Rohrer College of Business hosts Business Plan Competition

March 05, 2013

Rowan University’s Rohrer College of Business will host its seventh annual spring Business Plan Competition on Saturday, March 9, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Student Center's Eynon Ballroom.

The five top student teams will go head to head in the event, which drew an initial round of 68 competitors. The finalists will present their business concepts at the event before a panel of judges:

Howard Lubert Founder, Managing Partner and Senior Analyst, SafeHatch LLC

William Niland Chief Business Development Officer, Vapotherm Inc.

Katherine O’Neill Executive Director/Investor, JumpStart New Jersey Angel Network

Ray Rastelli Founder/Owner, Rastelli Foods Group

Ed Remster Owner/President, SJ Transportation, Inc.

Linda Rohrer President, Rohrer & Sayers Real Estate

The competition encourages the pursuit of entrepreneurial ventures and provides a forum in which students can present their ideas and win cash prizes to bring their dreams to fruition.  At stake: $10,000 in prize money, with a cash prize of $5,000 for the first-place winner.

The finalists are:

Versa Sneakers

Marisa Bush, Hometown: Mullica Hill, N.J.       Major: Entrepreneurship

Versa Sneakers Company created “The Versa,” a sneaker with an interchangeable bottom so the shoe can be transformed for various activities. The Versa features the cost and convenience benefits of the general sneaker, but it is suited for multiple activities and sports, ensuring safety and comfort for each individual activity when the wearer uses the appropriate bottom sole.

Dance To It Dance Studio 

Nina Guerra, Hometown: De Haven, N.J.         Major: Entrepreneurship

Dance to It Dance Studio brings affordable services with high-quality dance instruction to Cape May County, offering traditional dance classes and unique ones that are not offered by any other dance studio in the county. Dance to It Dance Studio will provide these offerings for targeted customers ranging from 25-54 years.

World Wide Car Key Locator

By Alex Kushner, Hometown: Lawrenceville, N.J.  Major: Marketing & Entrepreneurship

World Wide Car Key Locator is a tech company focused on the automotive enhancement market. The product is a smartphone mobile application to help people find their keys, working by tracking an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chip embedded in their key fobs.

Creative Design

By Kim Masishin, Hometown: Mount Laurel, N.J.   Major: Management

Creative Design plans to create a Pillow Blanket, a two-in-one product that provides the convenience of having a pillow attached to a fleece blanket. This product can be rolled up, with both elements secured, and it has handles so that it can travel everywhere owners go. The first product Creative Design would introduce is the EZ Napper, geared for children in daycare and nursery schools.

Innovative Belt Solutions

Mark Schneider, Hometown:  Swedesboro, N.J.         Major: Mechanical Engineering

Stephan Brinckmann, Hometown: Clinton, N.J.         Major: Mechanical Engineering

Mia Korngruen, Hometown: Cranford, N.J.                Major: Mechanical Engineering

William Sansalone, Hometown: Pittsgrove, N.J.        Major: Mechanical Engineering

Innovative Belt Solutions is a research-and-development firm that has developed and plans to patent and license a novel seatbelt design to automobile manufacturers globally. The seatbelt design is tailored to reduce seatbelt-associated injuries resulting from automobile accidents by reducing the peak force passengers experience, making it a safer alternative to the seatbelt design in automobiles today.

The presentations are free and open to the public.  For more information, visit rowan.edu/bpc2013. Those interested in attending should visit the following website to register: rohrerbpc2013.eventbrite.com.