The 2017 Entrepreneurship Competitions were held at Salisbury University (SU) at the Perdue School of Business on April 21, 2017. Representing Dover and the Microwave Products Group's (MPG) local business unit, K&L Microwave, were Michele Garigliano, Jeff Burkett and Robin Hall who attended the event as judges.
The day-long event consists of three competitions. Dover’s Microwave Products Group/K&L Microwave sponsored the “Best Product Award” with a $10,000 grant, awarded during the “Invest in my Idea” Poster Competition. The grant was funded by the Dover Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Dover Corporation.
The competitions continue to grow with 50 business plans submitted this year, 16 of which were in the product category. William Burke, SU Executive Director for Economic Development and Director of the Entrepreneurship Competitions, attributed the increase of participation in part to a University-wide campaign to inform students of the competitions and the resources available to them.
15 teams participated in the second round, the “Gull Cage” competition, modeled after the popular show “Shark Tank”.
The winner of the “Best Product Award” was the Rapid Response Aero-Medical, created by senior Computer Science majors William Tippet and Tyler Smith. Their product was a drone-based automatic external defibrillator (AED) that can be sent to cardiac arrest patients in remote or distant locations. The unmanned aerial vehicle could be dispatched and deliver the potentially lifesaving device to the patient in advance of emergency care workers’ arrival.
Tyler Smith (left) and William Tippet, winners of the “Best Product” during the “Invest in My Idea” competition, presented by MPG/ K&L Microwave.
During the final awards ceremony, the local business leaders who volunteered their time as judges praised the students’ efforts.
“We’re so proud of all of you taking the extra steps,” said Kathy Kiernan, chair of the Perdue School Executive Advisory Council. “It makes us feel really positive about the future knowing there are people like you who are going to make it happen.”