Graduate Finalists

AACSS, Inc., UNLV AACSS,Inc. offers data support services to the construction and design industries. Our specific technological focus is 3D modeling and its large number of applications for these industries.
Team Captain: Paul Schiminsky, Management
Team Member: Randall Daugherty
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Janet Runge

Biometric Recognition, Inc., UNR   Biometric Recognition, Inc. was created by three accounting graduate students and one computer science doctorate student at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). The product involves hand-based recognition and authentication systems, and has been developed into a prototype at UNR under the direction of Dr. George Bebis.
Team Captain: Holly Soltani, Accountancy
Team Members:
Jacquelyn Long, Accountancy
Danielle Farris, Computer Science and Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Dr. George Bebis

Glyzen Technologies, UNR Glyzen Technologies has developed a process to remove waste generated from the biodiesel industry and converts them into clean and renewable energy sources as well as value added products such as glyceric acid.
Team Captain: York Smith, Chemical Engineering
Team Members:
Narasimharao Kondamudi, Materials Science Engineering
Zeina Randall, MBA
Faculty Advisors: Dr. Manoranjan Misra & Dr. Gary Valiere

Optimal Irrigation System, UNLV  Optimal Irrigation Systems (OIS) is a subsurface irrigation system that delivers the optimum amount of water to plants without pumps or the use of any external power, yielding up to 90% water savings compared to traditional drip line systems. OIS encourages optimal growth of plants by using patented microporous ceramic interface (MCI) technology to supply the root system water according to the plant’s specific metabolism.
Team Captain: Jake Peterson, New Venture Creation
Team Member: Howell Shaw
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Steve Phelan

Sludge2Power, UNR   Sludge2Power (S2P) will design, manufacture and operate power production facilities that utilize waste biosolids from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to produce renewable power as well as create a beneficial reuse of a significant municipal waste stream.
Team Captain: Susannah Lee, Chemical Engineering
Team Members:
Mike Matheus, Chemical Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Chuck Coronella

TIKI ICE, UNLV   TIKI ICE provides delicious, all natural Italian Ices. TIKI ICE ices are unique due to their health benefits, and very low calorie count (fewer than 1/3 that of competitors). The low costs, along with low overhead, and high sales potential, means returns on sales of 50% year over year.
Team Captain: Jean Treichel-Bridges, MBA New Venture
Team Member:
Robert Bateman
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Steven Phelan

Undergraduate Finalists

Bioethanol Today, UNR   Bio-ethanol has the ability to be produced from a variety of waste feed sources, and it can be incorporated into current fuels; a promising option to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels. Bioethanol Today will create a mass production of bio-ethanol fuel using spent yeast and waste sugars to provide to consumers and retailers nationwide.
Team Captain: Jenna Bruce, Chemical Engineering
Team Members:
Caleb Cook, Chemical Engineering
Melissa Vandiver, Chemical Engineering
Wade Zeno, Chemical Engineering
Dominique Pavich, Business Management
Fay Gomez, Business Managemnet
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Alan Fuchs

Green Ethos, TMCC Gre(Ethos)n Incorporated (pronounced Green Ethos) will be melding several current green energy concepts in a matrix where a minimal of “traditional” external energy sources will be used. This matrix will create a solar powered evaporative water purification system that will be primarily available for wholesale to plumbing tradesmen and retail to the general public. Through this process Green Ethos wants to be the “greenest” choice possible for consumers purchasing water filtration systems not just from the point of manufacturing but for the total life cycle of our products.
Team Captain: Jasper Allen Jacobs, Entrepreneurship
Team Member:Sarah-jean Jacobs, Art History
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Marie Murgolo-Poore

Innovative Protection Systems, UNR Innovative Protection Systems is from Reno, Nevada to create advanced handheld protection devices. The product will deter criminals and provide a means to identify/locate perpetrators accurately and efficiently. The business plan illustrates a 5-year progression from local start-up to recognized leader in professional and personal safety equipment.
Team Captain: John Feeney, Electrical Engineering
Team Members:
Andrew Jurado, Electrical Engineering
Clifford Bliese, Eng Physics
Matt Foster, Electrical Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Candice Bauer

Nevada Paper Fuels, UNR    Nevada Paper Fuels has developed an industrial process which uses a proprietary catalyst to convert waste paper into cellulosic ethanol.This process is green because it uses waste paper instead of corn to produce cellulosic ethanol. This process also reduces the volume of waste sent to landfills.
Team Captain: Cameron Howard, Materials Science and Engineering
Team Members:
Jeffrey Olson, Materials Science and Engineering
Jonathan Crane, Accounting
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Manoranjan Misra

Outbox Records, LLC, UNR Outbox Records, LLC is a multi-genre music-recording label with an innovative approach to selling and promoting digital music. Outbox’s core strategy is to conduct commerce by focusing on three extremely popular and lucrative business trends: digital music sales, digital social networking and environmentally receptive products and services.
Team Captain: Daniel Fiorentini, Management & Marketing (Dual) w/ emphasis in International Business
Team Members:
Joseph Fiorentini, English w/ emphasis in Creative Writing
Christopher Aarskaug, Liberal Arts w/ emphasis in MGMT, MKT, and ECON
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Gary Valiere

Phoenix Recycling Solutions, UNR Phoenix Recycling Solutions mission is to become the primary supplier of superior quality, cost competitive recycled silicon concentrate and a cadmium-rich concentrate, which will allow Phoenix Recycling Solutions’ customers a lower production cost, and to be environmentally friendly.
Team Captain: Jason Mclean, Mining Engineering
Team Members:
Susannah Lee, Chemical Engineering Carlos Montenegro, Economics
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Carl Nesbitt

Lt. Governor’s Finalists

Bioethanol Today, UNR Bio-ethanol has the ability to be produced from a variety of waste feed sources, and it can be incorporated into current fuels; a promising option to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels. Bioethanol Today will create a mass production of bio-ethanol fuel using spent yeast and waste sugars to provide to consumers and retailers nationwide.
Team Captain: Jenna Bruce, Chemical Engineering
Team Members:
Caleb Cook, Chemical Engineering
Melissa Vandiver, Chemical Engineering
Wade Zeno, Chemical Engineering
Dominique Pavich, Business Management
Fay Gomez, Business Managemnet
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Alan Fuchs

Green Ethos, TMCC Gre(Ethos)n Incorporated (pronounced Green Ethos) will be melding several current green energy concepts in a matrix where a minimal of “traditional” external energy sources will be used. This matrix will create a solar powered evaporative water purification system that will be primarily available for wholesale to plumbing tradesmen and retail to the general public. Through this process Green Ethos wants to be the “greenest” choice possible for consumers purchasing water filtration systems not just from the point of manufacturing but for the total life cycle of our products.
Team Captain: Jasper Allen Jacobs, Entrepreneurship
Team Member:
Sarah-jean Jacobs, Art History
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Marie Murgolo-Poore

Nevada Paper Fuels, UNR   Nevada Paper Fuels has developed an industrial process which uses a proprietary catalyst to convert waste paper into cellulosic ethanol.This process is green because it uses waste paper instead of corn to produce cellulosic ethanol. This process also reduces the volume of waste sent to landfills.
Team Captain: Cameron Howard, Materials Science and Engineering
Team Members:
Jeffrey Olson, Materials Science and Engineering
Jonathan Crane, Accounting
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Manoranjan Misra

NOVAE Nanotechnology, UNR  NOVAE Nanotechnology has undergone the research and development to produce high quality carbon nanotubes in high quantity with reduced production costs. Fifty percent of NOVAE’s equity will be sold to the large companies First Solar Inc. and Samsung Inc. NOVAE’’s revenue will span upwards of $172 million by 2015.
Team Captain: Eric Hill, Chemical Engineering
Team Members:
Alex Braganza, Chemical Engineering
Vance Jaeger, Chemical Engineering
Orion Hanbury, Chemical Engineering
Nalin Howard, Chemical Engineering
Samantha Kertson, Chemical Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Alan Fuchs

Postcom Energy, SNC Postcom Energy is a development and production outsourcing company that utilizes strategic relationships with HVAC companies. Our initial product, the Bio Converter, produces natural gas to heat homes out of compostable material. In doing so, we drastically reduce energy expenses and global warming causing emissions.
Team Captain: Amanda Badger, Business administration/Entrepreneurship
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Richard Normington

Sludge2Power, UNR Sludge2Power (S2P) will design, manufacture and operate power production facilities that utilize waste biosolids from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to produce renewable power as well as create a beneficial reuse of a significant municipal waste stream.
Team Captain: Susannah Lee, Chemical Engineering
Team Member:Mike Matheus, Chemical Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Chuck Coronella

SolAir, UNR SolAir’s goal is to “provide affordable solar-thermal technology to meet growing energy demands and ensure a healthier environment.” SolAir’s solar-thermal air conditioning/heating unit utilizes solar energy to provide 80-85% of the power needed to cool/heat a residential home or a commercial building during the hours of peak energy consumption (12-5pm).
Team Captain: Chase Houston, Economics
Team Members:
Derek Metz, Mechanical Engineering
David Gough, Finance and Accounting
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Elliott Parker