The Fowler Business Concept Challenge, made possible through the Schulze School of Entrepreneurship, is entering its 10th year of competition this year. This challenge encourages students to come up with a unique product or service targeted at certain, desired consumers. There are two different ways a graduate or undergraduate student can compete: either through the Business Concept Track, which focuses on traditional commercial projects, or the Social Venture Track, where the product or service attempts to solve social problems. The winner of each category, along with the runner-ups, receives a scholarship to be used towards bettering their presented concept. In celebration of its 10-year anniversary, we're looking back at past winners and the significant impact they had on the St. Thomas community and beyond.
2009
Undergrad winner: 5th Corner Media
Matt Lichtfuss and Zach Neugebauer’s idea: Providing satellite music advertising in tanning beds.
Graduate winner: iApply
Derek Buschow, left, and Jeremiah Messerer, were the winners of the Fowler Business Concept Challenge in 2009.
Derek Buschow and Jeremiah Messerer’s idea: Streamline applicant evaluations used by employers.
2010
Undergrad winner: Student Frenzy
Matthew Scott and Sarah Tinsman
Graduate winner: Styptic fibrin bandage
Susan Wuollett and Michael Wuollett’s idea: A bandage that quickly halts clot bleeding.
2011
Undergrad winner: Cognific
Solome Tibebu’s idea: An application for mental health patients and health care providers.
Graduate winner: Variable-camber wheelchair
Nick Wagner, John Beitelspacher, and Jesse Sumstad
2012
Undergrad winner: The Pink Bow City Fashion Truck
Keona Tranby’s idea: A vintage clothing store on wheels.
Graduate winner: Coach
2013
Undergrad winner: Coffee Rocks!
Dennis Gisch and Jacob Rocheford’s idea: A new form of iced coffee.
Graduate winner: Lou Lou Ingredients
Social Venture winner: Fetch by Getitlocal
Benjamin Carlson’s idea: A web platform for small businesses to display products and services to local customers.
2014
Undergrad winner: Unique Pontoons
Associate Dean of Entrepreneurship Brian Abraham, left, with Jeremy Little.
Jeremy Little’s idea: A pontoon that expands and contracts with a built-in trailer.
Graduate winner: Homeowner Tracker
Social Venture winner: NetZro: food waste recovery and reharvest
Suzanne Marshall’s idea: Increasing awareness of eliminating food and water waste.
2015
Undergrad winner: EasyEatz
Graduate winner: ApplianceClearance.com
Julie Carlson’s idea: An online retailer of discount appliances.
Social Venture winner: elate
Katie Hasslinger and Aaron Redepenning’s idea: A Bluetooth menu reader bracelet for the blind.
2016
Undergrad winner: ExpressionMed
Student Meghan Sharkus poses for a portrait on the third floor of the Anderson Student Center Nov. 29, 2016.
Meghan Sharkus’s idea: New-and-improved adhesives for those with diabetic needs.
Graduate winner: Chinese Overseas Students Social Network
Lu Chen’s idea: A platform to meet people and share useful information while studying abroad.
Social Venture winner: FinMoto
2017
Business Concept winner: Safe in Sound
St. Thomas student Savannah Hufendick speaks during the Opus College of Business Schulze School of Entrepreneurship Fowler Business Concept Challenge in the Schulze Hall Auditorium on Nov. 17, 2017, in Minneapolis.
Savannah Hufendick’s idea: Earbuds that change volume to appropriate levels for ear protection.
Social Venture winner: Seraph 7 Studios
