2017 Brave Launch Competition Concludes

11/30/2017 12:00 AM

The Illinois Small Business Development Center and Turner Center for Entrepreneurship at Bradley University are excited to announce the successful completion of the 2017 Brave Launch program.

Brave Launch is a business accelerator modeled off of the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps accelerator program and Steve Blank’s Lean LaunchPad. The program allows entrepreneurs to improve the startup process through an innovative curriculum and real-world interactions. Each team participated in a seven-week intensive program which culminated in the final pitch-day, where participants had the opportunity to pitch to investors and those interested from the community.

The teams were judged on several aspects of their business pitches by a group of experienced business leaders. These scores were used to award several cash prizes during the closing ceremony on Pitch Day. In addition, all audience members were able to vote for their favorite pitch in the “People’s Choice Award.”

For more information, please visit the website. 

Awarded Teams:

Best Business Model – $2,000 prize
Ring Bandits – Goodfield, IL.
Bandit /’ban.dit/ : a stylish, functional bracelet with a hidden zipper pocket. Bandits are designed around everyday life & some of our most extraordinary adventures. In believing that everyone was crafted with purpose, we strive to encourage the #beYOU mentality and to do the best you can do in life. Bandits was homegrown from a simple idea & we continually strive to learn every step in the Bandits brand not only to better our lives, but better yours too.

People’s Choice Award – $1,000 prize and Best Pitch – $1,000 prize
Mobile Mount – Germantown Hills, IL.
Mobile Mount is a new piece of inventory for sports venues to generate more sponsorship revenue. Mobile mount is a new revenue generator for venues, a prime placement for maximum exposure for sponsors, and an added convenience for the fans.

Best Business Pivot – $1,000 prize
Digital Dipstick – Tremont, IL.
Digital Dipstick provides a digital dipstick to farmers with combines in order to simplify their maintenance routines and minimize equipment downtime. This product can expand into grain bins, construction, autonomous equipment, large engine generators/pumps, military, railroad, mining, chemical, drinking wells and marine applications.

Brave Launch Participants:
4:8 Home Services – Dunlap, IL.
4:8 Home Services offers its customers peace of mind and more free time by taking care of necessary basic home maintenance tasks.

Aunt Yogi’s Kitchen – Germantown Hills, IL
Aunt Yogi’s Kitchen is a meal-centered grocery store concept designed to reduce planning time and time spent in the store by combining into one location all the items needed to make a particular meal.

CRC Life – Peoria, IL
CRC Life is a 501 c 3 Non Profit that improves the quality of life for survivors, caregivers and families through Support, Advocacy and Survivorship Programs.

Rio Technologies, LLC. – Peoria, IL
This vest is a new design that has a provisional patent application. The vest
will provide convenience to anyone in the service industry that relies on having proper lighting and multiple storage options on them at all times during their job.

The Veggie Cart – Peoria, IL
The Veggie Cart is a vegetarian food cart with vegan options to the Greater Peoria Area. This company is committed to bringing healthier, delicious, and affordable cuisine to the citizens in the Peoria area!

Scious, Inc. – Peoria, IL
Scious is a data sourcing and visualization company.

2017 Brave Launch Gold Sponsors: Ameren Illinois and Greater Peoria Economic Development Council

2017 Brave Launch Silver Sponsor: Heartland Bank & Trust