The Gigabit Challenge, a competition being hosted by Think Big Partners to celebrate the arrival of Google’s one-gigabit fiber network in Kansas City, announced its 39 semi-finalists today chosen from a field of 113 submissions.
The semi-finalists, which submitted an executive summary between Oct. 1 and Nov. 18, were selected by a panel of 30 judges and judged based on market opportunity, growth potential, impact, brevity, clarity and how effectively the ideas utilized the Google Fiber Network. Up for grabs is a grand prize valued at $100,000 along with a recently added “Born Global” prize for a $250,000 investment.
Think Big said it received submissions from 24 states (including Kansas and Missouri) and five countries. The semi-finalists cover a variety of industries, including telemedicine, ecommerce, nonprofit fundraising and video delivery.
“It has been a pleasure reviewing submissions for The Gigabit Challenge,” Greg Kratofil, an attorney at Polsinelli Shughart and judge for the Gigabit Challenge, said in a press release sent out by Think Big Partners. “It feels like I’m looking through time and getting a glimpse at what the future will hold. I have been extremely impressed with the quality of the ideas and have little doubt about the opportunities enabled by gigabit speed.”
Thanks to our sponsor
Here are the Gigabit Challenge semi-finalists (linked when found and italicized if company is based in Silicon Prairie – please send updates to danny@siliconprairienews.com or comment below):
- Abhi Ray, Heart To Heart Network Inc
- Adam Geller, Edthena
- Andrew Ying, Hong
- Annie Hwang, Cloud Integration LLP
- Andrea Tappy, ClassTap
- Bob Wray, CourthouseUSA LLC (Kansas City)*
- Brendon Collier, SocialCloud
- Brett Simpson, record life
- Cecilia Bakker, Cecilia Bakker & Tom Brown
- Corinna West, Wellness Wordworks (Kansas City)
- Dallas Kranker, Everything Computers LLC (Franklin, Kan.)
- David Windhausen, TiBi.tv (Kansas City)
- Don Peterson, BigIris.com
- Eddie Tapper, GET-GIV-GOT System Technologies
- Edgar Sarmiento, HuMuch?*
- Ellen Ervin, Connected-4-Learning (Kansas City)
- Ernie Johnston, iNet2
- Fortunato Cardenas, Green Earth Aerogel Technologies
- Jason Arnold, Paruzia Technologies (Kansas City)
- Jeff Stull, Risk Analytics LLC (Kansas City)
- Jeremy Kissell, Jeremy Kissell (Kansas City)
- Jim West, Somametric
- Kristin Kenney, RE:Cite (Kansas City)
- Marc Canter, Digital City Mechanics
- Mark Hellevang, Capital Infinity Research LLC
- Mary Poehler, In Touch Beacon
- Merlin Owens, East West TeleMedia International
- Michael McKinzy Sr., Voter Integrity Party (V.I.P.)
- Michael Shear, Strategic Office Networks LLC
- S. Vaideeswaran, Damascus Fortune
- Sally Smith, Esipro Technologies LLC
- Samuel Belu-John, SEIN Analytics & Asset Management
- Scott Hardiek, Virtual/Real World Wallet System
- Seak Meng Lay, Photaic
- Sonia Lin, Kauzu
- Su Sanni, WeDidIt
- Tim Sylvester, Integrated Roadways (Kansas City)
- Troy Norris, TalentHelix (Kansas City)
- Willow Lundgren, PlanetRestore LLC (Kansas City)
Semi-finalists have until December 9 to submit an 8-10 page business plans and slide decks which will be reviewed by the judging panel. Finalists will be announced on December 16 and the winners will be awarded at the Gigabit Challenge Finale on January 18.
To learn more about the Gigabit Challenge see our post: “Think Big marking Google Fiber’s arrival with Gigabit Challenge“.
*Update 2:45 p.m. – At request of the Gigabit Challenge, the semi-finalists were updated, replacing David McGee, GoodBidding.org, and Douglas Edwards, Automation Pocket Doors Inc., with Edgar Sarmiento, HuMuch?, and Bob Wray, CourthouseUSA LLC.
