Seven business plans and stage-two business growth strategies won $18,000 on Thursday at the Monfort College of Business Entrepreneurial Challenge at the University of Northern Colorado.
In the new-business-ventures category, first place and $5,000 went to Liquid Media for community-controlled marketing and real-time advertising; second place and $3,000 was awarded to Safe Rod for a fly-rod protection on drift boats; and third place with $1,000 went to Prodagen for a Nintendo Wii gaming tool that improves player proficiency.
Safe Rod was developed by UNC seniors Matt Ackerman and Thomas Shanor, who said they will use their prize winnings as seed money for their business.
In second-phase growth, first place and $5,000 was awarded to Red Rocket Web Specialists, a marketing agency. There was a three-way tie for second place, which went to Sardis Enterprises, Expressville and I Am Smart Technology, with each receiving $1,333.33.
