IC2 Student Commercialization Plan Competition at WBT2010

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ARLINGTON, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WBTshowcase announced today that is has partnered with IC² Institute at the University of Texas, Austin to produce a student commercialization plan competition at WBT2010. The “IC² & WBT University Technology Commercialization Competition” encourages graduate students to commercialize technologies developed at their universities and facilitate the resulting new ventures obtaining funding.

“WBTshowcase has a rich history in developing collaboration between investors, licensees and technology commercialization professionals. We specifically developed our Technology Commercialization Competition as a complement to WBTshowcase”
.The “IC² & WBT University Technology Commercialization Competition” will be held March 15-17, 2010 in Arlington, Texas during WBT2010, which is the premier showcase of the world's best vetted market-ready deal flow.

The Competition focuses on attracting student business plan teams who are working with technology developed at a university and are committed to launching their ventures. Each team will be required to include at least one graduate student.

Universities from across the United States are invited to send teams. The Competition winner will receive a cash award of $8,000 and an invitation to the Global MOOT CORP® Competition at The University of Texas at Austin in May. MOOT CORP® is the oldest operating inter-business school new-venture competition in the world.

The “IC² & WBT University Technology Commercialization Competition” builds on four previous competitions directed by Gary M Cadenhead, Ph.D., Master of Science (MSTC) Program Director, IC2, and sponsored by the Big 12 Center for Economic Development, Innovation and Commercialization (CEDIC).

The Competition offers students access to an audience of more than 100 angel investors, seed and early stage venture capitalists and corporate licensees in attendance at WBT2010. Students will also have the opportunity to network with technology entrepreneurs presenting their investment opportunity at the WBT2010.

“WBTshowcase has a rich history in developing collaboration between investors, licensees and technology commercialization professionals. We specifically developed our Technology Commercialization Competition as a complement to WBTshowcase,” said Dr. Cadenhead. “We created the IC² & WBT University Technology Commercialization Competition to motivate and celebrate entrepreneurship and the commercialization of technologies developed at universities across the United States.”

Features of this year’s Competition include:
  • Showcase and Elevator Pitch Competition: The Showcase will be included in the reception on March 15th and include each team giving a one minute pitch. The winner will take home $500.
  • Opening Round: All teams will present during the morning of March 16th in Divisions of four teams each. The winner of each Division will advance.
  • Finals: The finalists will compete before a different panel of judges on March 17th and the winner will be announced at the WBTshowcase luncheon.

Teams interested in participating in the “IC² & WBT University Technology Commercialization Competition” are encouraged to send a Letter of Intent to Dr. Cadenhead by February 12 that includes a brief description of the technology and a list of students involved. Up to two teams per university may enter. Business plans must be submitted electronically by March 8th. For additional information and updates, visit www.wbtshowcase.com/wbt/web.nsf/pages/bizplan.html.

Organizations or individuals interested in supporting the competition as a judge or sponsor should contact Dr. Cadenhead at gcadenhead@ic2.utexas.edu or Wiley Larsen at wlarsen@wbtshowcase.com.

WBT2010 is hosted by the Center for Innovation at Arlington, and co-hosted by the University of Texas at Arlington. For registration information, agenda, and a list of the 100 WBTshowcase presenters, visit www.WBTshowcase.com.

About WBTshowcase

The WBTshowcase is the world’s premier showcase converging revolutionary new energy, life science and information technologies to seed limitless solutions for current market needs. WBT2010 is produced by Development Capital Networks in cooperation with National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), National Association of Seed and Venture Funds (NASVF) and Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC).

Contacts
Patti D. Hill
Penman PR
512.218.0401
patti@penmanpr.com

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