Besting collegiate teams from across Kentucky, UofL College of Business students swept four of the eight prizes—including the top two awards for business plans—at the 2008 Idea State U., the new statewide business plan and concept competition created by the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development.

     In all, four teams and two faculty advisors from the college took home prize money, collecting more than $60,000 of the $100,000 in awards available.  The competition, one of the largest state-sponsored events in the U.S., featured 15 teams from six of Kentucky’s public universities, including the University of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky, Western Kentucky, Morehead and Kentucky State. Events included a team trade show exhibit, elevator pitches and oral presentations.
     “I congratulate all of our teams and the faculty who played a role in their development,” said College of Business Dean Charlie Moyer.  “Their performance clearly demonstrated why we are one of the top entrepreneurship programs in the country.”
     The Partum Group and Springboard Wellness, both teams from the UofL entrepreneurship MBA (IMBA) program, finished first in the graduate-level business plan competition and second in the business concept categories respectively.
     The Partum Group, which is comprised of students Divya Cantor MD, Katie Dawson and James Mudd, received $44,660—the competition’s single largest award—for its plan for a healthcare technology device that improves delivery room diagnosis of the stages of labor. Springboard Wellness (Robin Chin, Abby Lovan, Susan Friedrich, Keisha Mabry and Nancy Moore), earned second place honors and $3,504 for its concept for a web-based wellness program targeting stress reduction.
     IMBA Program Director Van Clouse, the college’s Cobb Family Professor of Entrepreneurship and faculty advisor to both teams, received $1,000 for being named top faculty advisor.
     In undergraduate-level competition, student teams representing the college’s entrepreneurship minor took first place in both the business plan and business concept categories. For its organic fast-food restaurant concept, the team of Green Amy’s (Ashley Bean, Fernando Jaen, Rob Kirkwood, Kit Lindsay, Amy Linnenbringer and Brad Niehaus) received $8,684.  Thorough Biz (Amy Burba, Thomas Cheng, Jordan Martin, Russ Meredith and William Van Meter) received $2,628 for its plan for a web portal specializing in equine business management.
     Sharon Kerrick, executive-in-residence in entrepreneurship and advisor for both undergrad teams, was awarded $250 for being named one of the top advisors at the competition.
     UofL College of Business programs in entrepreneurship are ranked among the best in the world, including a Top 20 ranking in 2006, 2007 and 2008 (#17) by US News and World Report and a Top 10 ranking from Entrepreneurship Magazine and Princeton Review.
     In addition to the IMBA program, the college offers an entrepreneurship minor and a PhD in entrepreneurship, one of only five in the U.S.
     The college also was recently named “one of the most important business schools in the world” by EDUNIVERSAL, a leading international academic consulting firm.