEL TAGS

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HIGHLIGHT

Surprise Twist in 2019 Prizes EXCERPT FROM NOVEMBER 2019 NEWSROOM ARTICLE

By Amy Gustafson

The excitement was contagious at the 2019 Fowler Business Concept Challenge competition held at St. Thomas’ Anderson Student Center last Friday. The event drew an impressive group of innovative student thinkers who presented creative business ideas on everything from an alternative to plastic bags to a smartphone case with a built-in braille reader. In total, $84,000 in scholarships was awarded to those who embraced their entrepreneurial spirit.

While finalists vied for $62,000 in scholarships, in a surprise twist this year, Ron Fowler ’66 – the competition’s driving force and namesake – announced that every team that competed in the semifinals (and did not advance to the finals) would also be given a $1,000 scholarship.

“The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well at the University of St. Thomas,” said Laura Dunham, associate dean of the Schulze School of Entrepreneurship. “And students who compete in the Fowler come away from the experience with the knowledge, skills and confidence to be innovators and make real impact in any field they enter.”

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FY2020 Annual Report

Semifinalist Brennen Anderson delivers his pitch at the 2019 FBCC

FBCC IMPACT & FINANCIALS

IMPACT FOCUS MENTORING Mentoring continues to form the core of the FBCC experience. As the premier entry-level competition at St.Thomas, strong coaching and mentoring is vital to students' success and submission quality. Our community of mentors invested 50 hours in one-on-one mentoring sessions in October alone, the primary work period leading to up to the semifinals.

Annual Scholarships & Expenses

TRAINING In partnership with faculty and local business leaders, our team organized four workshops to better equip students with the tools and resources needed to craft a compelling business case for their concepts.

CONNECTIONS Our work would be impossible without the dynamic network of alumni and local business leaders who mentor and judge the FBCC each year.

We intentionally facilitate connections and relationships that outlive the day of the event be it through mentoring relationships or introductions to organizations that support students to take their concepts to the next stage.

Management 12.3% Entreprenurship 26.2% Music 10.8%

Marketing 7.7% Finance 12.3% Business 12.3% Engineering 18.5%

Predominant ares of study represented in 2019 FBCC. Overall, students represented 29 majors.

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$84,000

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Business Leaders and Alumni volunteered as Judges

Dollar amount of scholarships awarded

Number of students engaged

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FY2020 Annual Report

IT PROVES WHAT WE'RE DOING IS IMPORTANT AND PEOPLE SEE THAT. AMY HELGESON '22, ON HER FIRST PLACE FBCC BUSINESS TRACK WIN

ABOUT THE

FOWLER GLOBAL SOCIAL INNOVATION CHALLENGE

The Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge (Fowler GSIC or FGSIC) is a multi-round social venture competition that invites students to engage with one or more of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals by developing a sustainable social venture. With a network of over 2,500 students from 17 countries around the world, the Innovation Challenge has distributed more than $400,000 to seed the most promising global ventures. Now a collaboration between the University of San Diego and St. Thomas, the 3-day Global Finals round of the Challenge will be hosted on an alternating basis by both universities.

Read on to learn more about our debut cohort of ventures and winning teams.

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Serenity Wright (center), Social Entrepreneurship Program Director at University of Kentucky with students at the 2019 Finals of the Fowler GSIC in San Diego

A Virtual Convening

April 2020 was a memorable month for many reasons.

The showcase of our inaugural FGSIC cohort is one of them. But our pivot to a virtual format in a matter of weeks definitely tops the list! While an online competition was not in the original plan, we found new ways to replicate the energy and excitement of a live pitch event and awards ceremony.

Seven teams advanced to the St. Thomas finals which took place virtually on April 17, 2020. We split teams into two pitch rooms where they pitched concurrently to three judges in Room A and four judges in Room B. All teams presented their 8-minute pitch videos to our panel of judges. Following the pitches, they participated in four minutes of Q&A. Judges then had the difficult decision of selecting the winning team in their pitch room.

The top team from Room A and B received $2,500 each and advanced to represent St.Thomas at this year's virtual Global Finals. Runner-ups from each room received $1,000 and all other finalist teams received $500. Additionally, the best presenter in each room received a prize of $1,000.

Here are a few moments from our foray into the world of virtual pitches, connections and learning!

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FY2020 Annual Report

St.Thomas teams pitch virtually in campus rounds

WINNER ST.THOMAS FGSIC

GLOBAL FINALIST DIGICONNECTIONS

Himani Joshi • Brianna Kirk WINNER ROOM A: $2,500 BEST PRESENTER ROOM A: $1,000

DigiConnections is a social venture looking to bridge the digital divide by utilizing a new, ground breaking technology known as TV White Space.

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WINNER ST.THOMAS FGSIC

GLOBAL FINALIST BRAILLEAZY

Abenezer Ayana • Brooke Catton Amanda Baumgart '20 • Faiso Hirsi Mahamud Hussein WINNER ROOM B:$2,500 BEST PRESENTER ROOM B:$1,000 20

FY2020 Annual Report

BraillEazy is an innovative smartphone case that allows blind people to learn and use braille from the comfort of their palm.

ST. THOMAS FINALIST PROFILES

Brady Gruenhagen $1,000

4TENNIS Runner-up Plastic waste is a significant problem in the world today, and in the world of tennis it’s no different. Millions of pounds of racket string are thrown out every year because tennis string can’t be recycled like regular plastic. Our solution is 4Tennis, a company that reuses and recycles used tennis strings.

4Tennis offers products made from tennis strings, including a clothing and accessories line.

$1,000

Babauwa • Sophia Brown Karl Buttel • Sinesipho Njeza Maggie Schmaltz

BOKASHI COMPOSTING Runner-up Bokashi harnesses urban organic waste for employment in the fight against food insecurity. By empowering township communities in Cape Town, South Africa, to collect food waste for input into compost soil amendments, we can and will create a larger population of those that are food secure. These communities will be compensated for their food waste, which will in turn be transformed into a resource that will improve the soil quality for production of essential nutrition.

$500

Evan Clay • Sana Jessani • Lucas Murray

GREEN MEATS Finalist Green Meats provides small-average livestock farms with the opportunity to farm their meat sustainably and ethically, while increasing profit. We will achieve this goal by innovating the meat industry’s life cycle and connecting farms with local businesses that desire quality meat.

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ST. THOMAS FINALIST PROFILES

$500

Lisa Brown • Sean Finn Lia Huemoeller • Laura Russell

pEDIT Finalist pEDIT automates diabetes education data required to advance care.

Evidence shows that a lack of resources is limiting the ability of diabetes education providers to scale to support diabetes management, prevent complications and limit the financial burden to health care ecosystem. pEDIT provides the efficiency needed for healthcare clinics to meet growing demand and be financially successful.

$500

Brandon Herrick • Lauren Infante Mikaela Maglich

COMM-U-CYCLE Finalist Comm-U-Cycle provides community workspaces to developing coastal communities with the goal of reducing beach plastics. Our workspaces give community members the tools and support they need to shred their collected plastic, melt it down, and reform the resulting product into useful objects or building materials. Through our work spaces, we make it easy for communities to re-purpose an overabundant resource using sustainable methods.

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FY2020 Annual Report

HIGHLIGHT

St. Thomas Team Places in Top 5 EXCERPT FROM JUNE 2020 NEWSROOM ARTICLE

By Amy Gustafson

The Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge (FGSIC) virtual global finals were held in mid-June and St. Thomas’ BraillEazy ended up as one of the top five teams in the competition. BraillEazy won the Most Socially Innovative Award ($1,000), the Audience Choice Award in their Sustainable Development Goal Track ($1,000) and was the runner-up for the Wireless Impact Reach Award ($2,000).

BraillEazy is an innovative smartphone case that allows blind people to learn and use braille from the comfort of their palm. Team: Abenezer Ayana (senior, computer science); Amanda Baumgart ’20 (entrepreneurship); Mahamud Hussein (junior, electrical engineering and physics); Brooke Catton (sophomore, mechanical engineering); Faiso Hirsi (senior, computer science) and Lisan Hasnain (second-year Dougherty Family College student, computer science major).

“It is indicative of the strong work that the Schulze School of Entrepreneurship does in developing entrepreneurs that are driven to bring social change and advance the common good,” Ayana said.

Hasnain recently joined the team and has been advising them on how to improve their target market while connecting them to various organizations serving the Twin Cities blind community.

“As a blind student myself, I feel that BraillEazy will make reading braille more efficient and effective,” Hasnain said.

“The Fowler GSIC has given us the opportunity to bring more innovation and creativity to the entire process.”

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TOP GLOBAL FINALISTS

2020 Fowler GSIC Finals Top Teams

Forty-three ventures from 12 countries competed in the 2020 Finals. Along with BraillEazy, the teams below placed among the Top 5.

BIOMILQ Duke University, USA First Place Prize Winner & Women Innovator Award.

BIOMILQ has developed a way to produce breast milk from mother-cultured cells to create a product that provides the nutrition of breast milk with the practicality of infant formula.

Thermoplastiks Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Spain Tie for Second Place & Audience Choice Award.

Thermoplastiks offers efficient plastic degradation using thermostable enzymes at an industrial scale for bioremediation in the Asiatic textile industry.

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FY2020 Annual Report

Brilliant Biome UC San Diego, USA Tie for Second Place & Winner of the Qualcomm Wireless Reach Impact Award.

BrilliantBiome's venture proposes a solution to eliminating the risk of opiod abuse from the inside out.

Sunlight U University of San Diego, USA Winner of the Most Resilient Award & Women Innovator Award.

Sunlight U teaches survivors the science of trauma to begin the healing process. With Sunlight U, PTSD does not have to be a lifelong diagnosis.

WHAT PARTICIPANTS SAY

Now, I found my love for the entrepreneurship program.

The Fowler competitions changed the course of entrepreneurship within in my life. Not only did I learn invaluable knowledge about running a startup, but the connections I got because of the experience were so valuable. The way every mentor and peer cares about you is unlike any experience I've had. Before the Fowler Competitions, I was a Freshman marketing major. Now, I found my love for the entrepreneurship program at St. Thomas and I am a double major in entrepreneurship and marketing. I would dare say, altogether, this experience was just as valuable as a degree.

BRIANNA KIRK '23, DIGICONNECTIONS

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WHAT PARTICIPANTS SAY

This support helped us finish in the Top 5.

Since winning second place at the 2019 Fowler Business Concept Challenge, BraillEazy has grown astronomically with the support of the Schulze School of Entrepreneurship. We’ve gained access to SEED SPOT and gALPHA venture-creation programs, probono legal help through LegalCORPS, and ample mentorship and resource assistance. This support helped us finish in the Top 5 at the 2020 Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge Finals and continue our stride to innovate solutions for the blind.

ABENEZER AYANA '21, BRAILLEAZY

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FY2020 Annual Report

WHAT PARTICIPANTS SAY

The program gave me practical guidance to learn and grow.

The Fowler GSIC and Business Concept Challenge were both incredible opportunities for me as an incoming freshman to dive into the deep end of the entrepreneurial world and get some hands-on experience building an innovative idea to ultimately compete at an international level! The program gave me practical guidance to learn and grow, while always showing respect and viewing me as a young adult professional rather than just another student!

HIMANI JOSHI '23, DIGICONNECTIONS

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SPOTLIGHT

Meet BraillEazy AN INTERVIEW WITH CO-FOUNDER & CEO ABENEZER AYANA Tell us about the backstory of BraillEazy. What

Together, we’ve helped BraillEazy reach the stage it’s

spurred the idea and is there a personal connection?

at today, winning multiple competitions and expanding

BraillEazy was founded by myself and co-founder

the team to include six socially driven students!

Amanda Baumgart, a recent 2020 graduate. Since my childhood, I saw firsthand the obstacles that people

What’s the inspiration behind the name?

with disabilities faced in my home country of Ethiopia.

The name is a blend of "Braille" and "Easy" and is

They lacked the technological support to become

inspired by our mission to increase Braille literacy

socially and financially independent. One of them was

through easy-to-use Braille technologies. Our current

with Braille, which is vital for the well-being of the

product in design is a Braille smartphone case that

blind. With my passion for technology, I saw an

allows blind people to read Braille from the comfort of

opportunity to make Braille widely accessible through

their palms. Our goal is to make Braille easy to learn

solenoid technology that replaces the bulky Braille

hence the name BraillEazy.

books that blind individuals had to use.

What role have pitch competitions and mentors I moved to the United States 6 years ago to study

played in your entrepreneurial journey?

computer science and make this dream come true.

Pitch competitions and mentors have played a huge

I realized though that in the U.S., Braille literacy was

role in BraillEazy’s journey. Before Amanda and I

diminishing (only 10%) for a different reason – the rise

pitched at the FBCC, I had received a grant from the

of audio technologies which were far more convenient

Schulze School to attend a 2-day Launch Camp

to consume information. I found this alarming because

organized by the nationally recognized SEED SPOT

Braille is crucial for the blind to gain literacy and

program. There, I received rigorous mentoring from

become successful and independent in life. So, for 2

several top mentors like Julie Kucinski, who helped us

years, I worked on a design that made using Braille as

refine our pitch and business model. We’ve also

convenient as listening to audio. Instead of having the

received generous support from St. Thomas through

user read Braille by tediously moving their fingertips

programs like gALPHA, mentor connections through

over raised pins, with my design, the actuated pins do

the Schulze School, and even pro-bono legal assistance

the movement. I shared this idea with Amanda during

from LegalCORPS.

the first workshop organized for the 2019 Fowler Business Concept Challenge.

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SPOTLIGHT

MEET BRAILLEAZY CONTINUED

This support proved invaluable for the success of

This may not appeal to many investors who would like to

BraillEazy in several pitch competitions like the 2020

see a sustainable return from the beginning. But our goal

Fowler GSIC, where we finished Top 5 and earned over

is to help uplift the blind community to become financially

$3000 in seed funding.

independent and in the future be able to purchase such products just like everyone else. We’ve also had to pivot

Lisan Hasnain recently join BraillEazy. How has having

and make additional plans to increase revenue through a

a member of your target market on the team

business-to-business model in our sales plan.

influenced the design and positioning of your product?

We are very grateful for Lisan Hasnain, a blind

And your biggest brag or accomplishment?

computer science student at St. Thomas' Dougherty

The biggest brag for BraillEazy is representing St. Thomas

Family College, who joined our team on March 2020.

for the first time and finishing Top 5 at the 2020 FGSIC

Lisan oversees every department of BraillEazy from

finals. We are very proud to have shared our mission of

prototyping to customer engagement to ensure we meet

increasing Braille literacy for the blind and very grateful

our goal of increasing Braille literacy for the blind. As

to have connected and learned from many global ventures

the co-chair for the Minnesota National Association for

passionate about making the world a better place. Having

Blind Students (MNABS) membership and outreach

the opportunity to pitch in front of Susie Armstrong,

committee and an accessibility intern for U.S. Bank, he

Senior Vice President of Engineering at Qualcomm, was

brings significant value in connecting BraillEazy with

also a huge highlight! Overall, the FGSIC was the most

important organizations for the blind and making our

demanding and rewarding experience for BraillEazy as we

products accessible through web and app platforms.

had to work diligently to create virtually recorded pitches with the help of mentors and compete on the global stage

With Lisan’s input, we’ve adjusted our product design

for the first time!

to include a Braille keyboard and minor changes in the actuation process of our case. With our prototype

What’s next from here?

production underway, we see Lisan playing a big role in

We are currently on track towards incorporating our

helping us iterate and produce a sought-after product

company with the help of LegalCORPS. This will help us

for the blind community.

seek further seed funding opportunities. We are also working with different manufacturing companies to help

What would you say is your biggest failure or lesson

prototype our first working Braille smartphone case by

learned as a team so far?

the end of this summer. From the testing end, we’ve

I’d say the biggest lesson learned we’ve learned is that

received support from the Minnesota Chapter of the

technologies aimed for people with disabilities face

National Federation of the Blind, who have helped

great a hurdle in their business model. In BraillEazy’s

organize a focus group that will test our prototype once

case, our target market has an unemployment rate of

completed. We will continue testing and iteration of our

over 70% (prior to COVID-19) and thus we needed to

prototype through December 2020 and enter further

find ways to subsidize our product despite it being

funding opportunities in 2021 to launch production and

relatively affordable.

early sales.

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AMANDA BAUMGART '20, ON BRAILLEAZY'S WIN IN THE FOWLER GSIC

WE WOULD NOT HAVE MADE IT THIS FAR IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO INVESTED THEIR EXPERTISE IN US.

FGSIC IMPACT & FINANCIALS IMPACT FOCUS MBA 20.8%

COACHING & MENTORING Twenty-seven mentors, reviewers and judges provided constructive feedback and coaching over the three on-campus rounds. Through a combination of one-on-one mentoring and written feedback, our mentors and reviewers strengthened student submissions by covering topics such as business modeling, digital storytelling, competitive analysis and virtual pitching.

Business Management 8.3%

Marketing 8.3% Computer Science 8.3%

WORKSHOPS & ACUMEN ACADEMY ACCESS Customized for the deliverable in each round, we offered three workshops to equip students with skills ranging from systems mapping to ideation. As a result of a new collaboration with Acumen Academy (the world's school for social change), all participants gained access to a curated library of video-based courses taught by experts in the social innovation space.

Entrepreneurship 29.2%

Biology 12.5% Engineering 12.5%

Predominant ares of study represented in 2020 FGSIC. Overall, students represented 11 majors

A GLOBAL NETWORK Ultimately, the power of the Fowler GSIC lies in its growing global network. In addition to sparking connections between student teams and mentors in virtual campus rounds, Global Finalists had the opportunity to network online with other social innovators and business leaders around the world during their pitch sessions. Forty-three ventures representing 24 universities in 12 countries participated in the 2020 virtual Global Finals.

Annual Expenses and Seed Funding Awarded

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$10,500

37

Mentors, judges and reviewers volunteering time and expertise

Awarded in seed-funding

Students engaged in campus rounds

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JOIN US IN 2021!

Global Finals 2021 In summer 2021, St. Thomas will host the Global Finals of the Fowler GSIC. While we would love nothing more than to have you join us in-person next year in Minneapolis, we know that the current situation might only allow a hybrid event or a full virtual experience. Either way, we are excited to host this world-changing event and look forward to the possibility of welcoming you in-person come 2021.Â

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THANK YOU Ron & Alexis Fowler

The Fowler Competitions are named in recognition of alumnus Ron Fowler ‘66, Chairman and CEO of Liquid Investments Inc., whose generous gifts to the University of St. Thomas have made these competitions and collaboration with the University of San Diego possible. We are immensely grateful to Ron and his wife Alexis for their continued generosity and passion for student entrepreneurs around the world.

FY 2020 FBCC & FGSIC Judges, Mentors & Reviewers Ron Fowler '66, Exec. Chairman, San Diego Padres; CEO, Liquid Investments

Emily Pritchard, CEO & Co-Founder, The Social Lights

Paul Lapadat ’88, CEO, Dessert Holdings

Bruce Nordin, Executive Director, Schulze Innovation Fund

Ginny Morris, Chair & CEO, Hubbard Radio

Diane Paterson, Associate Director, Small Business Development Center

Larry Schoenecker, CEO, BI Worldwide; Director, Schoeneckers Foundation

Amanda LaGrange, CEO,Tech Dump/Tech Discounts

Ann Herzog-Olson, Executive Director, Social Venture Partners Minnesota

Michael Mader, Founder & CEO, Hippy Feet

Damian Novak ‘05, Owner, Rabbit Hole Equity, LLC

Bjorgvin Saevarsson, CEO,The Yorth Group

Susan Otten, Founder & CEO, Otten Associates

Kate Herzog, Founder, House of Talents

Clarence Bethea, Founder and CEO, Upsie

Mo Fahnestock, CEO/President, Authentic Leadership

Collin Brinkman '91 MBA, Managing Director, Deloitte LLP

Bret Busse, Senior Vice President at Fathom Consulting

Brad Brown, Principal, Socentia

Mark Spriggs, Associate Professor, Entrepreneurship, St.Thomas

Bob Davis, CEO, Engulf & Devour LLC

Alec Johnson, Associate Professor, Entrepreneurship, St. Thomas

Matt Geiser, Partner, Tin Roof Collective

Jay Ebben, Professor, Entrepreneurship, St.Thomas

Shawntera Hardy, Cofounder & Chief Strategy Officer, Civic Eagle

Elise Amel, Professor, Psychology, Dir. Office of Sustainability, St. Thomas

Jeremy Hedberg '94, Partner and Co-Chief Investment Officer, Varde

AnnMarie Thomas, Engineering/Business Professor, St.Thomas

Barry Johnson, Director, EmpowerMX

Tom Fletcher, Engineering Management Consultant

Allison Kaplan, Editor in Chief, Twin Cities Business

Clare Healy, Snr. Operations Associate, Partners in Food Solutions

Mary Kosir, Cofounder, Whole Me

Chad Berg, Associate, Prudential Private Capital

Thomas Mahoney '77 MBA, President, Hilldale Ventures

Kara Gamelin, Design Thinking Practitioner, U.S. Bank

Brian Mark, Owner, BSM Equities LLC

Jake Smith, Director, gBETA, University of St. Thomas

Sue Marshall '14 MBA, CEO, NETZRO

Femi Odebiyi, Assistant Professor, LCC International University

Joe McCarney, Partner, EY

John Brothers, President, T.Rowe Price Foundation

Shari Mohabir '95, Founder MohKsha

Jack Cunningham, Product Manager, Livefront

Jules Porter '18 JDMBA, Founder & President, Seraph 7 Studios, LLC

David Turnham, Divisional Head of Sales-Ring, Amazon

Thomas Puff, President, Venture Law Resources

Justin Hall '02, CEO, Afton Capital

Lou Raoila, Founder & CEO, The Purpose Alliance

Anne Hendrickson '97, Owner, Work it Coworking

Connie Rutledge, CEO, FINNOVATION Lab

Craig Herkert, Adjunct Professor, University of St. Thomas

Hal Shillingstad '84, Shareholder, Ogletree Deakins

Joe Keeley '03, Founder, College Nannies, Tutors & Sitters

Rajiv Tandon, President, The Institute for Innovators and Entrepreneurs

David Igel '92, Owner, Igel Properties - Chevalle Development Co.

Paul Taylor, Founder, Serial Mentors Ltd.

Frank Klisanich, CEO, FSK Enterprise Consulting, LLC

Richard Andolshek, Chairman & CEO, Brick, Inc.

Mike Kujak '08 MBA, President & CEO, Francis Medical

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THANK YOU Ron & Alexis Fowler

The Fowler Competitions are named in recognition of alumnus Ron Fowler ‘66, Chairman and CEO of Liquid Investments Inc., whose generous gifts to the University of St. Thomas have made these competitions and collaboration with the University of San Diego possible. We are immensely grateful to Ron and his wife Alexis for their continued generosity and passion for student entrepreneurs around the world.

FY 2020 FBCC & FGSIC Judges, Mentors & Reviewers Andrew Pudwill '10, Owner & CEO, Ultimate Playgrounds, Inc.

David Ormerod, Business Mentor, SCORE

Thor Becken '81, President, Cemstone

Daniel Shea, Executive Advisor, Tenere, Inc.

Dennis McFadden, CEO, Linner Ridge Group

Seth Jeska, Emerging Media Manager, Home for Heroes

Michael O'Neill '05, Director, Stone Arch Capital, LLC

Kate Spangenberg, Marketing Specialist, Firefly Computers

Patrick Durand, CFO, Scalzo Hospitality

Jason Campana, Owner, Banner Year Advisors

Ted Robb, CEO, Call Strategies

Patrick Campbell, President-Aquent Cloud, Aquent

Rachel Rodriguez-Schwab, Head of Corporate Startup Strategy, UPS

Jessica Palkowitsch, Director-Retail Merchandising & Marketing, Life Time

Mike Ryan, Director, Small Business Development Center

Seth King, Sales Representative, State Farm

Scott Snyder '01, CEO & Co-Founder, Geneticure, Inc.

Connor Koerbitz, Owner, Koerbitz Ventures

Dave St. Peter, President & CEO, Minnesota Twins

Beth Kraetsch, Project Manager, Best Buy

Chris Staley '99, Co-Founder, Horizontal Integration

Greg Cash, President & CEO, Argent International

Donald Waldoch, President, Waldoch Crafts, Inc

Deborah Peters, Senior OED Consultant, Wells Fargo

Carla Warner, Owner, Warners' Stellian

Jake Schraufnagel, Major Account Executive, ForgeRock

Ernest Grumbles, Managing Attorney, Grumbles Law

Andrew Eagan, Business Development Manager, WNS

Mike Lewis, Vice President-Sales & Business Development, Click360

Chris Knutson, CEO, TeamGenius

Garrett Faust, Owner, Uptown Woodworks

Jay Louricas, Founder, AddictionU

Jeffrey Reisinger, Associate Underwriting Counsel, First American Trade

John Arnold, Partner, Celarity

Chris Muske, Manager -Sales & Account Management, United Healthcare

Chad Zejdlik, VP Business Banking, Center National Bank

Zach Duckworth, Realtor, Keller Williams Realty

Todd Mortenson, Managing Director, Abound Corporation

Christina Brandt, President, Relmagine Possibilities, Inc.

Darin Lynch '04 MBA, Founder & CEO, Irish Titan

Kyle Andrews, Sales Engineer, Jamf

34

FY2020 Annual Report

Global Finalists at the 2019 Finals celebrations in San Diego