UNMC graduate students Tim Bielecki (left) and Will Payne address judges’ questions during UNO’s business plan competition Thursday, April 27, 2017.
OMAHA, Nebraska (April 28, 2017)—A group from the University of Nebraska Medical Center finished in second place of the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s seventh annual Maverick Business Plan competition last night at Mammel Hall.
The group, primarily made up of current and former graduate students at UNMC, took home the runner-up prize of $2,000.
“It will definitely help having that money,” said Will Payne, a UNMC doctoral candidate and co-founder of Orca Analytics. “We’re going to take that money and do exactly what we need.”
Most of the cash will be used for various legal fees as Orca Analytics prepares for a product launch, Payne said.
Orca Analytics is a venture that plans to use data and predictive analytics to guide collegiate advisers and their students to the most efficient career path. Founders expect their tool will enhance student satisfaction and engagement while boosting college retention rates.
“As a student,” Payne said after, “I wish this was something that was available to us.”
Orca Analytics co-founder Tyler Scherr, Ph.D., meets with guests shortly before final presentations at UNO’s business plan competition Thursday, April 27, 2017.
Orca Analytics was one of just six finalists that presented during the final round of competition, and was the first UNMC team to place.
“This is the best group of finalists we’ve had in seven years,” said Dale Eesley, the event coordinator and Director of UNO’s Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Franchising, which hosted the event. “This one was really close. They were all so good, so well-thought out and so well-presented.”
The top prize of $3,000 went to a UNO-based team of entrepreneurs who founded an online clothing boutique, Mauve. Third place, and $1,000, went to a business plan that proposed a hydroelectric power facility in Nepal. The same proposal was also awarded an additional prize for the best plan that “incorporates sustainability.”
“I was actually encouraged to see this kind of quality and talent in Omaha,” said Tim Bielecki, an Orca co-founder and UNMC doctoral candidate.
Remaining members of the Orca team are Tyler Scherr, Ph.D., a recent UNMC graduate and Ben Jones, co-founder of the graphic design firm, Lab Rat Design.
The three remaining business plan finalists were ANCHA, a proposal for legally reselling pre-owned software; Equiband, a wearable device that helps users track their mental states; and Traveling Teachers, a service that connects qualified teachers to families who want to home-school their children but can’t for a lack of time or proper training.
Founders of Orca Analytics are (from left) Will Payne, Tyler Scherr, Ben Jones and Tim Bielecki.
