Pushpins Named Judges Choice Champs of 2010 Executive Summary Contest

Pushpins was named the winner of the Overall Judges Choice award and mobile track winner for the 2009-2010 MIT $100K Executive Summary Contest.

The theme of the night was The Matrix and the MIT $100K’s search for “The One.” The competition organizers continued their efforts of combining entertainment with entrepreneurship, and created an evening full of excitement and comedy. The event started with a poster session where all semi-finalist teams displayed their ideas for the general public. Highlights of the evening included topics such as why a recession is a great time to be an entrepreneur, a preview of the upcoming MIT $100K Business Plan Contest, and an inspiring keynote address from Dr. Christina Lampe-Onnerud, CEO and Founder of Boston Power.

The night continued with $2,000 track prizes awarded to each of the six track winners, 60-second elevator pitches from each team, and the awarding of the Audience Choice and Judges’ Choice winners. The track winners were:

Track Winners

• Development: Vala – VALA is a company that uses mobile phone technology to instantly connect consumers to what they need and desire from vendors in the informal market of urban India.  VALA promises to increase the market activity of low-income vendors, while opening a sizeable profit potential through tiered fees, advertisement, and high-value data.
• Energy: OzComp Natural Gas Compressors - OzComp is a high efficiency double-acting compressor technology developed in conjunction with MIT with high serviceability and low weight/footprint for natural gas applications at the wellhead. Modular design and lower manufacturing cost are other benefits as well.
• Life Sciences: Hydrangle Systems - Hydrangle Systems has discovered a way for men diagnosed with prostate cancer to maintain potency while undergoing prostate cancer treatment surgeries. The Apex by Hydrangle Systems is a probe-like device that is used during prostate cancer “freezing” treatments to protect the “sex nerves” surrounding the prostate and preserve potency.
• Mobile: Pushpins – A viral and interactive couponing platform that pushes coupons as consumers browse and scan products in grocery and retail settings.
• Products and Services: Leotus Home Cooling - Leotus is redefining home cooling with a modular room air conditioner. Leotus’ patent pending technology splits the traditional unit into three parts- an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, and a connector bridge- resulting in a system that is safe and easy to install, tastefully designed, and allows full use of your window.
• Web/IT: peerTransfer – An innovative online international money transfer & payments startup out of MIT.  Thanks to its patent pending technology, it provides individuals and small businesses with a low cost alternative compared to international bank transfers, saving around $300 for every $10.000 sent while increasing convenience and reliability.

In addition, a $1,000 Audience Choice Award was chosen using technology from $100K alumni company, PollEverywhere, and awarded to Hydrangle Systems.

The night concluded with the awarding of the $3,000 Judges Choice Award to Pushpins.

Events are already underway for the MIT $100K Business Plan Contest, with a submission deadline on March 4. Semi-finalists will be announced at an event on March 11th and the finale event, where the MIT $100K will award over $350,000 in cash and prizes, will be on May 12th.