Innovators of Bacteria Killing Device, Xermosel, Win 6th UTech, Jamaica Business Model Competition
Elated winners of the 6th UTech, Jamaica Business Model Competition, team Xermosel members, Rayvon Stewart (4th left) and Tonian Edwards (centre), students of the Joan Duncan School of Entrepreneurship, Ethics and Leadership (JDSEEL), College of Business and Management (COBAM), pose with their plaque and symbolic cheque . Sharing in the happy occasion (from left) are Miss Novelette Cooke, Lecturer, JDSEE/Co-Chair, UTech, Jamaica Business Model Competition, Mrs. Audrey Richards, Project Coordinator, Jamaica Venture Capital Programme, Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), Mr. Nigel Cooper, Head, JDSEEL, Mr. Archibald Campbell, Chairman, JMMB Group, Ms. Pauline Nelson, Communication Consultant, DBJ, Dr. Carol Nathan, Lecturer, Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies/Chair, UTech, Jamaica Business Model Competition and Prof. Paul Golding, Dean, COBAM. The occasion was the finals of the 6th annual University of Technology, Jamaica Business Model competition held on Friday, February 8, 2019 at the Papine Campus.
Student innovators Tonian Edwards and Rayvon Stewart of the Joan Duncan School of Entrepreneurship, Ethics and Leadership (JDSEEL), College of Business and Management won first place in the 6th annual UTech, Jamaica Business Model Competition (BMC).
Xermosel emerged winners following the final presentations by the seven finalist teams on Friday, February 8, 2019 at the Technology Innovation Centre, Papine Campus. The seven final teams presented their business models in front of a panel of judges, students and members of faculty and staff.
Xermosel is an ultraviolet pad or ring which when placed on or around a door knob kills 99.8% of bacteria, thereby reducing the risk of an individual contracting a germ upon contact.
Second place was awarded to team JasCent Body Wellness – a natural soap and a serum designed to treat skin conditions such as acne and eczema. The team comprised JDSEEL students, Chevaneese Brown, Krystal Brown, Tia Walters and Yanique Williams.
Third place went to team Mobi-Tran – a television audio translator that converts input audio signal which is then translated into one’s native language. Innovators are Faculty of Engineering and Computing students George Henry and Tyan Hope. Team Houvars – an electronic fruit basket cover that assists in prolonging the freshness of fruits and vegetables, placed fourth. The team comprised Kristen Gyles, Faculty of Science and Sport and Nathan Morris, Faculty of Engineering and Computing.
Category Prizes
Category prizes for international market potential and best utilization of the BMC canvas were copped by Xermosel; most developed prototype was awarded to team JaCent Body Wellness and most innovative venture was awarded to Houvars.
Cash Awards
Cash prizes were awarded to all teams. First place received $400,000, second to fourth place received $200,000, $120,000 and $75,000 respectively.
The four teams will go on to participate in the National Business Model competition scheduled for March 21 – 22, 2019 organised by the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ).
Dr. Carol Nathan, Lecturer, Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies/Chair, UTech, Jamaica Business Model Competition, in her overview noted that the BMC provides an avenue for UTech, Jamaica students to bring innovative business ideas to realisation as well as to encourage them to find solutions to solve problems within their immediate communities.
Dr. Paul Ivey, Associate Vice President, Graduate Studies, Research and Entrepreneurship who brought greetings on behalf of Professor Stephen Vasciannie, CD, President, congratulated the finalists on their innovative business prototypes. He expressed that UTech, Jamaica is happy to be playing a role in training and moulding entrepreneurs of the future. He encouraged the budding entrepreneurs to “continue to believe in yourselves and in your capacity to make a difference with your ideas.”
Judging Panel
The panel of judges comprising (from left) Mr. Steven Gooden, Chief Executive Officer, National Commercial Bank (NCB), Capital Markets, Mr. Dale Seaton, Portfolio Manager, Commercial Products, Retail Banking Division, NCB, Mr. Dennis Chung, Chief Financial Officer, Supreme Ventures and Professor Paul Golding, Dean, COBAM, UTech, Jamaica examine the bacteria killing device Xermosel being described by team members Rayvon Stewart and Tonian Edwards.
Sponsors
Sponsors of the UTech, Jamaica Business Model Competition were the Joan Duncan Foundation and the Development Bank of Jamaica. The competition is endorsed by the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ).
Pictorial Highlights
Second Place: Mrs. Audrey Richards (left), Project Coordinator, Jamaica Venture Capital Programme, DBJ, presents JasCent Body Wellness team members Krystal Brown (centre) and Tia Walters with their symbolic cheque valued at $200,000.00.
Third Place: Mr. Archibald Campbell (right), Chairman, JMMB Group presents Tyan Hope (centre) and George Henry (left) with their 3rd place symbolic cheque of $120,000.
Fourth Place: Houvars team members, Kristen Gyles (4th left) and Nathan Morris (3rd right) pose with their trophy for Most Developed Prototype. (From left) Mrs. Audrey Richards (left), Project Coordinator, Jamaica Venture Capital Programme, DBJ, Miss Novelette Cooke, Lecturer, JDSEEL/Co-Chair, UTech, Jamaica Business Model Competition, Mr. Nigel Cooper, Head, JDSEEL, Dr. Carol Nathan, Lecturer, Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies and Chair of the UTech, Jamaica Business Model Competition and Mr. Archibald Campbell, Chairman, JMMB Group share in the occasion.
End.
Contact:
Michelle Beckford (Mrs.)
Corporate Communications Manager
University of Technology, Jamaica
Telephone: 970-5299
Email: mbeckford@utech.edu.jm