$500 available during UNeMed-sponsored contest

Anne York, Ph.D.

UNeMed Corporation, the technology transfer arm for UNMC, will present “How to Make Money and Protect Your Ideas” with Anne York, Ph.D., director of the entrepreneurship program at Creighton University, on Tuesday, Oct. 7.

The presentation will take place in Witson Hall, Room 3034 at noon with lunch provided on a first-come-first-served basis.

Dr. York developed an “Elevator Pitch” contest for Creighton University two years ago as a way for students, faculty and other innovators to learn how to present their ideas to investors to commercialize their inventions and ideas, while earning some money and having fun in the process.

The emphasis is on the “pitch.” Contestants put together a 60 second — or 200 word — pitch of their idea to present to a panel of judges.

“Think of it as if you are in an elevator with a venture capital investor, you have 60 seconds to ‘pitch’ your idea,” Dr. York said. “Inventors need to protect their ideas while trying to commercialize their inventions. This contest is one way they can learn how to do this.”

The contest, which offers three top cash prizes, pays $500 for first place.

“If you think of it in terms of an hourly rate, $500 for their one minute presentation translates to $300,000 for an hour’s work!” Dr. York said.

“If you think of it in terms of an hourly rate, $500 for their one minute presentation translates to $300,000 for an hour’s work!” Anne York, Ph.D.

York will give a short presentation detailing how the contest works and how to prepare for it. Contestants will register with UNeMed to compete. Registration information may be found on the UNeMed Web site at www.unemed.com or by e-mailing unemed@unmc.edu.

The contest, titled “You, the Investor, 60 Seconds.GO!” will take place during UNeMed’s Innovation Week festivities on Oct. 21 from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Durham Research Center, Room 1006.

In addition to the first place prize, the second place winner will earn $250 and the third place participant will earn $100.

The contest is open to all UNMC faculty, staff and students. The Dundee Bank has partnered with UNeMed to finance the project.

“UNeMed is excited to bring this event to campus,” said Michael Dixon, Ph.D., vice president and COO for UNeMed. “Entrepreneurship and the ability to translate science into business are vital skills for the 21st century.”