08.01.08
Round two of the 2008 Forbes.com Boost Your Business competition is drawing to a close. On the line: a $100,000 grand prize. Only five of 20 semifinalists will survive to compete in the grueling final round, where they will present their business plans–including how they intend to invest the prize money to boost their prospects–to an expert panel of judges. The presentations, including 10 minutes of withering Q&A, will be filmed in the Forbes.com video studio and posted on the site in October. In the meantime, stay tuned to Forbes.com to see who the final five will be.
AirGenerate, LLC
Rick Pal–Houston, TX
AirGenerate is the manufacturer and distributor of the most energy-efficient water heating system that can retro-fit onto any existing water heater. The company’s first product, AirTap, converts “air energy” to heat and plugs directly into any 30 to 80 gallon water tank.
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Counter Clockwise Music
Mark Meisel–Chesterfield, MI
Counter Clockwise Music is full-service audio production company. It offers a “complete production service,” which is tailored to the independent artist and makes it possible for them to create a professional-level product without the entanglements of dealing with a major record label.
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FreyerMartin
Carla Morelli–Gaithersburg, MD
FreyerMartin is a leader in the growing daily money management industry. It manages household and personal bills and other “financial details” for executive-level individuals who have heavy demands on their time but want to maintain strong personal finances.
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Honeywear, Inc.
Kristin Keliher–Alexander, NC
Honeywear, Inc™ is a North Carolina S corporation founded by two mompreneurs whose mission is to pioneer the market for affordable, organic products made in the U.S. Its premiere product is the Baby Bee Sling™, a unique infant and toddler carrier.
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Jimi Products
Mike ONeill–San Francisco, CA
Jimi® is a lean, bootstrapped $0.5 million business poised to explode. Its flagship product, Jimi wallet, is a reinvention of the stodgy traditional wallet, starting with its design, materials and manufacturing. This sleek, minimalist wallet is U.S.-made from recycled or recyclable plastic.
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Race Inspired, LLC
Binh Tran–Claremont, CA
Started by car tuners, Race Inspired is an online store where car enthusiasts can buy performance parts and learn how to upgrade their cars themselves. Some of the performance parts Race Inspired sells include air intakes, suspensions and brakes.
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SOLUS-Solutions & Technologies
Richard Wood–Virginia Beach, VA
SOLUS-Solutions and Technologies is an idea company providing green, aerodynamic energy-efficiency solutions and technologies to the transportation community. In 2004, SOLUS launched its business strategy targeting the 2.5 million trucks and 7 million trailers in the heavy-truck industry.
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Targeted Technology Solutions, LLC
Elizabeth Tarpley–Homewood, IL
Targeted Technology Solutions is an award-winning company that provides custom technology solutions for “special needs” user groups. TTS is currently focused on developing products and online properties to encourage creative computer use among young children ages 2 to 14.
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Third Lot, LLC
Jeffrey Winkel–Overlank, KA
Thirdlot.com is a market for new automobile and light-truck dealers to buy and sell their new vehicles with other same-brand dealers. Because Thirdlot.com’s model does not have transaction costs, dealers can buy and sell groups of vehicles.
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WhiteNoise Systems, LLC
Donald Ritzman–Santa Cruz, CA
In May 2008, WhiteNoise is launching three new SecureNOW!™ software-as-a-service solutions that solve problems associated with other data protection products, preventing unauthorized access or theft of digital assets on desktops, laptops and mobile devices.
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BigBelly Solar
James Poss–Needham, MA
BigBelly Solar makes the “BigBelly,” the world’s first and only solar-powered trash compactor, which reduces collection frequency by up to 75% by enabling “compaction anywhere.” The patented machine uniquely brings the benefits of compaction to points of disposal, making it useful anywhere outdoors.
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Deceleration Technologies
Scott Ault–Reynolds, ND
Slow-N-Tell is a new idea in highway safety. Currently, when trucks decelerate by engine braking or coasting, there is no way to warn traffic behind them that the truck is slowing down. Slow-N-Tell offers opportunity to reduce accident expenses, reduce insurance expenses and save lives.
