Inside VT KnowledgeWorks

Be a Global Host Family for Global Partnership Week

From Lindsey Eversole, Global Partnership Manager, VT KnowledgeWorks:

We are starting to sign up host families for our 2012 VT KnowledgeWorks Global Partnership Week, August 19-25, 2012.  We hope you will consider the opportunity to participate in this global event! 

We already have student teams who will attend from Tech University of Malaysia, Tongji University, China, Telcom SudParis, France, University of Trento, Italy, University of Kent, England, Vienna University of Technology, Austria, and Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.  We are in discussion with more universities about their participation and expect even more attendees than last year!

If you are able to commit to being a host family at this time, we would appreciate hearing back from you at your earliest convenience.  For more information about being a host family, please contact me at leversole@vtknowledgeworks.com.

Pictures of the 2011 Global Challenge Celebration can be seen on VT KnowledgeWorks on Facebook and VTKW Global Student Challenge on Facebook. You're invited to view the guide listing all participating finalist teams in the 2011 Global Challenge and to read more about the Global Partnership on Inside VT KnowledgeWorks and the Global Student Business Concept Challenge on Inside VT KnowledgeWorks.

VT KnowledgeWorks encourages and enables creative entrepreneurship world-wide, through innovative curriculum, local business resource centers, and a global network of cooperating regions, all focused on three essential contributors to success: clear understanding of fundamental business principles; access to timely, relevant information; and meaningful personal and corporate relationships. It is a subsidiary of the Virginia Tech Foundation, funded through the continuing confidence and enthusiasm of its clients, sponsors and friends, both corporate and individual. Its world headquarters is in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center in Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.

You're invited to keep in-the-know about VT KnowledgeWorks on Facebook and Twitter.

VT KnowledgeWorks sponsors include Attaain, Inc., BB&T, The Branch Group, Handshake 2.0, Harris Office Furniture, Hodges, Jones & Mabry, P.C., Hutchison Law Group, LeClairRyan, New River Valley Intellectual Property Law, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) and The Becher Agency (TBA).

Global Partnership Winners Kimeltu in the News

Top honors in the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Student Business Concept Challenge, a $25,000 grand prize and the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Challenge Trophy went to Guillermo Vargas Keith, Matias Rojas, Andrés Testón, and Mauricio Ulloa of team Kimeltu representing Pontifical Catholic University of Chile in Santiago, Chile.  Their winning concept is a web platform which allows educators to measure students’ performance and to monitor their progress by taking easily generated tests.

The global winners are getting global press coverage.  Congratulations again to Kimeltu!

Chilean team wins business concept contest

Decano Juan Carlos De la Llera destaca a ganadores de VT KnowledgeWorks

Estudiantes chilenos ganan importante concurso de emprendimiento en Virginia Tech

Emprendimiento nacido en el DCC triunfa en Virginia Tech

Please click the image for a larger view.

The VT KnowledgeWorks Global Partnership Week and VT KnowledgeWorks Global Student Business Concept Challenge were made possible thanks to the generous Global Partnership Event sponsors: Allegheny Brokerage Company, Inc., CCS-Inc., Economic Development Authority of Montgomery County, VA, G.J. Hopkins Inc., Interactive Achievement, Inc., LeClairRyan, LewisGale Hospital – Montgomery, Newport News Shipbuilding, aDivision of Huntington Ingalls Industries, Novozymes, Rackspace, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), StellarOne, TechLab, Third Security, The Branch Group Inc., VPT, Inc.

In addition, we thank other contributors to the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Partnership Week.

Highlights from the Second Annual VT KnowledgeWorks Global Partnership Week

The Second Annual VT KnowledgeWorks Global Partnership Week held on August 21 - August 27, 2011, provided a unique opportunity for student teams and faculty from all over the world to collaborate and initiate their personal global networks through learning, socialization, and friendly competition in Blacksburg and Roanoke, Virginia.  During this week-long celebration of entrepreneurship, student teams from Austria, Canada, Chile, England, France, and the USA competed for a $25,000 grand prize and the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Challenge Trophy. 

Top honors went to Guillermo Vargas Keith, Matias Rojas, Andrés Testón, and Mauricio Ulloa of team Kimeltu representing Pontifical Catholic University of Chile in Santiago, Chile.  Their winning concept is a web platform which allows educators to measure students’ performance and to monitor their progress by taking easily generated tests. As a permanent tribute to their outstanding effort, their name and university will be etched into the base of the Global Challenge Trophy, which will reside at VT KnowledgeWorks in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center. 

Two runner-up teams, Bio-Sense Diagnostics representing the University of Kent in England and OOHLALA Mobile representing the University of Toronto in Canada, each received $5,000. 

William Humphries, Phoebe Maund, Emma Perot, Claudia Rathje, and Caroline Tolley of team Bio-Sense Diagnostics presented a simple diagnostic test for the fast and efficient diagnosis of specific tumors, based on the concept of the home pregnancy test.  Peter Cen and James Dang of team OOHLALA Mobile presented a mobile application that helps college students navigate their campus life and provide a platform to student unions and services to engage with students.

The competition finals of VT KnowledgeWorks Global Student Business Concept Challenge at the Dumas Center on August 25, 2011 were part of a week-long celebration of student entrepreneurship and students’ important contributions to the global economy. Julie Newman, Executive Producer and on-air host for Blue Ridge PBS was the Master of Ceremonies of the Global Student Challenge.  At the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center on August 24, 2011, student attendees participated in an Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century Workshop led by Jim Flowers, Director of VT KnowledgeWorks, and attended the Tastes and Sounds of the Valleys Reception highlighting unique food and music of the New River and Roanoke Valleys. 

During the rest of their visit to Virginia, international teams remained in Blacksburg, housed by local families.  They spent interactive time with successful technology companies and enjoyed fellowship with Virginia Tech students of the German Club, Graduate School, Entrepreneur Club, and Pi Kappa Alpha.   Activities included tours of the Virginia Tech campus and Lane Stadium, a downtown souvenir shopping experience, and hike in the Cascades.    Festive meals highlighted the entire week, including the awards banquet and flag presentation ceremony at The Inn at Virginia Tech hosted by the Virginia Tech Office of Outreach and International Affairs.    

Pictures of the Global Challenge Celebration are available on VT KnowledgeWorks on Facebook and VTKW Global Student Challenge on Facebook.   You're invited to view the guide listing all participating finalist teams in the Global Challenge and to read more about the Global Partnership on Inside VT KnowledgeWorks and the Global Student Business Concept Challenge on Inside VT KnowledgeWorks.

All of this is made possible thanks to the generous Global Partnership Event sponsors: Allegheny Brokerage Company, Inc., CCS-Inc., Economic Development Authority of Montgomery County, VA, G.J. Hopkins Inc., Interactive Achievement, Inc., LeClairRyan, LewisGale Hospital – Montgomery, Newport News Shipbuilding, aDivision of Huntington Ingalls Industries, Novozymes, Rackspace, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), StellarOne, TechLab, Third Security, The Branch Group Inc., VPT, Inc.

In addition, we thank other contributors to the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Partnership Week.

Student Team from Chile Wins VT KnowledgeWorks Global Student Business Concept Challenge

Excerpt from Chilean team wins business concept contest by Jeff Sturgeon of The Roanoke Times:

Students from South America won $25,000 Thursday in Roanoke [Virginia] at a student business-concept contest, impressing a panel of judges with a concept for education software.

The students from Pontifical Catholic University in Santiago, Chile, pitched their concept for a company called Kimeltu, whose product enables educators to measure student performance.

They won the Global Student Business Concept Challenge, part of a weeklong celebration of student entrepreneurship put together by VT KnowledgeWorks, a business incubator at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, and other private sponsors.

Two groups each won a $5,000 runner-up prize: Bio-Sense Diagnostics, from Kent, England, and OOHLALA Mobile, of Toronto.

While in Blacksburg, [Virginia], the teams were housed with local families, spent time at technology companies, met with Virginia Tech students and attended celebrations including the Tastes and Sounds of the Valleys Reception. The contest was held at the Dumas Center for Artistic & Cultural Development in Roanoke.

Last year's winner was an Irish company that wants to market an outdoor heater that burns wood pellets. Vincent Murray, an official at Ecosy, said he intends to launch the company in spring 2012.

***

Citizens of the New River and Roanoke Valleys of Virginia attended the second annual VT KnowledgeWorks Global Student Business Concept Challenge on Thursday, August 25, 2011 at the Dumas Center in Roanoke, Virginia. Julie Newman was Master of Ceremonies. The finalist teams presented their business concept presentations to a panel of business leaders and competed for the $25,000 cash prize and VT KnowledgeWorks Global Challenge Trophy.

Please read more about the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Student Business Concept Challenge on Inside VT KnowledgeWorks.

Sponsors of the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Partnership Week include: Allegheny Brokerage Company, Inc., CCS-Inc., Economic Development Authority of Montgomery County, VA, G.J. Hopkins Inc., Interactive Achievement, Inc., LeClairRyan, LewisGale Hospital – Montgomery, Newport News Shipbuilding, a Division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, Novozymes, Rackspace, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), StellarOne, TechLab, Third Security, The Branch Group Inc., VPT, Inc.

Line-up of Competitors for Global Student Challenge

Citizens of the New River and Roanoke Valleys of Virginia are invited to attend the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Student Business Concept Challenge free of charge on Thursday, August 25, 2011 from 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the Dumas Center in Roanoke, Virginia. Julie Newman will be the Master of Ceremonies.  The finalist teams will present their business concept presentations before a panel of business leaders and compete for the $25,000 cash prize and VT KnowledgeWorks Global Challenge Trophy. The top two runners-up will receive $5,000 cash prizes.  Please register to attend the Global Student Challenge.

The finalist student teams are listed in alphabetical order by business concept.  Included in each listing is the team's university, country and business concept description.  Links lead to posts on Inside VT KnowledgeWorks with more information about each team.

Bio-Sense Diagnostics, University of Kent, United Kingdom

Bio-Sense Diagnostics offers a simple diagnostic test for the fast and efficient diagnosis of specific tumors.  Based on the concept of the home pregnancy test, the idea is easily adapatable towards other diseases.

INKeyboard, University of Trento, Italy

INKeyboard is an innovative technology-based keyboard. The new product innovates the keyboard experience by introducing e-ink buttons, which allows for more flexibility, fulfilling a widespread need among computer users.

Kera10, Wake Forest University, USA

Kera10 is the cosmetics arm of bio-materials regenerative company KN LLC. Kera10 has exclusive access to the proprietary biomedical grade keratin. Its parent company, KN LLC, manufactures and protects with 26 patents. Kera10 has demonstrated that this purified keratin performs better than the crude industry norms, and will provide innovative solutions to meet the ever changing demand for new products in numerous multi-billion dollar cosmetic industries.

Kimeltu, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Kimeltu is a web platform which allows educators to measure students performance and to monitor their progress by taking easily generated tests. It’s a freemium service where any person can create tests to be taken by a limited amount of students by choosing questions from a “public question bank” or by adding their own questions to the bank. Institutions can pay to generate their own, private question bank and to have access to detailed analysis of their students’ progress with easy-to-understand statistics. It also helps to validate and measure questions' difficulty, guaranteeing high quality tests. In the future, it will become an e-market where institutions can sell or share their question banks with others.

Lujure, Virginia Tech, USA

Lujure provides an easy-to-use, drag-and-drop platform that empowers everyone to easily create stunning Facebook fan pages. Our platform allows folks to grow their brands by creating fan pages that help with engaging their fans. We are constantly trying to stay ahead of our competition and it is important to us that we provide the best and most reliable fan page creation service.

OOHLALA Mobile, University of Toronto, Canada

OOHLALA is a mobile application that helps college students navigate their campus life, and provides a platform to student unions, and services to engage with students.

Protor, Vienna University of Technology, Austria

The Protor is an innovative propulsion system that will revolutionize the international shipping industries, as it promises fuel reductions of up to an incredible 15%.

We Pulse, Telecom SudParis, France

With We Pulse you can buy tickets for almost anything from your Smartphone, in front of an ad in the metro or in a newspaper and in just 2 steps. Scan the QR-Code on the advertisement and We Pulse will provide you with information on the product and let's you buy it! Thanks to We Pulse, shopping has never been so easy...and advertising has never been that effective!

***

The Global Student Challenge finals are part of the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Partnership Week, August 21-27, 2011, a week-long celebration of student entrepreneurship. While in Blacksburg, Virginia the teams are housed with local families, spend interactive time with successful technology companies, enjoy fellowship with Virginia Tech students, and attend several celebratory meals, including the Tastes and Sounds of the Valleys Reception on Wednesday, August 24.

VT KnowledgeWorks Global Student Challenge
Thursday, August 25, 2011
8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Dumas Center
108 Henry Street
Roanoke, Virginia
Google Maps

 
(Note:  Henry Street and 1st Street have recently been renamed in Roanoke, Virginia.  Here's a Google Maps link to the Dumas Center with its 108 1st Street Northwest address.)

Sponsors of the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Partnership Week include: Allegheny Brokerage Company, Inc., CCS-Inc., Economic Development Authority of Montgomery County, VA, G.J. Hopkins Inc., Interactive Achievement, Inc., LeClairRyan, LewisGale Hospital – Montgomery, Newport News Shipbuilding, a Division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, Novozymes, Rackspace, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), StellarOne, TechLab, Third Security, The Branch Group Inc., VPT, Inc.

Julie Newman to Be Master of Ceremonies, Global Student Business Concept Challenge

VT KnowledgeWorks is pleased to announce the Master of Ceremonies of the Global Student Business Concept Challenge, Julie Newman, Executive Producer and on-air host for Blue Ridge PBS.  The Global Student Challenge offers nine student teams from all over the world a chance to present their business concept presentations before a panel of business leaders and compete for the $25,000 cash prize on Thursday, August 25, from 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the Dumas Center in Roanoke, Virginia. 

Newman has a dozen years of experience as a broadcast journalist and producer. In just two years at Blue Ridge PBS, she has led the station to 19 state and national awards, including its first two Emmys.
 
Citizens of the New River and Roanoke Valleys are invited to attend the Global Student Challenge free of charge on Thursday, August 25, 2011.  The contest finals are part of a week-long celebration of student entrepreneurship during the Global Partnership Week.  The Global Partnership Week August 21 – August 27, 2011, offers university students and faculty a chance to congregate, collaborate, form partnerships, and build their global networks.

Registration is also open for the Tastes and Sounds of the Valleys Reception on Wednesday, August 24, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at Hotel Roanoke to welcome our global guests and celebrate our region with food and music unique to our area.  Please register for the Global Student Challenge and/or Reception.

For questions or more information, contact Christine Pushaw at 540-443-9100 or via email at christine.pushaw@vtknowledgeworks.com.

Sponsors of the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Partnership Week include: Allegheny Brokerage Company, Inc., CCS-Inc., Economic Development Authority of Montgomery County, VA, G.J. Hopkins Inc., Interactive Achievement, Inc., LeClairRyan, LewisGale Hospital – Montgomery, Newport News Shipbuilding, a Division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, Novozymes, Rackspace, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), StellarOne, TechLab, Third Security, The Branch Group Inc., VPT, Inc.

Global Student Challenge Finalists Announced

VT KnowledgeWorks is pleased to announce the nine finalist teams competing for the $25,000 grand prize in the Global Student Business Concept Challenge in conjunction with the Global Partnership Week from August 21-27, 2011.  The objectives of the challenge are to celebrate the energy and creativity of university students, recognize their important contributions to the global economy, and encourage them to develop their entrepreneurial ideas. 
 
Citizens of the New River and Roanoke Valleys are invited to attend the Global Student Challenge free of charge on Thursday, August 25, 2011 from 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the Dumas Center in Roanoke, Virginia.  The finalist teams will present their business concept presentations before a panel of business leaders and compete for the $25,000 cash prize and VT KnowledgeWorks Global Challenge Trophy.  The top two runners-up will receive $5,000 cash prizes.

The finalist student teams are Bio-Sense Diagnostics, University of Kent, United Kingdom; Café Isabelita, Universidad del Norte, Colombia; INKeyboard, University of Trento, Italy; Kera10, Wake Forest University, USA; Kimeltu, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile; Lujure, Virginia Tech, USA; OOHLALA Mobile, University of Toronto, Canada; Protor, Vienna University of Technology, Austria; We Pulse, Telecom SudParis, France.

The contest finals are part of a week-long celebration of student entrepreneurship.  While in Blacksburg, Virginia the teams are housed with local families, spend interactive time with successful technology companies, enjoy fellowship with Virginia Tech students, and attend several celebratory meals, including the Tastes and Sounds of the Valleys Reception.  

Registration is also open for the Tastes and Sounds of the Valleys Reception on Wednesday, August 24, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at Hotel Roanoke to welcome our global guests and celebrate our region with food and music unique to our area.  You're invited to register for both events.

For questions or more information, contact Christine Pushaw at 540-443-9100 or via email at christine.pushaw@vtknowledgeworks.com.

Sponsors of the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Partnership Week include: Allegheny Brokerage Company, Inc., CCS-Inc., Economic Development Authority of Montgomery County, VA, G.J. Hopkins Inc., Interactive Achievement, Inc., LeClairRyan, LewisGale Hospital – Montgomery, Newport News Shipbuilding, a Division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, Novozymes, Rackspace, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), StellarOne, TechLab, Third Security, The Branch Group Inc., VPT, Inc.

VT KnowledgeWorks Global Student Business Concept Challenge Showcase of Teams: Vienna University of Technology

University teams will be competing in the 2011 VT KnowledgeWorks Global Student Business Concept Challenge during the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Partnership Week in Blacksburg and Roanoke, Virginia, USA, August 21-27, 2011.

VT KnowledgeWorks Global Student Business Concept Challenge Showcase of Teams

Vienna University of Technology

Business concept and description:

• Protor
• The Protor is an innovative propulsion system that will revolutionize the international shipping industries, as it promises fuel reductions of up to an incredible 15%.

The Vienna University of Technology team will be competing in the 2011 VT KnowledgeWorks Global Student Business Concept Challenge for the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Challenge Trophy and the $25,000 Grand Prize during the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Partnership Week in Blacksburg and Roanoke, Virginia, USA, August 21-27, 2011.

Registration is open for participants, advertisers, and attendees of the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Partnership Week. Tastes and Sounds of the Valleys, the kick-off reception for the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Partnership Week, will be held on Wednesday, August 24, 2011, 5:30 PM - 7:30 - PM, at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center in Roanoke, Virginia.

Sponsors of the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Partnership Week include: Allegheny Brokerage Company, Inc., CCS-Inc., Economic Development Authority of Montgomery County, VA, G.J. Hopkins Inc., Interactive Achievement, Inc., LeClairRyan, LewisGale Hospital – Montgomery, Newport News Shipbuilding, a Division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, Novozymes, Rackspace, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), StellarOne, TechLab, Third Security, The Branch Group Inc., VPT, Inc.

VT KnowledgeWorks Global Student Business Concept Challenge Showcase of Teams: Universidad del Norte

University teams will be competing in the 2011 VT KnowledgeWorks Global Student Business Concept Challenge during the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Partnership Week in Blacksburg and Roanoke, Virginia, USA, August 21-27, 2011.

VT KnowledgeWorks Global Student Business Concept Challenge Showcase of Teams

Universidad del Norte

Business concept and description:

• Café Isabelita
• Café Isabelita is a Colombian commercializer of organic coffee that meets customers' exquisite taste through our direct distribution channels. The vision of growth for 2016 is to profile coffee that will meet the customers' needs and specifications nationwide and to develop opportunities to export.

 
Pictured:  Iliana Delgado Chegwin of team Café Isabelita form the Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla, Colombia

The Universidad del Norte team will be competing in the 2011 VT KnowledgeWorks Global Student Business Concept Challenge for the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Challenge Trophy and the $25,000 Grand Prize during the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Partnership Week in Blacksburg and Roanoke, Virginia, USA, August 21-27, 2011.

Registration is open for participants, advertisers, and attendees of the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Partnership Week. Tastes and Sounds of the Valleys, the kick-off reception for the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Partnership Week, will be held on Wednesday, August 24, 2011, 5:30 PM - 7:30 - PM, at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center in Roanoke, Virginia.

Sponsors of the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Partnership Week include: Allegheny Brokerage Company, Inc., CCS-Inc., Economic Development Authority of Montgomery County, VA, G.J. Hopkins Inc., Interactive Achievement, Inc., LeClairRyan, LewisGale Hospital – Montgomery, Newport News Shipbuilding, a Division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, Novozymes, Rackspace, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), StellarOne, TechLab, Third Security, The Branch Group Inc., VPT, Inc.

VT KnowledgeWorks Global Student Business Concept Challenge Showcase of Teams: University of Toronto

University teams will be competing in the 2011 VT KnowledgeWorks Global Student Business Concept Challenge during the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Partnership Week in Blacksburg and Roanoke, Virginia, USA, August 21-27, 2011.

VT KnowledgeWorks Global Student Business Concept Challenge Showcase of Teams

University of Toronto

Business concept and description:

• OOHLALA Mobile
• OOHLALA is a mobile application that helps college students navigate their campus life, and provides a platform to student unions, and services to engage with students.

University of Toronto team pictured left to right:  Danial Jameel and James Dang

The University of Toronto team will be competing in the 2011 VT KnowledgeWorks Global Student Business Concept Challenge for the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Challenge Trophy and the $25,000 Grand Prize during the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Partnership Week in Blacksburg and Roanoke, Virginia, USA, August 21-27, 2011.

Registration is open for participants, advertisers, and attendees of the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Partnership Week. Tastes and Sounds of the Valleys, the kick-off reception for the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Partnership Week, will be held on Wednesday, August 24, 2011, 5:30 PM - 7:30 - PM, at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center in Roanoke, Virginia.

Sponsors of the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Partnership Week include: Allegheny Brokerage Company, Inc., CCS-Inc., Economic Development Authority of Montgomery County, VA, G.J. Hopkins Inc., Interactive Achievement, Inc., LeClairRyan, LewisGale Hospital – Montgomery, Newport News Shipbuilding, a Division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, Novozymes, Rackspace, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), StellarOne, TechLab, Third Security, The Branch Group Inc., VPT, Inc.