Cincinnati Innovates winners tackle chores, more

Twelve new local innovators  will collectively save stroke victims from brain damage and death, save travelers from missed flights, keep firefighters safe in the line of duty, help parents get kids to chores and help fantasy sports fans draft better teams thanks to support from the Cincinnati Innovates Awards Celebration.

More than 250 people turned out to see the third annual Cincinnati Innovates Awards Celebration at Northern Kentucky University, where winners received $115,000 in grant awards.

In the past three years more than 1,000 entrepreneurs have participated in the Cincinnati Innovates competition. Since the competition's inception, 100,000 votes have been cast and the world is paying attention. Online, Cincinnati Innovates has received almost 1 million page views from more than 50 countries. A total of $250,000 in grants have been awarded to local entrepreneurs in the past three years through the generous support of 23 sponsors.

Past winners have gone on to raise over $3.5 million in follow-on capital, have been featured in national media and are changing the world with their ideas.

The 2011 Winners include:

CincyTech Commercialization Awards:
$25,000 ChoreMonster
$25,000 Acceptd
$10,000 DraftOpt

Taft Legal/Patent Awards:  
$10,000 Ischiban
$5,000 Plan B Flights

LPK Design & Branding Award:
$10,000 SmartyTags

Round Pixel Web Development Award:
$10,000 Simple Golf Outings

Northern Kentucky Vision 2015 Award:
$5,000 Ischiban

7/79 Video Award:
$5,000 FoxFire

Northern Kentucky ezone Award:
$2,500 All Decked Out

Cooney, Faulkner & Stevens Get Started Award:  
$2,500 SavingsMatic

HYPE Community Choice Award:
$2,000 WantBug

GCVA Partner Participation Award:  
$1,000 UC DAAP Industrial Design Program

Cincinnati Innovates is made possible through the generous support of The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation, The Health Foundation, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Fort Washington Capital Partners, CincyTech, Taft, Soapbox Media, LPK, 7/79 Video Production, Northern Kentucky Tri-Ed, Round Pixel Studio, Bare Knuckle Marketing, Vision 2015, the Greater Cincinnati Venture Association, HYPE, the Northern Kentucky eZone, Cooney, Faulkner & Stevens, and the Cincinnati Inventor's Council.

By Elizabeth Edwards