Collegiate teams win plan honors

Five collegiate teams from northern Nevada schools won cash prizes in the annual Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup College Business Plan Competition.

Winners were announced last week in the program overseen by Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology.

EscaZyme Biochemicals LLC of the University of Nevada, Reno, won the $25,000 first prize in the graduate division.

The company uses a new process developed by researchers at the UNR Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology to manufacture component chemicals for use in the pest-control and other industries.

The team was advised by Rod Jorgensen of the Nevada Small Business Development Center.

DataBeam Inc., a UNR team that patented a method to store electronic information at the molecular level, won the $15,000 second prize in the graduate division.

It was advised by Matt Westfield of Startup Growth Strategies Inc.

ElectroVentures Inc., a UNR team that provides clothing and accessories to the electronic dance music industry, won the $10,000 third prize in the graduate division.

It was advised by Doug Erwin, vice president of entrepreneurial development for the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada.

In the undergraduate division, a Sierra Nevada College team’s plan for Pure Ski Experience won the $15,000 second-place honor. The company wants to create a way to share the teaching of world-class skiers.

The team’s advisor is Rick Normington, a professor at Sierra Nevada College.

CH4OICE, a UNR team that developed a plan to extract carbon dioxide from the air for conversion into renewable methanol, won the Lt. Governor’s Award for best green-business plan. The award carries a $10,000 prize.

It was advised by Carl Nesbit, an associate professor of mineral engineering at UNR.

Teams from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, took first- and third-place honors in the undergraduate division.

NNBW staff