$5,000 ideas contest finalists revealed for EngenuitySC’s Ignite!, hosted by Mayor Benjamin and USC President Pastides this Wed., Nov. 16
November 15, 2016
RumbleLab, Kitchen Conversations by Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands and Bonded to compete Wednesday night for $5000 sponsored by Nephron Pharmacueticals
A STEM learning box subscription service, women’s empowerment online publication and sexual health conversation series for parents will compete for $5,000 to start their business in EngenuitySC’s Ignite! Ideas Contest – sponsored by Nephron Pharmaceuticals – at the annual Ignite! celebration, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, 5-8 p.m at the new First Base Building at BullStreet. Tickets are $55, available online at http://www.engenuitysc.com/ignite.
Ignite! is hosted by EngenuitySC board founding co-chairs Steve Benjamin, Mayor of Columbia, S.C., and Dr. Harris Pastides, President of the University of South Carolina, and emcee Mary King.
EngenuitySC’s Ignite! is the Midlands region’s annual celebration of innovation, entrepreneurship and economic competitiveness. More than 300 attendees enjoy open bar, heavy hors d’oeuvres by Scott Hall Catering and networking; a streamlined program of keynote talks by three sets of local thought leaders (Mayor Elise Partin of Cayce and Richland Library’s Melanie Huggins; Mike Crapps of First Community Bank; Darion McCloud of NiA Theatre Company and acclaimed artist Michaela Pilar Brown) and video presentations by three $5,000 Ignite! Ideas Contest entrepreneurial finalists; followed by live voting for the winner of the competition and awarding of the prize funds, presented by Nephron Pharmaceuticals.
Ignite! will take place on the vast, unfinished second floor of the new First Base Building at BullStreet (2142 Boyce Street, Columbia, SC 29201), adjacent to Spirit Communications Park, home of the Columbia Fireflies.
$5,000 Ignite! 2016 Ideas Contest Finalists
Kitchen Conversations by Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands, submitted by Mary Dell Hayes and Kayce Singletary, is a proposed program aiming to bring Midlands parents together in a series of gatherings, hosted by different parents in the comfort of their own homes and guided by trained STSM education facilitators, to take the first steps in approaching the topic of sexual health with their children. Age-appropriate conversations will encourage parents to be brave and informed to start a discourse with their children about healthy development, what is public and private, and staying protected – discussions that STSM believes are the first steps to preventing sexual assault. The dollars from Ignite! would support the development of the pilot program of Kitchen Conversations and test implementation of 25 Kitchen Conversations with ten parents in the Midlands.
RumbleLab, submitted by Moultrie Ball, is a monthly subscription box service of hands-on, fun, informal STEM educational learning materials for kids. RumbleLab focuses on getting STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning tools to parents’ doorsteps, for naturally curious, innovative children who are not gaining those skills through the traditional U.S. education system – and want to be more knowledgeable in STEM topics and prepared for the future. Already tested with a core group of customers, RumbleLab is investigating the classroom model of the concept and looking to scale the business. The prize funds would allow RumbleLab to test the classroom model with Richland County School District Two school North Springs Elementary, and to focus on scaling the business.
Bonded, submitted by Brittany Kilpatrick and Samantha Shapin, is an online publication dedicated to championing and strengthening the unique experience of female friendship. Headquartered in Columbia, S.C, Bonded aims to give women a better example of what sisterhood and female friendship can look like by exploring issues of the modern woman, sharing stories of inspiring ladies and featuring real-life female bonds. The prize dollars would allow Bonded to employ additional writers, strengthening the voice of the publication and making sure a diverse range of women are represented; grow marketing endeavors to reach more women in the Midlands; and implement emboldening workshops and retreats for women to connect with each other and learn exciting, new tangible skills to better their lives and careers.
Guests can learn more about each idea and buy tickets to Ignite! online at http://www.engenuitysc.com/ignite.
Ignite! Sponsors
The sponsor of the Ignite! 2016 Ideas Contest, Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation, is a global leader in manufacturing generic respiratory medications in a sterile, highly automated environment. A woman-owned business, Nephron Pharmaceuticals recently moved its headquarters to West Columbia, S.C., right outside of owner and CEO Lou Kennedy’s hometown of Lexington.
Additional Ignite! 2016 Anchor Sponsors include BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, sponsor of the evening’s networking hour, and Spirit Communications, sponsor of the event’s Wi-Fi connection. Competitiveness Sponsors are SCRA, the University of South Carolina Office of Economic Engagement and Midlands Technical College. Collaboration Sponsors are BullStreet; First Community Bank; Mashburn Construction; Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports and Tourism; Ogletree Deakins; SCE&G; LLE Construction; Nelson Mullins; USC Faber Entrepreneurship Center; Kahn; KW Beverage; Grace Outdoor; NAI Avant; Lower Richland High School; Hopkins Middle School and Southeast Middle School.
To learn more about Ignite!, visit http://www.engenuitysc.com/ignite and follow the #IgniteCAE hashtag and @EngenuitySC on Twitter and Facebook: www.facebook.com/engenuitysc.
About EngenuitySC
Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., EngenuitySC is an economic development nonprofit focused on enhancing our region’s competitiveness and prosperity. In partnership with business, government, education and community leaders, EngenuitySC specializes in regional collaboration and project management; the activation of local industry clusters; and regional research, analysis and marketing. For more information, visit http://www.engenuitysc.com.
