Tulane Entrepreneurs Association (TEA) is gearing up for the final round of the completely redesigned Business Model Competition, formerly the Business Plan Competition. After a 13-year-run, the contest was redesigned to better reward the practical aspects of what make startups successful – the ability to rapidly adapt to customers’ needs.
Finalists Million Dollar Scholar, Tympanogen and InVision Biomedical competed alongside ComeFail, CCC, Fleur de Latkes, Threadix and US Fresh Cane in the semi final pitches on March 25th during New Orleans Entrepreneur Week.
InVision Biomedical is a firm that takes existing innovative procedures and implements novel medical devices, expanding patient safety and hospital cost efficiency.
Education technology and services venture, Million Dollar Scholar, addresses higher education affordability by providing students with an online platform to learn how to become successful in the scholarship application process
Tympanogen is currently commercializing a gel patch developed at Tulane University, called Perf-Fix™, for non-surgical repair of chronic tympanic membrane perforations.
The grand prize winner will be awarded $25,000 and enter the International Business Model Competition as a semifinalist. $10,000 will go to the runner-up.
The final round will take place on April 11th, 2014 in the Freeman Auditorium at Tulane’s Woldenberg Art Center. The event will begin promptly at 12:00 PM with a light lunch provided beforehand in the adjacent Woodward Way Breezeway.
“TEA is excited about these final pitches and very confident that our winner will be a strong contender at the semi finals of the International Business Model Competition,” said Selma Alamin, design director of the organization.
TEA President Adrian Mendez is eager to continue building upon the entrepreneurial movement across the region.
“The competition has always been a flagship event that supports local–now regional– entrepreneurs and programs,” Mendez continued. “As the program grows, we hope to continue to motivate and inspire students to be on the forefront of entrepreneurial activity with the resources we provide.”
Follow along with the Business Model Competition on Facebook at facebook.com/tulanebusinessmodelcompetition and on Twitter at twitter.com/tulanebmc. TEA can be found at facebook.com/TulaneTEA. More information is available at tulane2014.istart.org.