University of Nebraska - Lincoln Wins First Prize with The Huddle System
Agile Sports Technologies, representing the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, won the grand prize at Venture Challenge 2007. "The Huddle System" developed by Agile Sports Technologies takes a sports team's existing videos, playbooks, scouting reports, and tests, and shifts them to an interactive, easy-to-use digital platform that provides a team with a more powerful and secure means of communication, training, and team management. The team from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln won $15,000 for this innovative new system, as well as an additional $15,000 in consulting services from eBoost Marketing.
2007 marked the 18th year for the EMC's Venture Challenge competition, which took place from March 15th through 17th at the San Diego Marriott Mission Valley. Twenty teams presented their new business venture plans to a panel of judges made up of distinguished businesspeople and successful entrepreneurs.
 Over $20,000 in prizes were awarded, including the new R. Michael Pack Award for Environmental Awareness in Entrepreneurship.
Second place ($3,500) went to Advanced Wireless Solutions, representing Loyola Marymount University. Advanced Wireless Solutions won for its "Backup-Pal", the world's first device that allows consumers to backup and transfer their cellular phonebook contacts in case of phone loss, theft, or damage. The University of New Mexico won third place ($1,500) with Satyrne Biotechnologies, which develops trauma implant devices and customization software for cranio-maxillofacial surgery.
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Venture Challenge 2007 winners:
R. Michael Pack Award for Environmental Awareness in Entrepreneurship:
($1,500)
Showstopper Award:
($500)
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EMC Director Sanford Ehrlich Teaches Entrepreneurship to Promote Economic and Cultural Collaboration in the Middle East
 Sanford Ehrlich, QUALCOMM Executive Director of the EMC, is collaborating with The Peres Center for Peace and The Fred J. Hansen Institute for World Peace on a cross-border peace-building program in the Middle East. Dr. Ehrlich is working with groups consisting of both Arabs and Israelis on entrepreneurial methods of commercializing food products from the region. Participants previously met in 2006 in Tel Aviv, Israel and Cairo, Egypt.  Future projects for the participants include market surveys by research teams of university students for food product introduction to European, Western, and Gulf markets, as well as training in marketing, market entry, and product innovation. Through research and training, the project aims to also foster peace, understanding, and friendship.
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Upcoming Events
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| Business Alumni Network in the Gaslamp
 Join SDSU business alumni and friends for the upcoming “BAN in the Gaslamp” social networking event on Wednesday, May 9th from 6:00 – 8:00pm. This private event at upscale 30-two Bar & Lounge includes appetizers from neighboring Thai restaurant Rama and features Aztec drink specials. $15 for Alumni Association members, $20 for Non-members and guests, $25 At Door. Space is limited, so RSVP today!
To register for this event, click here.
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| Best Practices in Integrated Marketing Communications for High Technology Companies
 On Friday, June 22 from 8:00 to 5:00 p.m., The Centre for Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) at SDSU will host "Best Practices in Integrated Marketing Communications for High Technology Companies." This one day seminar will provide marketers in high tech companies valuable insight regarding the development and implementation of effective integrated marketing communications programs. Speakers will include George Belch and Michael Belch, co-authors of the leading text in the field, and Richard Brooks, former President and CEO of McCann Erickson, San Diego. Topics will include the role of IMC in high tech companies, planning and implementing IMC, and measuring its effectiveness.
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EMC Partner News
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| Calit2 and New Business Ventures: Startups and Technology
Commercialization to Benefit California
 The California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2) at UCSD has become a proving ground for new technologies as well as a new way of university-industry-community interaction in California. On Tuesday April 24th, 2007 at 6pm, UCSD Division Director Ramesh Rao will provide an overview of Calit2, with particular reference to the institute’s role in prototyping and commercializing research within the University of California context.
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| Holding Back the Pirates: A Strategy for Competing with Microsoft
 On April 25th, as part of the San Diego MIT Enterprise Forum, Tom Munro, CEO of Verimatrix, will present a picture of global opportunity and fierce competition, with a request for expert feedback on the decisions facing his team.
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| EMC Staff News
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| The EMC would like to welcome Keri O'Leary to the staff as its new Operations Coordinator. Keri attended the San Diego State University Criminal Justice/Public Administration program. The EMC also congratulates Sarah Bonura on her promotion to Program Assistant. Sarah has been working for the EMC since August 2005.
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| EMC Internships
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The EMC is currently recruiting interns for positions during summer 2007. If your company would like to post an internship through the EMC, please click here for more details or email Keely Bamberg, EMC Director of Intern Programs and Outreach.
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| Emerging Growth Workshop
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The EMC Emerging Growth Workshop is designed to assist early stage, emerging growth and start-up businesses in the San Diego region by providing educational tools and professional coaching. If your company would like to become part of the Workshop, please email Keely Bamberg, co-director of the Emerging Growth Workshop, or visit our website for more information.
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| EMC Business Forum
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CORPORATE CULTURE
The Second Generation
On Wednesday, May 9, 2007 the EMC Business Forum will host its next Open Forum, featuring Scott Blanchard of the Ken Blanchard Group. The event will take place from 4-7 PM at The Hilton Torrey Pines in La Jolla. To register, click here.
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From Vision to Action:
The EMC Business Forum Annual Retreat:
March 9th-11th
The EMC Business Forum hosted its second annual retreat March 9th-11th at the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe. The theme of this year's retreat was "From Vision to Action." Experts spoke on a variety of topics including succession planning, governance, and advisory boards. For more information, or to become a member, please call (619) 594-4949, or email the EMC Business Forum.
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| SDSU in the News
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| San Diego State recently commemorated its 110th anniversary during the fifth annual SDSU Month. Events during SDSU Month included the Explore SDSU Open House, the Kyoto Laureate Symposium with Leonard Herzenberg, and the Tony Gwynn 2007 Classic honoring the SDSU baseball coach and recent Hall of Famer.
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| Alumni News
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| Steve Nelson, a San Diego State graduate (MBA 96) and President of Midwest General, Inc., is part of a team that recently announced a strategic alliance between ENVISION Solar, LLC, and Kyocera Solar, Inc. Steve serves as Construction Manager for ENVISION, a new business venture developing clean, renewable energy sources.
Read more about the alliance here.
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