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Duke Start-Up Challenge 2010 Finalists & Runner-ups Announced!

Energy & Environment Track


Finalist


Green Wave Sciences - Green Wave Sciences seeks to develop solutions to crop pest problems through the use of electromagnetic radiation. Contact: Michael Bell at mike.bell@duke.edu

Runner Up

Ecoviator - Ecoviator provides online users the opportunity to search for, compare, and book Ecotoursim adventures.Contact: Laura Brodhead at laowbrodhead@hotmail.com

Healthcare & Life Sciences Track


Finalist


Rhexis Biomedical - Rhexis Biomedical has developed a disposable surgical instrument that improves the accuracy and reproducibility of cataract surgery, the most commonly performed outpatient surgery in the US. Contact: Michael McGroddyat pmm12@duke.edu and Alaina Pleatman at arp14@duke.edu

Runner Up

Eye Innovations - Medical device to treat Glaucoma Patients Contact: Roberto Alfaro at roberto.alfaro@duke.edu

IT & Media Track


Finalist


curvit - curvit fills the gap between online resumes and manually typed and formatted resumes by allowing the user to focus on the content, while curvit manages both online and hardcopy formatting. Contact: Drew Sadowski at drew.sadowski@fuqua.duke.edu

Runner Up

YourStory - YourStory is the key for preserving and sharing family oral histories. Contact: Thomas Thekkekandam at thekkeka@gmail.com

Products & Services Track


Finalist


Micropower - Imagine running a laptop for 24 hours without plugging into a wall. Micropower is developing an ethanol fueled microengine to increase portability for consumer electronics and government robots. Contact: William Gardner at wgg2@duke.edu

Runner Up

Colucci DANZA - Colucci DANZA will revolutionize the ballet pointe shoe market by offering shoes with superior value, safety, comfort Contact: Lina Colucci at colucci.lina@gmail.com

Social Enterprise Track


Finalist


The Progress and Purity Project - The Progress & Purity Project aims to improve quality of life in northern Afghanistan by empowering women to start businesses, help fellow Afghans through microfinance and handicraft fair trade, and decrease disease through chlorine purification. Contact: Stephanie  Fruth at stephanie.fruth@gmail.com

Runner Up

CertiRx - CertiRx Corporation, an AuthentiForm Technologies, LLC company, (CertiRx) develops products that reduce the growing global risk of injury or death from counterfeit drugs by which the people of developing nations are affected disproportionately. Contact: Hersh Tapadia at hersh.tapadia@gmail.com

Undergraduate-led Startups Track


Finalist


Wasabi - Restaurant quality Sushi. Casual dining prices. Wasabi will do for Sushi what Subway did for the sandwich.Contact: Shaan  Puri at svp5@duke.edu

Runner Up

Preservabowl - PreservaBowl: Keeping food fresher, longer. Contact: Spencer Kuzmier at spencer.kuzmier@duke.edu

Women-led Startups Track


Finalist


Colucci DANZA - Colucci DANZA will revolutionize the ballet pointe shoe market by offering shoes with superior value, safety, comfort Contact: Lina Colucci at colucci.lina@gmail.com

Runner Up

Kosh - Universalizing access to Education content - Kosh is an online knowledge repository that will aggregate and create engaging educational content in all formats. This virtual library will make educational media accessible at a nominal price and in regional Indian languages, to rural India Contact: Aparna Prasad at ap131@duke.edu



More information

  • The seven finalists will be giving a final pitch for a chance at the $25,000 grand prize. Learn more about our Investor Pitch Finals event on April 8, 2010
  • These teams were selected from 35 semi-finalists (which were selected from a starting pool of 109 teams). See the entire list of 2010 semi-finalists here
  • See the list of judges from the 2010 sem-finals
  • All fourteen teams above will compete for an audience choice award based on a 1-minute pitch. Learn more about the Grand Finale with Aaron Patzer '02, Founder and CEO of Mint.com on April 16, 2010
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