Gigabit Challenge announces 39 semi-finalists

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 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.”

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):

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.

This story is part of the AIM Archive

This story is part of the AIM Institute Archive on Silicon Prairie News. AIM gifted SPN to the Nebraska Journalism Trust in January 2023. Learn more about SPN’s origin »

Get the latest news and events from Nebraska’s entrepreneurship and innovation community delivered straight to your inbox every Wednesday.