<%@LANGUAGE="VBSCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%> Enterprise Institute Assists Eight of the Qualifying Semi-Finalists at Governor’s Giant Vision 2008
 

Enterprise Institute Assists Eight of the Qualifying Semi-Finalists at Governor's Giant Vision 2008

Enterprise Institute client Jake Mills of Volga, SD won $5,000 in the Student Giant Vision competition for his innovative attachment for ATVs that allows the vehicle to navigate on water and snow as well as land.  He is in the process of launching his company and expects to have product selling by the fall of 2008.

$20,000 Winner The Bale Caddie

$10,000 Winners:

  • Prairie Scientific-Dan & Amy Engebretson started a Sioux Falls based company that is developing genetic tests that will help livestock producers identify the genetic potential of each animal.  The tests will allow producers to make on-the-spot determination that will help them manage the animal economically to enhance important traits such as meat tenderness or higher milk output.
  • Dakota Fire Systems

$2,500 Winners:

  • DSS Manufacturing-Matt Douglas.  A Brookings based company providing engineered products for client needs.  Their first contracts are focused on solutions for the railroad industry.
  • Krell Safety Products-Jordan Krell is a innovative high school senior from Plankinton, SD that has developed a patent pending electronic drowning alert system.

Finalists:

  • DataSync-a business that began in a basement in Madison, SD has grown into a software company founded by Mike Vetter of Sioux Falls, SD that delivers web-based productivity applications to businesses via a subscription service.
  • Hook a Rack
  • Native Legacy magazine

Semi-Finalists:

  • Findmeabid.com-Don Lipp. An Aberdeen based company that provides a web-based system for lead generation and connection service providers and customers.
  • Sky Blue Winds-Phillip Clark. A Hartford based company that has developed a revolutionary turbine blade for the wind farm market.
  • Can Dew Scientific-Dawn Lavigne.  A Lemmon based company focused on inventing new ways to use groundbased solar power systems.
  • Corgyn Recycled Glass
  • Dan Diego Tortilla Factory
  • Med-A-Ply
  • Purity Seeds
  • Ctrl+Alt+Green

The 4th annual Governor's Giant Vision Awards competition was held April 8th at the Sioux Falls Washington Pavilion.  The competition is an opportunity for South Dakota entrepreneurs to showcase their ideas in a tradeshow area and finalists have the chance to present to a panel of distinguished judges.  The entrants also have time for networking with other entrepreneurs, service providers, potential investors and industry representatives.  The Enterprise Institute continues its significant involvement in preparing innovators for this competition and looks forward to continued participation with the high-impact companies moving toward commercialization.