IDEA Competition Opens for Applications October 1

BEMIDJI, MN  --  October 1, 2013 marks the beginning of the sixth year of the IDEA Competition.  In the last five years of the competition, nearly $300,000 has been awarded to Northwest Minnesota entrepreneurs.

The purpose of the competition is to assist the most promising local entrepreneurs in the commercialization of innovative products, processes and deliveries by connecting them to the best resources available, along with access to the capital it takes to launch a successful venture.  The competition will have three $10,000 cash prizes up for grabs this year.

The cash awards are just one of the benefits. Brian and Coreen Berdahl, from Red Lake Falls, MN, were 2013 winners for their business idea, the Spot-Knot.  "The toughest part about moving forward with an idea is finding out how the public views your product,” said Brian Berdahl. “The IDEA competition exposes your product to business-minded individuals who offer straight-forward feedback regarding your product, sales approach, and business plan. Being chosen as a winner gives you a confidence boost, and a belief in what you are trying to accomplish. ‘You can't win if you don't play!’" 

Jeff Sullivan of NID Inc, located in Bemidji, who was a 2011 and a 2012 IDEA winner, agrees about the benefits of participating in the competition.  “Going through the application process and the workshops have already helped me gain information and tap into resources,” said Sullivan.  “I can also say that the competition offers much more than the financial boost from the prize money. The extra support and technical help throughout the year are additional perks that can have immeasurable benefits for the long term success of a business.  What a great opportunity for the many entrepreneurs of our region.” 

According to IDEA Competition project coordinator, Michelle Landsverk, the competition is unique.  “There are a lot of business plan competitions and a lot of invention competitions out there.  IDEA is distinctive, because it’s kind of a hybrid of the two,” said Landsverk.  “What we’re really looking for are people with good ideas and a solid plan for turning those ideas into profitable businesses here in Northwest Minnesota.”

Information about entering the competition can be found on the IDEA website, www.ideacompetition.org. 

IDEA has been made possible by the generous contributions of the following: 360° Manufacturing and Applied Engineering ATE Regional Center of Excellence, Arvig, Blandin Foundation, Border State Banks, Bremer Banks of Crookston and Warren, Minnkota Power, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Northwest Regional Small Business Development Center, Ultima Bank Minnesota, and University of Minnesota Crookston.

IDEA Competition Announces Four Winners for 2013

BEMIDJI, MN – April 24, 2013 – The IDEA Competition announced the names of four 2013 winners on Wednesday, April 24^th at the IDEA awards banquet held at the Ralph Engelstad Arena, Thief River Falls.  Each winner receives $10,000 in cash to advance their business idea, plus additional specialized technical assistance. 

The 2013 Winners are:

* Brian & Coreen Berdahl, Red Lake Falls, for Spot-Knot – a fast, easy, and economical on-the-spot slip knot tie device that is the only one of its kind in the fishing industry.

* Dr. Jack V. Lundbohm, Roseau, for Stand Alone Game Calls – an elk hunting call that allows an elk hunter to hunt alone while remotely operating a call that is set up in a second location.

* Tim and Jenny Slukynsky, Warroad, for Lamplighter Hockey – a hockey stick weight that overcomes the weaknesses of other hockey stick training tools on the market today.

* Jerry Titera, Bagley, for Hubmaster Inc. – an innovative tool that helps remove the tapered wheel hub from bobcat skidsteers for routine maintenance and repair.

  

The main goal of the IDEA competition is to assist promising local entrepreneurs in the commercialization of innovative products, processes and deliveries by connecting them to the best resources available, along with access to the capital it takes to launch a successful venture. 

The IDEA Hall of Fame added Mark Larson, president and chief operating officer of Digi-Key Corporation, and Ron Stordahl, founder and chief executive officer of Digi-Key Corporation.  The IDEA Hall of Fame was established to recognize the accomplishments of the region’s legacy innovators—those within the region who have inspired others with their entrepreneurial vision, leadership and achievement.

In the previous three years, 17 innovators from throughout northwestern Minnesota have received IDEA awards. Their combined economic impact includes:

•  High potential innovations identified, funded, and assisted: seventeen

•  Jobs created or retained as a result: forty-two

•  Job creation projections: fifty or more

•  Total combined sales revenues: more than $5 million

•  Number of loans approved: thirteen

IDEA sponsors are 360◦ Manufacturing and Applied Engineering Center of Excellence, Arvig, Bremer Bank of Crookston and Warren, Leonard Street and Deinard, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Headwaters Regional Development Commission, Northwest Regional Small Business Development Center, and University of Minnesota Crookston.  IDEA was made possible through a generous grant from the Blandin Foundation.

IDEA Competition Opens for Applications September 1

BEMIDJI, MN  --  September 1, 2012 marks the beginning of the fifth year of the IDEA Competition.  Over the course of the last four years, nearly $250,000 has been awarded to Northwest Minnesota entrepreneurs.

The purpose of the competition is to assist the most promising local entrepreneurs in the commercialization of innovative products, processes and deliveries by connecting them to the best resources available, along with access to the capital it takes to launch a successful venture.  The competition awards as many as five $10,000 prizes each year to winning ideas.

The cash awards are just one of the benefits. Jay Fisher, from Warroad, MN, was a 2012 IDEA winner for his business idea, Eleven Hockey.  "The IDEA Competition was an engaging experience that helped us with every facet of our business,” Fisher said   “The business plan writing process was a lot of work, but puts our product on a solid foundation going forward.  Winning means that we get to keep working with a great business coach and we are very excited about what the future will bring.”

Jeff Sullivan of NID Inc, located in Bemidji, who was a 2011 and a 2012 IDEA winner, agrees about the benefits of participating in the competition.  “Going through the application process and the workshops have already helped me gain information and tap into resources,” Sullivan said.  “I can also say that the competition offers much more than the financial boost from the prize money. The extra support and technical help throughout the year are additional perks that can have immeasurable benefits for the long term success of a business.  What a great opportunity for the many entrepreneurs of our region.” 

IDEA Competition project coordinator, Michelle Landsverk, says the competition is unique.  “There are a lot of business plan competitions and a lot of invention competitions out there.  IDEA is distinctive, because it’s kind of a hybrid of the two,” Landsverk said.  “What we’re really looking for are people with good ideas and a solid plan for turning those ideas into profitable businesses here in Northwest Minnesota.”

Information about entering the competition can be found on the IDEA website, www.ideacompetition.org. 

IDEA has been made possible by the generous contributions of the following: 360° Manufacturing and Appl ied Engineering Center of Excellence, Blandin Foundation, Bremer Banks of Crookston and Warren, Headwaters Regional Development Commission, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Northwest Regional Development Commission,  Northwest Regional Small Business Development Center, and University of Minnesota, Crookston.

IDEA Competition Winners for 2012

BEMIDJI, MN – April 26, 2012 – The IDEA Competition announced the names of five 2012 winners on Wednesday, April 25^th at the IDEA awards banquet held at the Sanford Center, Bemidji.  Each winner receives $10,000 in cash to advance their business idea, plus additional specialized technical assistance. 

The 2012 Winners are:

* Jay Fisher & James Marvin, Warroad, for Eleven Hockey -- Hockey stick manufacturer in Warroad that offers custom, unique, and historical hockey stick products.

* Mark Landes & Jennifer DeBarr, Bemidji, for Shield Snip -- Innovative hand tool to simplify the process of trimming STP and coaxial shield quickly and precisely.

* William & Julia Stephani, Puposky, for Slot Rail Fence -- Revolutionary way to construct a stronger and more-appealing wooden rail fence that is easier for DIYs to build than what is currently offered in the market. 

* Brady & Jodi Dyrdahl, Shevlin, for  The Sidekick -- Snowmobile work stand that stabilizes the sled, making it easier to perform repairs and enhancements underneath the snowmobile.

* Jeff Sullivan, Bemidji, for Varimax Evaporator -- Precision evaporative technology for environmentally responsible and cost effective disposal of surplus industrial and agricultural waste water.

The main goal of the IDEA competition is to assist promising local entrepreneurs in the commercialization of innovative products, processes and deliveries by connecting them to the best resources available, along with access to the capital it takes to launch a successful venture. 

The IDEA Hall of Fame added William S. “Bill” Marvin, founder of Marvin Windows and Doors in Warroad.  The IDEA Hall of Fame was established to recognize the accomplishments of the region’s legacy innovators—those within the region who have inspired others with their entrepreneurial vision, leadership and achievement.

In the previous three years, 13 innovators from throughout northwestern Minnesota have received IDEA awards. Their combined economic impact includes:

· Ten winners reaching commercialization

· Total sales $4.3 million

· Creation of  23 jobs and estimate the creation of at least 50 more jobs

· 13 loans have been approved

The next IDEA competition opens in September, 2012.  Northwest Minnesota innovators are encouraged to consider entering the next round of competition.  For more information, visit the IDEA website:  www.ideacompetition.org.

IDEA sponsors are Bremer Bank, Crookston and Warren, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, 360◦ Manufacturing and Applied Engineering Center of Excellence, Headwaters Regional Development Commission, Northwest Regional Development Commission, and University of Minnesota, Crookston.  Additional partners include Ingenuity Frontier, Bemidji State University, Enterprise Minnesota, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, and Northland Community and Technical College.  IDEA was made possible through a generous grant from the Blandin Foundation.

IDEA Competition Opens for Fourth Year

Entrepreneurs with breakthrough business ideas are encouraged to enter the IDEA Competition, which opens for the fourth year on September 1st. Over the course of the last three years, nearly $200,000 has been awarded to Northwest Minnesota entrepreneurs.

The purpose of the competition is to assist the most promising local entrepreneurs in the commercialization of innovative products, processes and deliveries by connecting them to the best resources available, along with access to the capital it takes to launch a successful venture.

Participants receive:
• Access to valuable tools and resources
• The opportunity to refine their investor pitch
• Attention in the media
• A chance to pitch their idea to potential investors and leaders in the business community
• A chance to win one of five $10,000 cash awards

Visit the website for more information or to enter: www.ideacompetition.org.

IDEA has been made possible by the generous financial contributions of the following: 360° Manufacturing and Applied Engineering Center of Excellence, Blandin Foundation, Bremer Banks of Crookston and Warren, Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Northwest Regional Small Business Development Center, and University of Minnesota, Crookston.

2011 IDEA Winners Announced

CROOKSTON, MN – May 18, 2011 -- The IDEA Competition announced its four 2011 winners on Tuesday, May 17 in Crookston at an awards banquet held on the University of Minnesota, Crookston campus. Two of the winners – Craft Night Out and Grand Steer – are located in Thief River Falls. The other two winners – EquipAll GrappleHoe and LaValley Industries LLC – are located in Bemidji. Each winner will receive $10,000 in cash to advance their business idea, plus additional specialized technical assistance.

Craft Night Out (CNO) is owned by Kristine Goddard-Anderson and Elizabeth Petersen. Their innovative business model brings the joy of crafting to the home-party setting, turning the home-party sales model on its head. It eliminates in-home sales and instead, creates a pre-party, web-based sales model. Complete craft kits, pre-selected by each guest, will be shipped direct to the party hostess with all the supplies needed to create the projects together at the craft party. Kits can also be purchased for individual use. Craft Night Out takes the focus off the sales pitch and gives women more time for fun, creativity and connection with friends.

Grand Steer owners Fred Hartmann, Chuck Odegaard, and Al Aaseby have developed the Turn@bout, an add-on piece of equipment for pallet jacks that greatly enhances their function and maneuverability. On its own, a pallet jack can be difficult and time consuming to maneuver into position without kicking or lifting the front of the jack, but with a set of Turn@bout’s installed, the turning radius is cut in half, eliminating most handling difficulties, wasted time and safety issues.

The EquipAll GrappleHoe, owned by Jeff Sullivan and Arnold Kleinsasser, is described as very likely the most useful multi-purpose tool you can put on a skidsteer. The EquipAll GrappleHoe offers a unique combination of two of the most common attachments: the grapple for grabbing & carrying, and the backhoe for digging and trenching. This single, unique tool can be used for stump removal, septic systems, demolition, burn piles, log handling, rocks, concrete & asphalt chunks, grub rake, fence post removal, hay bales, rip-rap, water lines, foundation footings, trenching electric cables, water lines to eight feet deep, and much more.

LaValley Industries LLC, owned by Jason LaValley, Jorge Prince and Roger LaValley, has designed the PIPEMATE, which will work in conjunction with an automatic welding unit to dramatically improve both the speed and safety of the tie-in welding process for the pipeline industry. It is anticipated that the automated process of the PIPEMATE will cut the time spent on the tie-in process by 75%, while removing all field personnel from the dangerous work in the trenches. It is also expected to lower labor costs by reducing the need for at least two field workers in any tie-in process.

The IDEA Hall of Fame added two Northwest Minnesota innovators: Glen Brazier, founder of MATTRACKS, and Dennis Brazier, founder of Central Boiler, were inducted at the banquet. The IDEA Hall of Fame was established to recognize the accomplishments of the region’s legacy innovators—those within the region who have inspired others with their entrepreneurial vision, leadership and achievement.

The next IDEA competition opens in September, 2011. Northwest Minnesota innovators are encouraged to consider entering the next round of competition. For more information, visit the IDEA website: www.ideacompetition.org.

Round One IDEA Winners Announced

Bemidji, MN – January 18, 2011-- Seventeen ideas with the potential to be profitable business ventures were recently advanced to round two of the IDEA Competition. Round one of the competition closed December 31 and judges reviewed all submissions in early January.

The 17 winners were chosen from a wide geographic area. "We received applications from all over the region – Argyle, Bagley, Bemidji, Crookston, Fosston, Lake Bronson, McIntosh, Nevis, Park Rapids, Thief River Falls, and Warroad," said Michelle Landsverk, project coordinator. "We were extremely pleased with the quality of all the applications that we saw this year. Northwest Minnesota is truly a region of innovators."

The round one winners will now advance to the second round, for which they will have to submit a more detailed plan, due by February 28, 2011. From there, a panel of judges will select the finalists who will compete in the last round. The final judging takes place May 10. Up to five winners will each receive $10,000 to advance their innovative idea.

The main goal of the IDEA competition is to assist the most promising local entrepreneurs in the commercialization of innovative products, processes and deliveries by connecting them to the best resources available, along with access to the capital it takes to launch a successful venture.

The IDEA Competition is a project of Ingenuity Frontier, a collaboration of partners joined by a common purpose — to grow the economy of Northwest Minnesota by outfitting the next generation of homegrown innovators for success in the global marketplace. IDEA sponsors are 360º Center for Manufacturing and Applied Engineering Center of Excellence, Bremer Banks of Crookston and Warren, Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation, the Northwest Minnesota Foundation, University of Minnesota, Crookston, and the Northwest Regional Small Business Development Center. IDEA was made possible through a generous grant from the Blandin Foundation.

Innovators who missed this year’s entry deadline are encouraged to continue refining their business ideas and enter the competition next year in September. For more information on the competition, visit the IDEA website: www.ideacompetition.org.