The Babson Forum and Polaroid present:

polaroid.gifThe $5,000 Opportunity Assessment Contest: What’s your big idea?

To support and highlight budding entrepreneurs, we’ve created the First Annual Opportunity Assessment Contest, proudly sponsored by Polaroid. The application process is now closed. We received More than 50 applications from entrepreneurs nationwide, as well as students from top business schools — including Babson, Cornell, Columbia, Dartmouth, Harvard, Northwestern, M.I.T., and Stanford. Many thanks to all who applied.We’re thrilled to announce our three finalists. Each team will present their idea at the Forum on Oct. 12. The winner gets $5,000.

* Embrace, a low-cost infant incubator that could save millions of lives in the developing world. Team members: Jane Chen, Linus Liang, Rahul Panicker, and Razmig Hovaghimian. (Stanford University)

* Hope Learning Center Network, private educational centers focused treating autism, which is the fastest-growing developmental disorder in the US. Team Members: Eric Allen and Scott Sweeney. (University of Rochester)* Rhea Mobility, clinically proven medical footwear for a mobile lifestyle. It is aimed at millions of baby boomers. Team members: Cary Shiao, Debarshi Sengupta, Ben Fritz, Dr. Roy Lidtke. (Northwestern)

Congratulations to our other semi-finalits:

* BagWag, an online social commerce network

* FreePlate, ad-supported license plates

* Generate Change, enabling charity via point-of-sale systems

* Gianna, environmentally sensitive fashion

* Intellectual Property Guide, a tool enabling quick assessment of IP portfolios* Mobile Solar Energy Solution (MSES), solar systems for truck-trailers* Ra Power, solar panels as a service* Vickie, a beer for women

* Watch-N-Build, interactive product assembly instructions

JUDGES:

  • Candida Brush, Paul T. Babson Chair in Entrepreneurship and Director of the new Babson Ph.D. program in entrepreneurship.
  • Lisa Jordan, a senior associate at Oxford Bioscience Partners and co-founder of several medical device firms. 
  • Giselle Garraway, a VP at Devonshire Investors, the private equity division of Fidelity Investments.
  • Diane Mulcahy, a knowledge expert at McKinsey & Co’s Corporate Finance Practice and author of two books on venture capital.
  • Tom Petters, Chairman and CEO of Petters Group Worldwide, a firm he started in 1988 with virtually no capital — and that now employs 2,300 people.

    • For more information, please download the Babson Forum Contest Details and review the Babson Forum Contest Rules, or email contest@babsonfei.com.