Logan Stauber of Lake Orion won first place in the New Business Venture Competition sponsored by the Northern Michigan University College of Business. His proposal, Upscale Energy Solutions, creates data-driven energy optimization solutions.

Marshall and Rheta Mering earned second place and best trade fair display for Go Energy Breath Spray, energy in a spray bottle. Third place went to Brett Etengoff for the 906 Collective, a plan to bring handcrafted, affordable art to the live music scene. The winner of best elevator pitch was Omar Sitto with his business, Superman’s Kitchen.

The top three overall finishers received various cash prizes, consulting and technology support. The total prize values were $7,750 for first place, $4,000 for second and $2,200 for third. Best trade fair display and elevator pitch each earned $500 cash. Local businesses providing consultation services or technology support were: 906 Technologies; Quick Trophy; Grandchamp, McBride, Wallner, Wallner & Prophet, CPAs; and the law firm of Kendricks, Bordeau, Adamini, Greenlee & Keefe.

All six finalists participating in the finale received business consultation from the College of Business faculty and reimbursement funds up to $200 for business development and materials.

The New Business Venture Competition is designed to encourage entrepreneurial activism and is open to all students regardless of their degree program. It recognizes and rewards those who present detailed plans for designing and creating new business enterprises, drawing on their own ideas and inventions or those others.