The Sierra Nevada Innovation Challenge June 21, 2012 40 Finalist Competitors Announced Today!
JUN 15, 2012 - 20:51 ET
FOR: INNOVATE NORTH STATE
Media, Policy Makers, Angel Investors and Industry Experts Prepare for a Power-Packed Day of Innovation in 5 Different Industries -- Seating Is Limited; Register Online at www.innovate-northstate.com
CHICO, CA--(Marketwire - June 15, 2012) - Event producers announced today the 40 Finalists who have been selected to compete in Innovative North State's inaugural Sierra Nevada Innovation Challenge to be held on Thursday, June 21st at the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in Chico, CA. The statewide (and beyond) competition involves a compelling six-minute presentation format by the finalists in which they must provide a case as to why their product will change the world, an industry, the environment or people's lives in some meaningful way.
"We are pleased with the tremendous response we received from companies from all over non-metropolitan California, and beyond who wanted to compete within this unique format that is very different from a traditional business plan competition," stated Jon Gregory, co-producer of the Sierra Nevada Innovation Challenge and a Managing Director at innovate North State. "The Sierra Nevada Big Room will be buzzing with energy and innovation next Thursday as many of the companies will be publicly launching their new products. This goes to show that the Silicon Valley, LA and San Diego do not have exclusive license on California's innovation as we have companies representing Folsom, Chico, Nevada City, Redondo Beach, West Sacramento, Grass Valley, Paradise, Carson City NV, Susanville, Davis, Penn Valley, Santa Rosa, Sebastapol, Fresno, Rocklin, Monterey, Dunsmuir, Sacramento, Auburn, Rohnert Park, Auburn AL, Seattle WA and even tiny little Biggs, California!"
Businesses will compete in five categories: Clean Tech & Environmental, Health Care & Medical, Sustainable Agriculture & Food, Web & IT, and Manufacturing/High Tech/Consumer Products.
The Sierra Nevada Innovation Challenge innovative product showcase format, compelling keynote speakers and extensive networking opportunities promises to make the event intriguing for the general public who are interested in learning about new innovation, and making key connections with the companies and judges. Individuals interested in attending the Sierra Nevada Innovation Challenge should register online at www.innovate-northstate.com and go to the Innovation Challenge page. Cost is $175 for the full-day conference and reception, and $75 for the Awards Dinner in the evening as a separate ticket. For more information, call 530-892-1707.
Participants will have direct access to industry experts, funders and media who will be in attendance. They will also have the opportunity to hear from entrepreneurs like Pamala Temple, founder of A Place For Mom -- the largest elder care service in the nation, Christian Friedland, founder of Build.com -- the nation's largest online-only home improvement retailer, and Ken Grossman from Sierra Nevada Brewery -- the 6th largest USA brewery and powerhouse leader in green technology implementation, will also share their secrets of success.
Panels of over 40 Judges, comprised of investors, media representatives, CEOs, academia and federal labs, and industry professionals from around the nation, will also include Pam Marrone, CEO and founder of Marrone Bio Innovations, Daniel Moznett, Producer of the award winning syndicated TV show "Bringing It Home" and Daniella Malfitano, host of the new public television show "Delicious Discoveries" slated to begin this Fall on KIXE TV. Master of Ceremonies for the event will be TV personality and journalist Doug McConnell, best known for KRON television's "Bay Area Backroads" series and who has been recognized with regional Emmys, humanitarian and environmental awards.
For further information visit www.innovate-northstate.com/innovation-challenge .
KEY NOTE SPEAKERS
Pamala Temple, founder of A Place For Mom, which became the largest elder care service in the United States and purchased by private equity giant Warburg Pincus.
Ken Grossman from Sierra Nevada Brewery, the nation's 6th largest brewery and powerhouse leader in green technology implementation.
Christian Friedland, founder of Build.com, the nation's largest online only home improvement retailer started in 2000 as a college project at Chico State University.
Victor Hwang venture capitalist, entrepreneur and author of the groundbreaking book "The Rainforest: The Secret to Building the Next Silicon Valley" that proposes a radical new theory to explain the nature of innovation ecosystems: human networks that generate extraordinary creativity and output, which they call Rainforests.
Press Inquiries: press@bt-media.net | tel: 530-554-2279, 530-898-9009
For ulterior info and/or requests of high or low res portraits and images of Jury Panel members or Finalists, send press inquiries to press@bt-media.net
| Sierra Nevada Innovation Challenge | ||
| The Finalists | ||
| CleanTech & Environmental | ||
| Glide Cruisers | Folsom CA | |
| Signa Chemistry | Davis CA | |
| Polder | Chico CA | |
| Green Home Realty Pro | Grass Valley CA | |
| Exhergy | Napa CA | |
| GreenTraks | Yuba City CA | |
| New Age Hygienic Systems | Redondo Beach CA | |
| Safepath Products | Chico CA | |
| Sierra Energy | W. Sacramento CA | |
| Health Care & Medical | ||
| Clinical Integrated Systems Inc | Grass Valley CA | |
| EaseCushion | Paradise CA | |
| NCP Inc. | Susanville CA | |
| Chico Medical Solutions | Chico CA | |
| Nuritas | Davis CA | |
| Trevair | Carson City NV | |
| Forward Solutions | Chico CA | |
| Manufacturing/High Tech and Consumer Goods | ||
| Back at Ya | Paradise CA | |
| ExpressionEase | Penn Valley CA | |
| Cup Holder to Keep Cold | Paradise CA | |
| EGGASUS | North Bay CA | |
| USTC | Chico CA | |
| SPAARIO | Santa Rosa CA | |
| Sustainable Ag/Food | ||
| AquaCents | Fresno CA | |
| Gilmore Foods | Rocklin CA | |
| Gluten-free microbrewery | Chico CA | |
| AAG Biotics, LLC | Chico CA | |
| Bayliss Botanicals | Biggs CA | |
| Web & IT | ||
| DoesNot | Sebastapol CA | |
| FireWhat | Dunsmuir CA | |
| FlixChip | Chico CA | |
| HomeZada | El Dorado Hills CA | |
| iDoTechnology | Santa Rosa CA | |
| Isnapsocial | Sacramento CA | |
| JobEscrow | Monterey CA | |
| MAP Edu LLC | Auburn AL | |
| Property Pal | Chico CA | |
| SargesList | Seattle WA | |
| ITWorks/IntelliWeather | Chico CA | |
| SmartPay | Reno NV | |
| NonProfitEasy | Rohnert Park CA | |
| Sierra Nevada Innovation Challenge | ||
| The Judges | ||
| Alex Kurosawa | Start-UP 101 Ventures | |
| Allison Carlson | Garten Rothkopf, LLC | |
| Andy Donner | Physic Ventures | |
| Andy Hargadan | UC Davis | |
| Arif Lakhani | Silver Lake Ventures | |
| Bob Bozeman | Eastlake Ventures | |
| Brian Frenzel | Band of Angels | |
| Bruce Balfour | Sandia National Labs | |
| Daniel Moznett | Bringing it Home | |
| Dave Gonsiorski | Flextronics | |
| Dave Sanders | Sacramento Angels | |
| David Nicholson | USDA ATIP Program | |
| Denise Gitsham | Sapphire Energy | |
| Eric Tao | CSU Monterey Bay | |
| Gerd Goette | Siemens Venture Capital | |
| Gil Alvarado | Sierra Health Foundation | |
| Gour Choudhury | Cal Poly | |
| Jacob Jorgensen | Velocity Venture Capital | |
| Jason Caulkins | Dataram | |
| Jeff Lobosky | North State Neurosurgical Associates | |
| Jennifer Fox | CSU, Chico College of Ag | |
| Jim Schraith | DFJ Frontier | |
| Joel Gragg | Huntington Capital | |
| Kim McNicholas | Forbes and Pando Daily | |
| Leslie Horton | etime solutions | |
| Lon Hatamiya | Hatamiya Group | |
| Mark Anderson | Sacramento Business Journal | |
| Mark Perutz | DBL Investors | |
| Pam Marrone | Marrone Bio Innovations | |
| Peter Gardner | Wavepoint Ventures | |
| Peter Craddock | Shoreline Ventures | |
| Richard Anderson | TGH Aviation | |
| Rick Bess | PreBeta | |
| Rob White | iGate | |
| Robert Eyler | Sonoma State University | |
| Ron Tackett | USDA Rural Development | |
| Steve Mills | DCA Capital | |
| Daniella Malfitano | Professional Chef and TV Host | |
| Randy Hutchison | FindnSave | |
| Doug Kilponent | FindnSave | |
| Peter Strauss | CSU Chico | |
| Christine Mac Shane | Artist and Media Personality | |
| Israel Dominguez | Cuesta College | |
Press Inquiries:
bt-media
Melisa Lasell
press@bt-media.net
tel: 530-554-2279
530-898-9009
