Wednesday (April 11) at the Sioux Falls Convention Center the general public will have a chance to meet all the competitors in this year's Governor's Giant Vision Competition. There's both a business category and a student category.

The Giant Vision Competition was established to help citizens realize that South Dakota is the best place to start a successful business. The program was designed as an opportunity for entrepreneurs to compete for seed money and a chance to achieve their dream

This year's competition is being sponsored by the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Chamber President David Owen says the qualifiers who will be in Sioux Falls were selected by a panel of expert judges.

Those business ventures competing for the top prize of $20,000:

  • Ebb owned by Alan Mass of Rapid City, specializing in identity access software providing secure access to sensitive sites by using biometric authentication.
  • Hutchinson Car Audio owned by Nicholaus Hutchinson and Thomas Voboril of Rapid City, specializing in sound audio on the competition level.
  • InTourch L.L.C. owned by Savoy Schuler of Rapid City, specializing augmented reality technology for the education level.
  • Ovo Birth Center owned by Lisa Groon of Harrisburg, specializing in midwife maternity care for low-risk pregnancies.
  • Rushmore Drones owned by Trevor Plett and John Herrera of Rapid City, specializing in drone use for commercial application.
  • SMARTGridTM owned by Todd Christensen and Jamie Hall of Baltic, specializing in computer platforms and sensors directed towards assisting the utility industry.
  • Tailored Medical Devices, Inc. owned by Jordan Anderson and Sujan Lamichhane of Sioux Falls, specializing in products for treatment of blocked arteries in the legs.
  • USA Kangaroo owned by David Hedt of Faulkton, specializing 4,000 bushel in-field storage united helping farmers with efficiency.

Those student qualifiers competing for the top prize of $5-thousand:

  • Argent Bottles owned by Abigail Fuller and Nathan O'Hanlon of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technolgoy, specializing in travel water bottles designed to meet military grade decontamination.
  • Plateau Energy Films owned by William Trevillyn and Jenson Keller of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, specializing in transparent energy saving window film.
  • Skinapse owned by Emily Toering and Kelsey Westad of South Dakota State University, specializing in a scar cream for surgical and cosmetic issues.
  • Studor owned by Sam Nesbitt and Mark Ebarle of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, specializing in an app matching student tutors with students in need of homework assistance.
  • Wo Awanglaka Akicita - Protection Warrior owned by Elton Menard of Sinte Gleska University, specializing in an early warning app for school safety with a focus on a military-type response.
  • Wolves Wheels owned by Olaf Hanson of Northern State University, specializing in an electronic bicycle sharing system offering an eco-friendly transportation option.

To see the exhibits and to visit with those behind the ideas, go to Exhibit Hall One located inside the Sioux Falls Convention Center anytime between 1:15 PM and 4:15 PM. The winners will be announced during an awards banquet later that night.

The Governor's Giant Vision event is being held in conjunction with the Governor's Office of Economic Development annual conference, also being held at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. For more information on the GOED conference go to the Office of Economic Development website.


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