Nine student teams have taken home a total of $42,000 in prize money through the 2020 Northwest Entrepreneur Competition.

For the traditional business category, Washington State University won first place. Second place went to Stripped Basics, of University of Washington, while third place was awarded to Perfect Plastic, of Gonzaga University.

First place in the open business category was awarded to The 2050 Company LLC, of UW. CatheterX, of University of Idaho, won second place, and third place went to Sensol Systems, of UW.

In the technology category, sponsored by Avista Corp., first place was awarded to Kadama, of University of Washington; second place to Zephyr, of Washington State University; and third place to Magna Hip, of Gonzaga University. 

The winners of each category were awarded $10,000, while second and third place teams won $3,000 and $1,000, respectively.

BECU sponsored the traditional business category, and Seattle-based law firm Perkins Coie LLP sponsored the open business category.

This was the first year that the University District and North Idaho College partnered to host the competition, University District CEO Lars Gilberts says.

“Our original plan was just don’t mess it up the first year,” Gilberts says.

Ryan Arnold, North Idaho College director of regional entrepreneurial strategy, says everything was on track until COVID-19 shut down Washington in mid-March, followed by Idaho.

To maintain social distance, the partners decided to use Zoom video conferencing for competition judging.

Gilberts says technological issues forced a slight change of plans about an hour before the competition was to begin on April 16.

“We created three breakout rooms, and shepherded people through the main waiting room into the separate breakout rooms, and it worked perfectly,” Gilberts says. “We even had students who were doing product demonstrations virtually. The only thing we couldn’t do was taste test some of the food items.”

Gilberts says 111 teams submitted initial applications in February — more than double the number of applicants in previous years. Of the 24 teams invited to the final presentation round, 22 participated.

High school and undergraduate university students can compete in two categories, technology business and traditional business. Existing businesses and graduate student teams can compete in the open business category.

Arnold says that despite hiccups this year, the partnership has ambitious future plans for the competition.

“What we had envisioned this year was a bigger connection to the business industry and merging this educational experience with the business community in a more hand-in-hand fashion,” Arnold says. “This competition could be so much more.”