PRESS RELEASE: Winners Announced for the 2016 New Venture Competition Finals

PRESS RELEASE: Winners Announced for the 2016 New Venture Competition Finals

Congratulations to all winners of the New Venture Competition Finals! TMP congratulates all teams for their high level of dedication, passion, and hard work throughout the competition!

Six student teams from UC Santa Barbara took home more than $40,000 in cash prizes last night at the 17th New Venture Competition Finals, hosted by the Technology Management Program. Since the beginning of fall, these students have honed their business ideas by working with local entrepreneurs, business executives, and mentors to develop and refine their business ideas. The Finals is the biggest highlight of the New Venture Competition where each team pitch their business ideas to a panel of independent and highly respected judges for a chance to win cash prizes.

Winners of the 2016 New Venture Competition:

Grand Prize ($12,500): OSMO

Kyle Neumann, Rahul Sangodkar, Edixon Puglisi, Anjana Krishnan

OSMO is a unique, versatile and portable water sampling device that offers unprecedented sampling capabilities, which have important applications in water quality monitoring and management across a variety of oceanic and freshwater conditions.

2nd Place ($7,500): Vibe

Kelsey Judd, Janek Metzner, Harald Schafer

Vibe is empowering the visually impaired with a new way to navigate their surroundings. Our device consists of a wearable ultrasonic sensor, which translates information about the environment to the user through unique vibration patterns.

3rd Place ($2,500): EV Match

Heather Hochrein, Kelsey Johnson, Shannon Walker, Erin Williamson

EVMatch is an online marketplace that connects electric vehicle owners in need of charging with local owners of residential EV charging infrastructure. With EVMatch, Users can easily find nearby, affordable charging, while Hosts can generate returns on their home charging infrastructure investment.

Honorable Mention (Sonos prize): InGrain

Terra Alpaugh, Cameron Dunning, Talia Ibarguen

InGrain transforms brewery waste into sustainable packaging products and marketing solutions for the craft beer industry. InGrain’s initial products, six-pack holders and bar coasters, provide functional use and a unique branding opportunity to craft beer makers.

Citrix Impact Award ($5,000): Vibe

Kelsey Judd, Janek Metzner, Harald Schafer

Vibe is empowering the visually impaired with a new way to navigate their surroundings. Our device consists of a wearable ultrasonic sensor, which translates information about the environment to the user through unique vibration patterns.

Cliff Hannel Innovation Award ($5,000): Opal

David Hwang, Asad Mughal, Christopher Pynn

Opal designs and manufactures high resolution displays for applications in wearables and near-eye consumer electronics.  Opal's patented fabrication technology enables the realization of direct emission µLED displays that perform better and operate more efficiently than OLEDs and LCDs.

Elings CNSI Award ($5,000): InGrain

Terra Alpaugh, Cameron Dunning, Talia Ibarguen

InGrain transforms brewery waste into sustainable packaging products and marketing solutions for the craft beer industry. InGrain’s initial products, six-pack holders and bar coasters, provide functional use and a unique branding opportunity to craft beer makers.

People's Choice ($2,500): Dermachill

Jeffrey Fung, Chris Keane, Vince Kuppamala, Jonathan Young

Dermachill is a handheld cooling-system device that alleviates itchiness associated with eczema and other skin conditions. The Dermachill solution provides relief in a portable, cost-effective and healthy manner.

People's Choice ($2,500): Vibe

Kelsey Judd, Janek Metzner, Harald Schafer

Vibe is empowering the visually impaired with a new way to navigate their surroundings. Our device consists of a wearable ultrasonic sensor, which translates information about the environment to the user through unique vibration patterns.