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>> WELCOME, EVERYONE... MY NAME IS AMY KONING.
I'M THE ASSOCIATE DEAN OF OPERATIONS FOR THE SCHOOL OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT,
WHICH IS A REALLY LONG TITLE TO TRY TO PUT ON A BUSINESS CARD.
UM, IT JUST MEANS THAT I GET TO WORK WITH PEOPLE LIKE FELIX,
WHO GETS TO WORK WITH PEOPLE LIKE YOU, SO THAT'S A COOL THING.
UM, I WANNA WELCOME YOU TO OUR THIRD ANNUAL GRCC IDEA PITCH.
SO, THAT'S PRETTY COOL.
THIS COMPETITION ACTUALLY STRIVES TO PROMOTE YOU GUYS,
AND THE GREAT IDEAS THAT YOU HAVE,
UM, ONES THAT I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH,
SO I BOW TO ALL OF YOU BECAUSE I'VE SAT THROUGH THREE OF THESE,
PLUS THE REGIONALS,
AND IT'S JUST REALLY COOL TO HEAR WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE TO TELL US, SO--
AND THE IDEAS THAT YOU CAN THINK OF.
SO, I DO ENCOURAGE YOU, JUST AS FELIX JUST SAID--
PLEASE, DON'T SWEAT IT.
YOU'RE GONNA DO GREAT.
IT'S OKAY.
YOU KNOW YOUR CONTENT BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE, SO IT'S GONNA BE JUST FINE.
THE TOP THREE WINNERS HERE ARE GOING TO RECEIVE $800 FOR FIRST,
$300 FOR SECOND, AND $100 FOR THIRD,
AND IN ADDITION, THE TOP TWO WILL ADVANCE TO THE REGIONAL PITCH COMPETITION.
THAT IS ACTUALLY AN EVENT, UM, THAT WE'RE IN COLLABORATION
WITH THE WEST MICHIGAN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES GROUP,
AFFECTIONATELY CALLED "WMCUG"-- (laughing)
ISN'T THAT AN AWFUL ACRONYM?
UM, BUT THOSE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES--
WE COME TOGETHER, AND WE TRY TO PUT ON THESE EVENTS REGIONALLY
TO FOSTER THE INNOVATION THAT IS COMING OUT OF YOU GUYS.
AND SO, DAVENPORT, HOPE, CALVIN,
G.V.S.U., AQUINAS, CORNERSTONE,
AND OURSELVES WILL EACH ADVANCE TWO OF THEIR TOP TWO FINALISTS
TO THE REGIONAL PITCH, WHICH WILL BE NEXT WEEK WEDNESDAY,
NOVEMBER 7th, AT 6 O'CLOCK, HOSTED BY AQUINAS.
SO, EVEN IF YOU DON'T GET TO ADVANCE, I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WOULD GO
AND SPUR ON YOUR FELLOW COLLEAGUES HERE.
WE WANNA THANK THAT GROUP-- THE "WMCUG" GROUP--
AS A SPECIAL THANKS, BUT ALSO THE GRCC BUSINESS DEPARTMENT,
WHO HAS COME BEHIND THIS, AS WELL AS THE BUSINESS DEPARTMENT HEAD,
FELIX AND, YOU KNOW-- HE'S ALSO THE PROFESSOR,
SO WE CAN'T GO WITHOUT SAYING THANKS TO HIM
BECAUSE HE IS REALLY BEHIND THIS.
UM, I JUST WRITE THE CHECKS.
HE DOES ALL OF THE WORK, SO I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH THANKS TO HIM.
SO, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO YOU, FELIX.
(applause)
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AMY,
AND AMY'S BEHIND THE SCENES AND HELPING US ACCOMPLISH THIS,
SO SHE'S BEING VERY HUMBLE TODAY.
UH, NANCY, AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES OF GRCC,
NOT ONLY THE PROFESSORS BUT THE STAFF THAT MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
TODAY'S A SPECIAL DAY!
IT'S OUR THIRD ANNUAL IDEA PITCH COMPETITION.
EVERY BUSINESS STARTS WITH AN IDEA, WHETHER IT'S FOR PROFIT OR NONPROFIT,
AND EVERY BUSINESS IS HEADED BY AN ENTREPRENEUR.
ENTREPRENEURS ARE MUCH DIFFERENT THAN ANYBODY ELSE.
WHILE MOST PEOPLE AVOID CHANGE, ENTREPRENEURS RUN TOWARD THAT CHANGE.
WHILE MOST PEOPLE FEAR UNCERTAINTY,
THE ENTREPRENEUR VIEWS UNCERTAINTY AS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO CREATE CHANGE IN THE MARKETPLACE.
AND TODAY, WE HAVE 15 ENTREPRENEURS
THAT ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THEIR IDEAS
FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS IN THE MARKETPLACE,
BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY WHAT INNOVATION'S ABOUT IS SOLVING PROBLEMS,
CREATING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AND PROCESSES
THAT ADD VALUE WITHIN THE MARKETPLACE,
AND BECAUSE THEY ADD VALUE, THEY BECOME AN INNOVATION.
SO, IT ALL STARTS WITH AN IDEA, IT LEADS TO AN INVENTION,
AND THEN, EVENTUALLY, IF IT ADDS VALUE IN THE MARKETPLACE,
THEN WE HAVE AN INNOVATION.
SO, WE HAVE 15 INNOVATORS HERE TODAY SHARING THEIR IDEAS,
AND WE'RE VERY, VERY HAPPY.
UM, SOMETIMES WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT PEOPLE ASK,
"WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THESE IDEA PITCH COMPETITIONS?
"WHAT HAPPENED AFTER 2010?
"WHAT HAPPENED AFTER 2011?"
UH, TODAY, I GAVE SEVERAL INTERVIEWS AND IN THOSE INTERVIEWS,
THAT WAS THE NUMBER ONE QUESTION-- "DID ANYTHING COME ABOUT?"
WELL, A LOT OF THINGS COME ABOUT BECAUSE IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE
TO STAND ON STAGE FOR 90 SECONDS AND PITCH AN IDEA.
AN IDEA PITCH IS ALSO KNOWN AS AN "ELEVATOR PITCH,"
BECAUSE IF YOU WERE IN AN ELEVATOR
AND AN IMPORTANT PERSON CAME ON AND THEY SAID, "WHAT DO YOU DO?"
YOU HAVE 90 SECONDS TO TELL THEM.
IF YOU GET THEIR INTEREST AND PIQUE THEIR INTEREST,
THEY ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS, THEY MIGHT ASK YOU BACK TO THEIR OFFICE
OR MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, AND THEY COULD HELP YOU BUILD A BUSINESS,
MAYBE INVEST IN THAT BUSINESS.
SO, THAT'S REALLY WHAT AN IDEA PITCH IS.
WHEN YOU GO TO AN INTERVIEW, THAT'S A LONGER IDEA PITCH,
AND THE IDEA IS THEM HIRING YOU.
SO, BASICALLY, DOING WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE,
AND OUR HAT'S OFF TO YOU.
NOW, WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE 2010 AND 2011?
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I COULD TELL YOU THAT DALLAS McCULLOCH--
WHAT HE DID WAS HE CREATED A HOME BREW COMPANY,
HE PRESENTED, AND EVEN THOUGH HE DID NOT WIN THE TOP THREE SLOTS HERE,
HE COMPETED JUST LIKE YOU ARE WITH THE 15 FINALISTS,
AND AFTER THE IDEA PITCH, AND AFTER ENROLLING IN B.A. 276,
OUR BUSINESS INNOVATION COURSE, HALFWAY THROUGH THAT COURSE,
DALLAS WENT TO "5X5 NIGHT," SPONSORED BY RICK DeVOS.
IT'S AN ENTREPRENEURIAL FORUM, AND BASICALLY THE "5X5" STAND FOR--
YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO WIN UP TO $5,000
OF VENTURE CAPITAL SEED MONEY.
DALLAS WON THE FULL $5,000
AND NOW, HAS STARTED A MICROBREW COOPERATIVE.
SO, AFTER THE IDEA PITCH, HE TOOK IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
UH, SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN PAID INTERNSHIPS.
UH, COURTNEY DEHAAN, AFTER PRESENTING AT IDEA PITCH,
UH, SHE ENDED UP WITH A VERY PRESTIGIOUS PAID INTERNSHIP FOR ONE YEAR AT STEELCASE.
WHEN SHE ASKED, "WHY DID YOU HIRE ME OUT OF ALL THE STUDENTS
"THAT APPLIED FOR THIS INTERNSHIP?"
THEY BASICALLY WENT BACK TO--
"YOU WERE THE ONE THAT WAS ABLE TO TALK ABOUT IDEAS--
"NEW IDEAS AND INNOVATION-- BETTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE."
ALSO, WE HAD JASON SCHEMMEL, WHO ENDED UP WITH A PRESTIGIOUS INTERNSHIP--
PAID FOR A FULL YEAR-- AFTER PRESENTING AT IDEA PITCH AT "THE RIGHT PLACE" COMPANY
AND WORKING FOR BILL SMALL.
NOW, THIS WAS VERY PRESTIGIOUS--
UH, WHAT JASON WAS ABLE TO DO EVERY WEEK
IS CALL ON SMALL, MEDIUM, AND LARGE MANUFACTURING COMPANIES,
AND HE DEALT WITH THE OWNERS AND THE C.E.O.s.
THAT'S WHAT HE DID EVERY WEEK FOR A FULL YEAR.
NOW, HE'S ALSO HERE-- JASON SCHEMMEL, IF YOU COULD JUST-- PLEASE--
COULD WE GIVE HIM A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE?
(applause)
JASON SCHEMMEL, TWO WEEKS AGO,
ALSO PRESENTED AT WHAT WAS FORMERLY "5X5,"
WHICH WAS COMBINED WITH ANOTHER PROGRAM TO HELP ENTREPRENEURS
CALLED "MOMENTUM"--
THEY COMBINED BOTH OF THOSE PROGRAMS INTO "START GARDEN."
TWO WEEKS AGO, THE PUBLIC VOTED "ENTRPRSR,"
AN IDEA THAT WAS PRESENTED HERE BY DANIELLE GORE AND MICHAEL CORN
WITH THE HELP OF JASON SCHEMMEL,
THE PUBLIC VOTED THAT AS THE NUMBER ONE IDEA,
AND JASON WON $5,000 OF SEED MONEY TO PURSUE THAT IDEA,
AND HE'S GONNA GET A TEAM TO WORK WITH HIM
OVER THE NEXT 90 DAYS.
AND "ENTRPRSR" IS A SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM
THAT BASICALLY HELPS ENTREPRENEURS LOOK FOR TALENTS AND SKILLS
IN THE MARKETPLACE
SO, IT'S TAPPING INTO THAT BIG CRAZE WITH SOCIAL MEDIA THAT WE NEED TODAY.
SO, AGAIN, HATS OFF TO YOU, JASON, FOR DOING THAT.
WE HAVE THREE JUDGES HERE
AND I KNOW THESE JUDGES VERY, VERY WELL.
I'VE KNOWN TWO OF THE JUDGES HERE FOR WELL OVER 30 YEARS.
UH, LET ME FIRST START OFF BY INTRODUCING RANDY WALTER--
IF WE COULD HAVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR RANDY WALTER.
(applause)
RANDY WALTER IS A CHIEF ENGINEER
AND A SENIOR TECHNOLOGIST AT G.E. AVIATION,
AND FOR WELL OVER 30 YEARS,
YOU COULD BASICALLY THANK THE SAFE SKIES DUE TO PEOPLE LIKE RANDY,
WHO ARE BASICALLY COMING UP WITH INNOVATIONS IN THE FIELD OF AVIATION.
SO, WE HAVE TWO ENGINEERS
BECAUSE I'M GONNA INTRODUCE TONY HERE IN A MOMENT.
YOU KNOW WHAT AMERICA-- AMERICA BECAME GREAT 'CAUSE WE MAKE STUFF...
AND THE ENTREPRENEUR KNOWS THAT IF WE MAKE STUFF,
EVENTUALLY WE NEED TO GET AN ENGINEER INVOLVED, OR A SCIENTIST.
SO, IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE TWO ENGINEERS TODAY
THAT ARE GONNA BE HELPING ALL OF YOU AND ASKING YOU GOOD QUESTIONS
ON THE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND THAT OR THE LOGIC AND THE REASON BEHIND THAT.
ENGINEERS ARE VERY GOOD AT PROBLEM-SOLVING THAT WAY.
UM, SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RANDY, FOR AGREEING.
RANDY WAS A JUDGE IN 2010 AND DID A SUPERB JOB.
TONY BOWIE!
TONY BOWIE-- IF WE COULD GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR TONY BOWIE.
(applause)
UH, TONY BOWIE IS A CHIEF ENGINEER
OVER AT G.E. AVIATION AS WELL,
AND HE'S BEEN THERE FOR WELL OVER 30 YEARS.
IN FACT, BOTH RANDY AND TONY HAD BEEN THERE
FROM LEAR SIEGLER TO SMITH INDUSTRIES,
AND THEN G.E. AVIATION.
UH, TONY, TO ME, IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST INTELLIGENT GENIUSES
THAT CAME OUT OF LATIN AMERICA.
HE'S FROM NICARAGUA, SO HE HELPS ME WITH MY SPANISH ALL THE TIME, AND HE--
BOTH RANDY AND TONY ARE JUST BRILLIANT AT LOGIC
AND CREATING STUFF AND KNOWING THE TECHNOLOGY THAT GOES BEHIND EVERYTHING
THAT WE USE TODAY, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TONY,
FOR AGREEING TO BE WITH US TODAY.
I WANNA ALSO SAY THAT TONY DOES A LOT OF CHARITY WORK AS WELL.
UH, HE HELPS PEOPLE TO LEARN HOW TO READ
IN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY,
AND THAT'S TO BE DEFINITELY PRAISED IN TODAY'S FAST-PACED SOCIETY.
SO, THANK YOU, TONY, FOR THAT.
THEN, WE GET TO THIS GUY HERE.
I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU TO BE A JUDGE...
JUSTIN WILLIAMS.
HE IS THE C.E.O. OF AFFORDABLE LIMOUSINE & PARTY BUS,
AND ALSO PROGRESSIVE PROPERTIES.
I MET JUSTIN WHEN HE WAS 19 YEARS OLD,
WE STARTED WORKING ON SOMETHING THAT HE ALREADY OWNED,
WHICH WAS YOUNG BLOOD CUSTOM MOTORCYCLES,
AND HE BUILT THAT TO BE A POWERHOUSE AND A CASH MACHINE,
AND HE WAS REALLY ADMIRED BY EVERYBODY IN THE MOTORCYCLE COMMUNITY
FOR BUILDING CUSTOM MOTORCYCLES.
HE TOOK ALL THAT TALENT AND MOVED ONTO THE LIMOUSINE COMPANY.
AND EVEN THOUGH THE LIMOUSINE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE,
THE DIFFERENCE WITH JUSTIN IS
HE SAW THINGS THAT COULD BE BETTER IN THAT INDUSTRY,
AND HE WANTED TO SEEK TO IMPROVE THAT SERVICE...
AND TODAY, A PREMIERE LIMOUSINE COMPANY IS AFFORDABLE LIMOUSINES
IN WEST MICHIGAN.
AND ALSO, HE OWNS THE PARTY BUS BUSINESS,
WHICH IS THE NUMBER ONE IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.
NOBODY, UH, REALLY HAS PUT TOGETHER A PARTY BUS BUSINESS LIKE JUSTIN HAS.
WE WERE DOWN AT GRid70,
AND WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM AMWAY AND STEELCASE,
AND WOLVERINE WORLDWIDE, AND MEIJERS THERE,
AND I SAID TO JUSTIN, "HEY, COULD YOU BRING ONE OF YOUR BUSES?"
AND ALL THESE EXECUTIVES CAME OUT...
AND FROM THE OUTSIDE, IT LOOKED NICE.
BUT THEY NEVER WANTED TO LEAVE THE INSIDE OF THE BUS.
IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE WHAT HE'S DONE WITH IT!
WITH THE FLAT-SCREEN T.V.s AND EVERYTHING IN THERE,
IT'S JUST FANTASTIC.
ALSO, JUSTIN WILLIAMS IS ALSO VERY CHARITABLE.
JUSTIN GAVE OF HIS TIME FOR OVER A YEAR TO HELP US WITH AT-RISK YOUTH,
HERE IN THE INNER CITY,
WHEN WE WERE TEACHING THEM INNOVATIVE THINKING
AND ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET SKILLS,
AND JUSTIN CAME IN
AND ACTUALLY LENT ONE OF HIS BUSES THAT HE JUST BOUGHT.
AND WORKING WITH THE GRCC DESIGNERS AND ART CREW
HERE AT GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE,
PUT TOGETHER A LOT OF DRAWINGS IN A PORTFOLIO TO PRESENT TO JUSTIN,
AND THEN JUSTIN USED SOME OF THOSE IDEAS.
SO, THAT WAS A COLLABORATION WITH GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM,
SPECTRUM HEALTH, AND AMWAY, AND OTTAWA HILLS HIGH SCHOOL.
UH, JUSTIN IS-- ALL I GET TO SAY IS THAT HE IS A SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR.
ANYTHING THAT HE PUTS HIS MIND TO--
AT A VERY YOUNG AGE, HE'S SUPER SUCCESSFUL.
AND AGAIN, HE'S A GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE ALUM.
SO, AGAIN, IF WE COULD HAVE A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE
FOR ALL THREE JUDGES! (applause)
ALL RIGHT.
NOW, IT'S YOUR TURN.
YOUR TURN TO SHINE, YOUR TURN TO COME UP HERE.
LET ME PUT ON MY GLASSES-- THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COMES WITH AGE,
SO LET ME PUT ON MY GLASSES HERE...
AND GO TO OUR VERY FIRST PRESENTER, NICHOLAS HUTCHISON.
ARE YOU HERE, NICHOLAS?
OKAY, NICHOLAS HUTCHISON, "CLEANING BAG-IN-BOX."
THERE YOU GO.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS NICK HUTCHISON.
I WORK AT WEST MICHIGAN WHITE CAPS IN VAN ANDEL ARENA
AS A VENDING MANAGER THERE.
DURING THE END-OF-SEASON CLEAN-UP AT THE BALLPARK,
PEPSI COMES IN AND DOES A YEAR-END MAINTENANCE,
AND AS THEY'RE DOING THEIR MAINTENANCE, I REALIZED THEY NEVER DID THE CLEANING--
AND THEY DON'T CLEAN AND IT'S NOT A STANDARD PROCEDURE.
I WENT INTO FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO MAKE SURE
THAT IT WASN'T JUST THIS TIME SOMEBODY MESSED UP,
BUT IT'S ACTUALLY TRUE-- IT'S NOT A STANDARD PROCEDURE AT ALL.
AND THINKING ABOUT IT, I THOUGHT,
"WELL, WE COULD PUT AN ORGANIC LIQUID DETERGENT
"INSIDE THE SAME EXACT PROGRAM,
"WHICH IS THEIR BAG-IN-A-BOX THAT THEY PUT THE SYRUP IN,
"AND THEN FLUSH WATER THROUGH AFTER YOU DO THE LINES
"WITH THE LIQUID DETERGENT,
"TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO DETERGENT RESIDUE LEFT OVER."
CLEANING IT NOT ONLY WILL MAKE IT, YOU KNOW,
PROMOTE CLEANLINESS AND HEALTHINESS,
BUT IT WILL ALSO PREVENT CLOGGING
AND IT WILL MAKE SURE THAT THEY, UM...
IT ALSO PROMOTE LONGER-LIFING-- LONGER LIFE IN THE LINES.
THERE ARE 102 FOUNTAIN LINES AT WEST MICHIGAN WHITE CAPS
AND NONE OF THEM ARE BEING CLEANED, AND AFTER--
THIS IS OUR 20th SEASON--
AND WE'VE HAD TO REPLACE THEM MULTIPLE TIMES,
AND IT'S JUST AN EXPENSE THAT CAN BE AVOIDED COMPLETELY.
AND...
BEING AT THE-- SEEING ALL THE FOOD INDUSTRY AND THE F.D.A.
AND THEY ALWAYS GO AFTER PEOPLE AFTER NOT BEING CLEAN,
I'M SURPRISED THAT PEPSI HASN'T GONE AFTER YET.
AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE PROMOTE THIS
AND MAKE THEM AND SHOW THEM, YOU KNOW, "THIS WILL PROMOTE YOUR LIFE LONG--
"IT'LL PROMOTE THE LIFE OF THE LINES.
"IT'LL MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW--"
IT'LL PROMOTE CLEANLINESS,
AND PEOPLE WILL BECOME HEALTHIER,
AND NOT ONLY DO THEY OWN LINES AT BALLPARKS,
BUT THEY OWN IT AT EVERY FOOD VENUE...
AND IT'S NOT ONLY PEPSI, IT'S COKE-- (bell dinging)
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND EVERYTHING TODAY.
(applause)
>> SO, YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THEY DON'T CLEAN THE LINES
OUT OF THESE POP VENDING MACHINES
ANY PLACE? (chuckling)
>> UM, OUT OF THE TWO PLACES THAT I WORK AT,
I HAVE NOT SEEN THEM CLEAN THE LINES.
THEY DO CLEAN THE OUTSIDE PARTS. >> THAT'S DISGUSTING.
I THINK YOU HAVE A GREAT IDEA. >> YEAH.
>> (indistinct speaking).
>> AT THE WHITE CAP PARK,
DID YOU FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH THEY WOULD BE SAVING
IF THEY DID USE THE DETERGENT THAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING?
>> I LOOKED INTO THE COST OF DETERGENT AND THE BAGS
THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PUT THE SODA LINES IN,
AND IN THE LONG RUN, IT WILL DEFINITELY SAVE MONEY,
'CAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO REPLACE LINES AND PULL THE LINES OUT,
AND SOMETIMES IT'S-- AT WHITE CAPS, THERE'S 60 FEET OF LINE
THAT YOU HAVE TO REPLACE IF THEY MESS IT UP.
AND THEN, BESIDES THAT, JUST OVERALL CLEANLINESS
AND PROMOTING HEALTH FOR OTHER PEOPLE.
>> IS IT A SPECIAL DETERGENT OR SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN GET EASILY?
>> UM, I'VE BEEN LOOKING INTO IT A LITTLE BIT,
AND I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT G.F.S.-TYPE OF LIQUID DETERGENT
THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE TO PROMOTE AND PUT IT THROUGH THERE, SO...
>> GOOD IDEA.
>> IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE--
A COST THAT WOULD BE INCURRED BY WHITE CAPS OR BY PEPSI?
>> PEPSI TECHNICALLY OWNS THE LINES THAT ARE WITHIN THE WHITE CAPS,
AND THERE ARE 102 OF THEM.
AND SO, PEPSI COMES IN AND DOES THE YEAR-END MAINTENANCE,
AND IT'S THEIR OWN LINES
AND WE JUST USE THEM AND WE BUY THE SYRUP,
SO IT WOULD BE A PEPSI COST. >> OKAY.
>> LET'S GIVE ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR NICHOLAS.
(applause)
ALL RIGHT, OUR NEXT PRESENTER--
JENNIFER VANDERPLOEG, "ARTMARKET."
>> HI, MY NAME IS JENNIFER VANDERPLOEG
AND, UM, I AM AN ARTIST,
BUT I ALSO HAVE A PASSION FOR BUSINESS.
NOW, UH, I AM PART-TIME WORKING ARTIST,
AND I'VE FOUND IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT
BETWEEN WORK AND SCHOOL
TO REALLY PROMOTE MY WORK, AND FOR PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY SEE IT.
I LOVE TO MAKE IT-- IT'S HARD TO GET IT OUT THERE.
I TALK TO A LOT OF OTHER ARTISTS, AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF THE SAME PROBLEMS,
ESPECIALLY STUDENTS COMING OUT OF SCHOOL.
THEY JUST DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME OR KNOWLEDGE TO GET IT OUT THERE.
AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS START A PROGRAM
THAT WOULD COLLABORATE BETWEEN BUSINESSES AND ARTISTS.
THE ARTISTS WOULD SIGN THEIR WORK UP FOR THE PROGRAM,
AND THE PROGRAM THAT I WOULD LIKE TO CALL "ARTMARKET"
WILL PLACE THESE ART PIECES IN DIFFERENT BUSINESSES
ALL AROUND GRAND RAPIDS.
SO, THE BUSINESSES WILL BENEFIT BECAUSE THEY WILL HAVE THE PIECE,
AND IF THEY SELL IT, THEY WILL GET A COMMISSION.
THEY WILL ALSO BE PAID BY ARTMARKET
TO HAVE THAT PIECE IN THEIR LOBBY.
THE ARTISTS WILL BENEFIT BY HAVING A LOT OF PROMOTION
BECAUSE THE ARTWORK IS GOING TO BE PLACED
IN A DIFFERENT BUSINESS EACH MONTH.
SO, IT'LL BE MASS EXPOSURE FOR THE ARTISTS,
AS WELL AS HELPING THE BUSINESSES THEMSELVES
TO HAVE A DIFFERENT, INTERESTING DECORATION
IN THEIR LOBBIES.
THERE ARE A LOT OF SIMILAR DECORATIONS I SEE WHEN I GO THE LOBBIES
AND THINGS LIKE THAT,
AND I LIKE TO SEE DIFFERENT AND NEW, FRESH EXPERIENCES.
THIS WILL ALSO INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY.
WE CAN HAVE A WEBSITE-- (bell dinging)
SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE AND KNOW,
AND SEE IF THEY CAN GO ON A TOUR AROUND THE BUSINESSES AROUND MICHIGAN.
SO...
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> SO, THE, UM...
THE BUSINESSES IS KIND OF THE... (coughing)
COLLECTING ART FROM VARIOUS ARTISTS, SO YOU NEED, OBVIOUSLY,
A LIST OF ARTISTS TO WORK WITH. >> CORRECT, CORRECT.
YUP, THE ARTISTS WOULD BE FUNDING "ARTMARKET"
AND THE BUSINESSES WILL ESSENTIALLY ACT AS GALLERIES
FOR THE ARTISTS' WORK. >> RIGHT.
AND SO, THE BUSINESS THAT DISPLAYS THE ART
ACTUALLY GETS PAID ON A MONTHLY--
>> RIGHT, AND THAT'S THE-- >> SOME KIND OF SMALL FEE
FOR DISPLAYING THE ART? >> CORRECT.
YUP, THAT'S THE INCENTIVE FOR THE BUSINESSES, BECAUSE--
>> AND A COMMISSION IF IT'S SOLD?
>> CORRECT, AND THAT WILL ENCOURAGE THE BUSINESS
TO SELL THE PIECE WHILE IT'S IN THEIR VENUE, AS WELL.
>> MMM-HMM.
AND THE MARKETER-- THE ART MARKETER-- OBVIOUSLY HAS TO GET A COMMISSION
IF THESE WORKS ARE SOLD. >> EXACTLY.
SO, PART OF IT WILL GO TO "ARTMARKET."
AND I COULD SEE THIS ALSO EXPANDING TO WHERE WE HAVE EMPLOYEES
THAT CAN HAVE THEIR-- THEY CAN BE AGENTS,
AND THEY WILL HAVE THEIR SET OF ARTISTS THAT THEY NEED TO MARKET
AND TRY TO FIND BUSINESSES THAT WILL BE THE BEST FIT
AND PROMOTE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT COMES TO THAT BUSINESS FOR THAT PIECE.
>> SO, IF I UNDERSTAND IT CORRECTLY,
THEN YOU WOULD HAVE THE ARTIST CREATE
LIKE AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE BUSINESS?
>> UH, YES, YUP.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS HAVE A MATCHING, UM--
THE BUSINESS WILL HAVE CATEGORIES THAT THEY CAN CHOOSE,
ACCORDING TO WHAT TYPE OF ART THEY LIKE OR THEY THINK WOULD SELL IN THEIR VENUE,
AND THE ART-- AND WE WOULD BE ABLE TO MATCH AN ARTIST TO THAT SPECIFIC BUSINESS,
TO ENHANCE THEIR GALLERY
AND ALSO TO HAVE THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO SELL IT.
>> VERY GOOD, THANKS. >> YUP.
ALL SET?
(applause) THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, JENNIFER.
OUR NEXT PRESENTER, KORY GILL, "CREASES OUT OF SHOES."
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS KORY GILL,
AND ACCORDING TO THE ASSOCIATES THAT WORK AT SHOE STORES,
80 PERCENT OF SHOES HAVE CREASING PROBLEMS.
AND I HAVE AN IRON-- LIKE, A SHOE IRON--
THAT WILL WORK SIMILAR TO A REGULAR IRON
EXCEPT FOR INSTEAD OF BLOWING STEAM,
IT'LL BLOW COOL AIR ONCE IT GETS TO 133 DEGREES,
TO IRON OUT THE SHOES.
IT WILL COME WITH, LIKE, A SUPPORT, SO THE WRINKLE WILL STAY IN PLACE
AS YOU IRON THE SHOE.
AND, UM...
WE...
AND THE BOTTOM WILL BE MADE OUT OF METAL.
IT'D BE ALMOST BE LIKE... AN IRON...
IT'D BE ALMOST LIKE... THE...
I MEAN, THE BOTTOM OF AN IRON,
EXCEPT FOR IT'S GONNA BE ONE-FOURTH OF THE SIZE OF A REGULAR.
AND IT WOULD COME WITH SPRAY BOTTLE FOR WATER TO COOL THE SHOE DOWN.
AND THE REASON WHY IT WOULD BE 133 DEGREES,
BECAUSE POLYESTER BURNS AT OVER 148 DEGREES,
SO I WAS THINKING 133 DEGREES, THEN, WILL COOL IT DOWN...
SO IT WON'T BURN ANY MATERIAL...
OUT OF IT.
AND BASICALLY, I WOULD MARKET THIS TO, UM, SHOE STORES,
AND PEOPLE THAT SELL HIGH-END SHOES.
THERE.
AND I WAS THINK-- (bell dinging)
(sighing)
>> VERY GOOD-- LET'S GIVE A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR HIM.
(applause)
>> SO, HAVE YOU ACTUALLY USED ONE OF THESE SHOE IRONS?
I MEAN, DOES IT REALLY TAKE CREASES OUT OF SHOES?
>> I BELIEVE SO, BECAUSE...
I HAVEN'T ACTUALLY CREATED-- UM, MADE A SHOE IRON YET,
BUT WHEN I LOOK ON YOUTUBE, WHAT I SEE ON PEOPLE GETTING CREASES OUT
IS A REGULAR IRON-- OUT OF THEIR SHOES,
AND IT WORKS IF YOU ACTUALLY PUT, LIKE, SOMETHING ON IT TO PROTECT THE SHOE.
AND I WAS THINKING IT WOULD BE WAY TOO HOT
TO ACTUALLY GET IT UP TO AN IRONING TEMPERATURE.
SO, I WAS THINKING 133 DEGREES SHOULD BE GOOD
'CAUSE IT'LL GIVE IT WIGGLE ROOM,
BECAUSE-- SINCE THE POLYESTER THING
BURNS AT OVER 148 DEGREES...
>> YEAH, WRINKLES IN SHOES IS WHAT MAKES 'EM LOOK OLD, RIGHT?
>> YES! >> (chuckling).
>> ARE THESE JUST LEATHER SHOES, THEN, THAT YOU'RE THINKING
ABOUT REMOVING THE CREASES OUT?
>> NO, I'M THINKING ABOUT UNIVERSAL FOR EVERY MATERIAL.
>> EVERY MATERIAL, OKAY.
AND WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT THE SHOE STORE
WOULD BUY SOMETHING LIKE THIS?
>> BECAUSE I PITCHED IT TO FOOT LOCKER AND THE MANAGER WANTED TO HEAR MORE.
>> OKAY, GREAT-- THANKS.
>> REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE.
>> DO YOU THINK IT'D BE A PRODUCT THAT WOULD BE AFFORDABLE
FOR THE INDIVIDUAL TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE TO DO THEIR OWN SHOES?
OR IT'D BE MORE SOMETHING JUST TARGETED TOWARDS SHOE STORES
WHO ARE GONNA BE DEALING WITH A LOT OF VOLUME?
>> I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE MORE LIKE A LUXURY ITEM FOR, LIKE, SHOE FANATICS,
PEOPLE WHO HAVE 33-PLUS SHOES. >> SURE.
>> VERY GOOD-- ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
(applause) EXCELLENT JOB.
VERY WELL.
OUR NEXT PRESENTER, ALBERT GARDNER, "AUTO PROGRESS BOARD."
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS JACK GARDNER.
I THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING TODAY.
UM...
SO, MY PROPOSAL IS... AN AUTOMOTIVE INFORMATION SYSTEM
IN AN AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE GARAGE.
SO, THE PROBLEM IS, YOU TAKE YOUR CAR TO A GARAGE
AND YOU'RE REALLY NOT SURE, LIKE, WHAT THE REPAIR IS
OR HOW LONG IT'S GONNA TAKE.
SO, UM, THE INFORMATION BOARD--
THE TECHNICIAN CAN QUICKLY POINT, CLICK, AND ENTER A COUPLE OF TIMES
AND UPDATE THE CUSTOMER’S INFORMATION.
AND SO, UM, THE INFORMATION BOARD IS QUITE SIMILAR TO A HOSPITAL BOARD,
AND LIKE, IF SOMEONE GOES IN FOR SURGERY, YOU HAVE--
IT'S ALL COLOR-CODED FOR THE LEVEL OF SERVICE.
SO, LIKE, YOU HAVE…
WHITE IS, UH... (clearing throat)
THE... THE WAITING TIME,
AND THEN, YELLOW WOULD BE YOUR PRE-SERVICE--
LIKE A PRE-OPERATION--
AND THEN, THAT WOULD BE YOUR, LIKE, 24-POINT INSPECTION,
AND YOUR ESTIMATED TIME AND COST.
AND THEN, RED WOULD BE, LIKE, YOUR SURGERY,
AND THAT WOULD BE, LIKE, A--
OR RED WOULD BE YOUR SERVICE, LIKE, EQUIVALENT TO A SURGERY,
AND THAT WOULD BE YOUR TIME ON REPAIR.
AND THEN, ORANGE WOULD BE, UM...
THE, UH...
ORANGE WOULD BE THE-- LIKE YOUR CURING TIME,
LIKE RECOVERY TIME.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, AFTER THAT, THEN IT WOULD GO TO GREEN
AND THEN, THAT WOULD MEAN YOUR CAR WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP
'CAUSE IT'S DONE.
AND THEN, THE CUSTOMER CAN QUICKLY GET THIS ON THE INTERNET
BY THEIR IPHONE, TABLET, OR COMPUTER.
AND THEN, THAT WILL MAKE CUSTOMERS MORE INFORMED--
(bell dinging) AND THEN,
THAT WILL MAKE INNOVATIVE GARAGES MORE ETHICAL.
THANK YOU.
(applause)
>> IN YOUR RESEARCHES, HAVE YOU SEEN ANY OTHER PRODUCTS LIKE THIS,
WHERE GARAGES ARE USING TECHNOLOGY
TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS?
OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE BRAND-NEW?
>> NO, THIS, UM-- I WOULD ACTUALLY WORK
WITH THE SOFTWARE DEVELOPER TO MAKE THIS,
SO IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE NEW
TO MAKE IT MORE OF AN INTERACTION BETWEEN THE CUSTOMER AND THE GARAGE.
'CAUSE I'VE SEEN LIKE, UH...
BASIC DATA ENTRY PROGRAMS THAT,
YOU KNOW, YOU USE IN THE AUTO GARAGES AND TIRE PLACES,
AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO, LIKE, REALLY INTERACT,
WHERE THE CUSTOMER CAN JUST SIMPLY USE THEIR INTERNET CONNECTION,
AND THEN BE ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
>> WOULD IT ALSO BE A PROGRAM THAT WOULD ALLOW
FURTHER COMMUNICATION WITH THE CUSTOMER,
AS FAR AS REMINDERS WHEN YOUR SERVICE DATES ARE COMING UP,
OR TO ALLOW A CUSTOMER TO SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS?
>> YEAH. >> OR WOULD IT JUST BE TO NOTIFY YOU
WHEN YOUR CAR IS THERE? >> NO, EXACTLY.
IT WOULD BE-- ALLOW TO, UH, OTHER TIMES OF INFORMATION
THAT YOU CAN CONTACT THEM.
>> SO, IT'D BE LIKE A RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE FOR AUTO SERVICE.
>> YES.
>> I THINK THIS IS A GOOD IDEA.
OF COURSE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A PROGRAM THAT WOULD RUN,
LIKE, IN A P.C. OR A MAC-- OR AN APPLE.
>> YES, THE IDEA WOULD BE, LIKE, IF YOU HAD FORESTART--
ER, FOUR-STALL GARAGE THAT EACH PORT, EACH STALL OF THE GARAGE,
WOULD HAVE A COMPUTER SO THAT TECHNICIAN CAN GO AND UPDATE THAT.
>> AND THEN, THE CUSTOMER CAN ACCESS THAT INFORMATION
VIA THEIR CELLULAR PHONE? >> YEAH, IT WOULD BE--
>> SO, IT'D BE INTERACTIVE?
>> YEAH, SO THEY CAN JUST JUMP ON, LIKE, SAY, THE WEBSITE,
AND THEN, THEY CAN JUST SCROLL TO, LIKE, “SERVICE,”
AND THEN, THEY WOULD JUST, UM--
ON THERE WOULD BE LIKE AN INFORMATION BOARD
WITH THE CUSTOMER'S-- EACH CUSTOMER'S NAME,
AND THEN IT WOULD BE THE COLOR TO THE LEVEL OF SERVICE
OF WHERE THEIR CAR IS AT IN THE PROGRESS.
>> SO, WHY DO YOU THINK A COMPANY WOULD WANT TO HAVE AN APPLICATION LIKE THAT?
>> UH, 'CAUSE I THOUGHT OF IT FOR MY OWN SERVICE GARAGE.
SO, I'M GOING TO INCORPORATE IT-- >> IT'S TO SATISFY THE CUSTOMER?
IS THAT THE END GOAL? >> YEAH.
>> IT'S TO KEEP THEM INFORMED.
AND THAT, YOU THINK-- THE COMPANY OR THE BUSINESS
WOULD GENERATE MORE CUSTOMERS TO COME IN TO THEIR GARAGE?
>> YEAH, EXACTLY. >> IS THAT THE IDEA?
>> YEAH, IF YOU INTERACT WITH THEM MORE,
SO THAT THEY HAVE MORE OF AN IDEA OF EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON,
INSTEAD OF JUST LOOKING AT AN INVOICE,
AND THEN IT’S "PLOP DOWN $200, $300, $400,"
THEY DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THAT COST IS GOING, SO THEN--
>> IT'S A GOOD IDEA, YEAH.
>> THIS WOULD BE MORE ETHICAL
AND PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION FOR THE CONSUMER.
(applause)
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TRY TO DO AT GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS IS TO DO MORE
THAN JUST THE "PROFESSOR IN THE CLASSROOM,"
BUT TO GIVE THEM OUTSIDE EXPERIENCES,
SO THE IDEA PITCH COMPETITION THAT HAPPENS IN THE FALL,
WE HOPE FOR THE BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION IN THE SPRING,
AND OF COURSE, THE INTERNSHIPS, AND REALLY GIVE THEM
AS MUCH "REAL WORLD" EXPERIENCE IN SOLVING PROBLEMS.
SO, AGAIN, IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE TO COME UP HERE AND GIVE THOSE IDEAS.
WE’RE OFF TO A GREAT START.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE
OUR VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS, RAUL ALVAREZ--
HE'S ALL THE WAY IN THE BACK.
IF I COULD GET A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR HIM...
(applause)
HE'S BEING NICE ENOUGH TODAY TO BRING HIS CAMERA,
SO WE CAN GET SOME GREAT PICTURES OF THAT,
BUT RAUL, AND MALINDA POWERS, BEHIND THE SCENES, HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB.
IT REALLY TAKES A TEAM EFFORT AT THIS COLLEGE TO GET THINGS DONE,
SO IT'S A COLLABORATION OF THE PROFESSORS, THE STAFF,
AND ALSO WITH THE STUDENTS.
SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RAUL, FOR ALL YOUR WONDERFUL HELP,
AND FOR MALINDA AS WELL.
ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT IDEA!
CAN'T WAIT-- CAN'T WAIT HERE.
KERRI CURTIS, LEANN BROWN, “THE SELF-ADJUSTING BRA."
(applause)
>> I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS. (both laughing)
HI, I'M KERRI CURTIS AND THIS IS LEANN BROWN,
AND WE CAME UP WITH AN IDEA, UM…
THAT WILL MAKE EVERY WOMAN'S LIFE A LITTLE BIT EASIER,
AND ALSO GIVE THEM CONFIDENCE
THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOK TO SURGERY FOR, OR...
UNCOMFORTABLE MEASURES, LET ME JUST SAY THIS.
WE DEVELOPED A PRODUCT THAT IS A BRA… (giggling)
AND ABOVE-- (giggling) SORRY.
ABOVE THE UNDERWEAR IS AN EMPTY AIR SAC,
IN OPPOSED TO...
USING UNCOMFORTABLE PADDING OR "CHICKEN CUTLETS"--
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY'S FAMILIAR WITH THOSE, BUT THEY'RE HORRIBLE.
THERE'S AN INSIDE PUMP THAT YOU CAN PUMP AND ADJUST,
AND I THINK THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, NOT EVERY WOMAN
IS BORN WITH THE MOST BEAUTIFUL *** IN THE WORLD,
AND SOME SUFFER FROM HAVING ONE LARGER THAN THE OTHER,
SO THAT'S AN EASY SOLUTION FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO WEAR THE CLOTHES
THAT ARE IN STYLE
AND MAKE THEM NOT FEEL INSECURE ABOUT THE WAY THEY LOOK.
AND ALSO, FOR WOMEN WHO SUFFER FROM BREAST CANCER
AND WENT THROUGH BIOPSIES THAT HAS ALTERED THEIR IMAGE,
TO GIVE THEM MORE OF A SENSE OF CONFIDENCE
WITHOUT HAVING TO STUFF
OR WORRY ABOUT SOMETHING FALLING.
OR FOR THE AVERAGE WOMAN WHO WANTS TO USE IT FOR A SPECIAL OCCASION
AND WANTS TO HAVE A LITTLE EXTRA CLEAVAGE,
OR JUST IN ORDER TO WEAR ALL THE BEAUTIFUL CLOTHES
THAT THEY'RE MAKING RIGHT NOW. (bell dinging)
I TIMES THAT PRETTY GOOD, HUH? (laughing)
(applause)
>> SO, HAVE YOU ACTUALLY BUILT ONE OF THESE?
>> WELL, THE CONCEPT OF THIS IS, I-- WE THINK IT'S REALLY GENIUS,
AND A LOT OF OUR GIRLFRIENDS AND WOMEN THAT WE'VE TALKED TO ARE LIKE,
"I WANT ONE RIGHT NOW!"
UM, I DON'T REMEMBER IF ANY OF YOU
REMEMBER, LIKE, THE HIGH-TOP PUMPS FROM THE '90s,
WITH THE BASKETBALL, AND YOU PUMP IT UP...
IT'S A SIMILAR CONCEPT, BUT IT WILL BE ON THE INSIDE,
SO IT'S NOT VISIBLE.
AND IT WILL ALSO BE CONVENIENT BECAUSE YOU CAN DEFLATE IT
BEFORE YOU WASH IT OR CLEAN IT.
AND I THINK THAT WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT BRA OPTIONS THAT THEY HAVE,
THERE'S JUST NONE THAT YOU CAN ADJUST.
IT JUST-- IT IS WHAT IT IS, OR YOU HAVE TO CUSTOM ORDER.
SO, THIS WILL GIVE WOMEN THE CHANCE TO ALTER THEIR APPEARANCE,
OR JUST FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THEIR OWN CLOTHES...
BUT IT'S THAT SAME BASIC CONCEPT.
SO, HOW-- >> DOES THIS ADJUST THE STRAPS,
OR JUST THE CUP ITSELF? >> JUST THE CUP SIZE.
>> OKAY.
HAVE YOU LOOKED INTO HOW MUCH COST THIS WOULD ADD TO...
TO A BRA? >> WELL, ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW WHAT?
I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY REASONABLE,
CONSIDERING IF YOU LOOK AT ALL THE DIFFERENT LINES OF BRAS
THAT VICTORIA'S SECRET
OR JUST ANY DEPARTMENT STORE OFFERS--
UM, THEY ALREADY OFFER THE AIR BRAS AND THE WATER BRAS,
AND THEY'RE ROUGHLY AROUND $49.99 TO $55.
SO, IT'S THE BASIC CONCEPT-- SAME THING--
SO, I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT IT WOULD BE THAT MUCH MORE
TO INCORPORATE SOMETHING SO SIMPLE,
AS OPPOSED TO JUST DOING IT PREMADE.
>> YEAH, I KNOW THEY'RE PRETTY PRICEY. >> YEAH, TELL ME ABOUT IT!
(audience laughing) >> SO, JUST-- SO JUST HOLD ON.
SO, IT WOULD ROUGHLY BE ABOUT $55 PER BRA? >> ROUGHLY, YEAH.
>> AND SO, YOU DID INDICATE THAT THIS WOULD HAVE,
ALSO, KIND OF A MEDICAL APPLICATION FOR THOSE THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH--
>> ABSOLUTELY.
YOU KNOW, WOMEN WHO GO THROUGH SOMETHING SO TRAUMATIC AS THAT,
LIKE, I THINK THAT IT'S-- THERE'S JUST NOTHING WORSE THAN, YOU KNOW,
JUST GOING THROUGH AND SURVIVING THROUGH THAT,
AND HAVING A VISUAL REMINDER, YOU KNOW?
AND PEOPLE-- GIRLS WANT TO DRESS UP AND LOOK NICE.
THEY WANT TO WEAR FASHIONABLE THINGS
AND NOT WORRY ABOUT, "IS SOMETHING GOING TO FALL OUT OR SLIDE DOWN?
"OR JUST--"
>> NOW, YOUR MARKET WOULD BE FOR THE VICTORIA'S SECRET
OR IT WOULD ALSO BE SOMETHING FOR, MAYBE, SEARS?
>> ALL WOMEN-- EVERYBODY.
>> SO, YOU'LL STRESS IT FOR VICTORIA'S SECRET--
DO YOU THINK YOU'LL BE ABLE TO CONVINCE THEM?
>> I DON'T KNOW-- I HOPE I CAN CONVINCE YOU GUYS…
IT'LL GIVE ME A NICE LITTLE JUMPSTART.
(laughing)
>> AS FAR AS THE PUMP MECHANISM,
HAVE YOU GUYS ACTUALLY WORKED ON THE DESIGN FOR THAT,
OR IT'S JUST MORE IN THE "IDEA STAGE" STILL?
>> UM, IT'S MORE IN THE IDEA STAGE,
BUT I HAVE A VERY GOOD IDEA OF HOW IT WOULD BE DESIGNED
AND WHERE I WANT TO GO WITH IT-- WHERE WE WOULD LIKE TO GO WITH IT.
UM, I'VE BEEN A SUCKER-- I OWN THE WATER BRA, AN AIR BRA…
>> ONE OF THE THOUGHTS THAT I HAVE, AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, THE PUMP MECHANISM--
A LOT OF TIME, THEY'RE NOT EXTREMELY SMALL.
LIKE, WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT YOUR EXAMPLE FROM THE OLD PUMP-UP SHOES--
>> YEAH. >> NOW, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE WEARING IT
IN ALONG THE SIDE HERE, AND A LOT OF TIMES,
WHEN WOMEN LIKE TO WEAR SOMETHING THAT IS TIGHTFITTING…
>> MMM-HMM. >> YOU KNOW, IS IT GONNA BE ABLE
TO BE SLENDER ENOUGH SO IT'S NOT EXPOSED? >> ABSOLUTELY.
IT WOULD BE ON THE INSIDE. >> MMM-HMM.
>> ABOUT A LITTLE SMALLER THAN A QUARTER.
AND I MEAN, THERE WOULD BE OBVIOUSLY THE PUMP,
BUT IT WOULD BE INSIDE AGAINST THE SKIN, AND FLUSH WITH THE OUTSIDE OF THE BRA.
>> OKAY-- AND ALSO, THE PLASTIC PART THAT WOULD BE INFLATING--
WOULD THAT BE ABLE TO-- IS THERE A PRODUCT THAT YOU'VE LOOKED AT
THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND GOING THROUGH A WASHING MACHINE?
UM, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT WOULD STAY FLEXIBLE
AND NOT END UP WITH ISSUES OR TEAR.
>> YES... THE AIR BRA THAT I OWN--
I TOOK IT APART AND IT'S FINE TO BE WASHED.
AND I LOOKED AT IT, AND THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ONES
THAT ARE ALREADY ON THE MARKET AND THIS ONE... WOULD BE THE PUMP,
AND THE FACT THAT--
THIS IS KIND OF SILLY, BUT WHEN WE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA,
IT WAS KIND OF A CONCEPT OF LIKE, "TSS-TSS-TSS-TSS,” BUT THE NOISE HELPS.
AND THEN, YOU-- BEFORE YOU WOULD WASH IT
TO CARE FOR IT, YOU WOULD JUST DEFLATE IT.
>> OKAY-- SO, THE CURRENT ONES COME ALREADY INFLATED?
>> YES. >> AND THEY'S NOT AN ISSUE WITH WASHING?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
OKAY-- WHEW! >> EXCELLENT JOB!
(applause) VERY GOOD, VERY GOOD.
IS HEATHER HERE WITH US?
IS HEATHER-- MARY, NO?
OKAY… UH, HEATHER-- I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER
BECAUSE SHE WAS ONE OF THE FIFTEEN FINALISTS,
AND WE HOPE THAT EVERYTHING'S FINE.
HEATHER MCDONOUGH AND "GRAND RAPIDS BREW BUS."
OKAY?
SO, WE WERE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING ABOUT THAT.
OUR NEXT PRESENTER, SHAYNA MEDENDORP,
AND HER IDEA IS "GIVING A HELPING HAND."
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR COMING.
THE HEART IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF THE BODY.
“GIVING A HELPING HAND” WILL CREATE HOMEMADE ITEMS,
RANGING FROM JEWELRY TO HATS AND SCARVES.
I HOPE TO SELL THESE ITEMS EITHER ONLINE OR AT DIFFERENT SORTS OF CRAFTS STORES
OR WORD-OF-MOUTH.
THEN, I HOPE TO GIVE A PERCENTAGE OF THE PORTION--
A PORTION OF THE PROFITS TO AN ORGANIZATION
EITHER SIMILAR OR THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION.
THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION HAS SAVED MANY LIVES,
AND ALSO INSPIRED PEOPLE TO BECOME HEALTHIER.
I PROPOSE--
UH, THREE OF MY GRANDPARENTS HAVE HAD HEART CONDITIONS…
AND SO-- THEY WERE SAVED BY A SIMILAR ORGANIZATION
OR THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION.
I WANT TO INSPIRE PEOPLE...
TO ORGANIZE...
OR MAKE PRODUCTS...
ALONG WITH ME, TO EITHER--
AND THEN, SELL THE PRODUCTS TO OTHERS.
WHEN PEOPLE LOOK IN THE-- WHEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE EITHER MADE THE PRODUCT
OR HAVE BOUGHTEN IT AND LOOKED AT IT IN THEIR HOMES
WILL SEE THAT THEY'VE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN A PERSON'S LIFE,
OR THEY SAVED A LIFE.
NOW, I HAVE DONE SOMETHING LIKE THIS BEFORE.
UH...
AND SO, WILL YOU HELP ME MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A PERSON'S LIFE?
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
(applause)
>> WELL, I WAS JUST WONDERING IF-- (clearing throat)
YOU KINDA SAID, "MAKE PRODUCTS."
I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU HAD ANYTHING MORE SPECIFIC IN MIND?
>> UH, ITEMS... UH, HOMEMADE JEWELRY.
WHEN I HAD SAID I'VE MADE SOMETHING MYSELF,
I HELPED AN ORGANIZATION CALLED “THE DOCK”--
“THE DISCIPLING OF CHRIST KIDS”-- AND I SOLD THE JEWELRY I MADE,
AND I HELPED TO RAISE MONEY TO EXPAND THEIR ORGANIZATION.
THE-- IT WOULD BE BLANKETS THAT WERE MADE BY HAND,
UH, AND HATS AND SCARVES OR DIFFERENT SORTS OF CRAFTS,
LIKE A HANDBAG OR SOMETHING.
SO... >> SO, AS A BUSINESS,
THE ORGANIZATION MAKING THE PRODUCTS HAS TO MAKE SOME KIND OF RETURN...
>> OH, I’M SORRY-- I MISSPOKE.
IT WOULD BE MADE BY ME AND OTHER VOLUNTEERS.
>> OH, OKAY.
>> I WAS LITTLE BIT NERVOUS. (laughing)
USED THE WRONG WORD.
>> I THINK THE IDEA IS GREAT,
AND I LIKE THE NAME "GIVING A HELPING HAND."
NOW, I DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE OUT THERE
DOING THE SAME THING, SO YOU'LL HAVE TO DO QUITE A BIT OF COMPETITION
TO ACHIEVE THAT.
I'VE SEEN THAT DONE FOR INTERNATIONAL--
UH, DOING BLANKET FOR KIDS IN HONDURAS, FOR EXAMPLE.
SO, HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO COMPETE WITH THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY DOING IT?
>> I HOPE TO COMPETE WITH THE INTERNET-- USE THE INTERNET.
UH... >> TO ATTRACT VOLUNTEERS?
>> YES.
AND THEN, ALSO, MAKE THE ITEMS UNIQUE.
I HAVE HAD MANY PEOPLE ASK TO HAVE BRACELETS...
BLANKETS AND STUFF.
I'VE NOT MADE THE BLANKETS MYSELF, NO.
BUT LIKE, DIFFERENT SORTS-- QUILTS AND STUFF--
AND THAT'S ATTRACTED PEOPLE, LIKE, "OOO, I WANT THAT!"
AND SO, WHAT IT WOULD BE WOULD BE...
THE FACT OF THE OR-- UH, PROFITS WOULD GO TO AN ORGANIZATION
LIKE THE AMERICAN RED CROSS OR SOMETHING,
AND I BELIEVE THAT WOULD INSPIRE THE PEOPLE.
>> OKAY, VERY GOOD.
>> WOULD IT BE A TYPE OF SITUATION WHERE IT MIGHT HAVE AN ACTUAL PRODUCT LINE,
WHERE I COULD GO ONLINE AND I COULD PICK FROM A DESIGN THAT I LIKE,
OR I COULD SUBMIT SOMETHING, SAY, "I LIKE THIS BLANKET,
"BUT I WOULD LIKE THIS AND THIS AND THIS DONE TO IT,"
AS FAR AS CUSTOMIZING IT TO MAKE IT MORE DESIRABLE.
OR IS IT MORE OF A, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THE VOLUNTEERS WANNA MAKE,
AND JUST GOING INTO THE SITUATION SEEING WHAT'S THERE?
I GUESS, YOU KNOW, WOULD IT BE ABLE TO TAILOR TO A SPECIFIC PERSON'S WANTS?
>> YES, IT WOULD BE TAILORED.
UM, I'M A BUSINESS STUDENT MYSELF,
AND SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CUSTOMER’S NEEDS COME FIRST.
SO, YES, IT WOULD BE.
OR TRY, AT BEST.
SO-- I'VE ALSO CONTACTED THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION,
AND I'M WAITING TO HEAR FROM THEM BACK.
AND I ALSO HAVE A PARTNER
I'M HOPEFULLY GOING TO HEAR BACK FROM AS WELL.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
(applause)
>> EXCELLENT JOB. >> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, OUR NEXT PRESENTER--
AUSTIN McKEE, WITH HIS IDEA "CAREVIEW.”
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY, I'M AUSTIN McKEE.
UH, I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT
TO LISTEN TO MY IDEA, “CAREVIEW.”
UM, HOW MANY PARENTS HAVE I GOT OUT HERE TODAY?
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
UM…
WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR CHILD IN A DAYCARE CENTER...
WHAT YOU WANT IS PEACE OF MIND.
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR PEACE OF MIND IN THE FACT THAT YOUR CHILD
IS GOING TO RECEIVE THE GREATEST CARE POSSIBLE.
UM, I FEEL THAT DAYCARE CENTERS DON'T DO A GREAT JOB WITH COMMUNICATING
WITH THE PARENTS THAT THEY HAVE IN THEIR CENTERS.
THE SOLUTION I SEE IS “CAREVIEW.”
“CAREVIEW” IS A MOBILE AS WELL AS WEB-BASED APPLICATION
THAT WILL BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN PARENTS,
AS WELL AS THE CHILDCARE PROFESSIONALS.
UH, “CAREVIEW” ARMS THE CHILDCARE PROFESSIONALS
WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO--
UH, THE TOOLS THAT ARE-- THAT THEY NEED TO...
WOW, THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO HAVE A MORE EFFICIENT JOB,
AS WELL AS PUT THEIR DAYCARE IN A LEADING EDGE
OVER OTHER DAYCARES.
UM, “CAREVIEW” WILL USE TOOLS SUCH AS ONLINE SCHEDULING SYSTEMS
FOR THE CHILDCARE PROVIDERS,
AS WELL AS A MOBILE CHECK-IN/CHECKOUT SYSTEM THAT THEY CAN USE.
UM, OTHER FEATURES THAT “CAREVIEW” WILL SUSTAIN FOR THE PARENTS,
WILL BE SUCH AS, UM…
A REAL-TIME SNAPSHOT OF WHAT THEIR CHILD IS DOING IN THE DAYCARE, AND SO ON.
THIS IS A HIGHWAY THAT WILL BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN PARENTS
AS WELL AS THE CHILDCARE PROVIDER.
THANK YOU.
(applause)
>> FOR THE MOBILE CHECK-IN/CHECKOUT APPLICATION,
COULD YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT?
WHAT WOULD THE BENEFIT BE TO ME, AS A PARENT?
>> THE BENEFIT FOR YOU, AS A PARENT,
WOULD BE THE EASE THAT YOU KNOW THAT YOUR CHILD IS-- YOU KNOW, YOU--
INSTEAD OF-- I'VE CHATTED WITH DIFFERENT DAYCARE FACILITIES,
AND THEY HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE THEY PUNCH IN THE CODE,
AND THEY CHECK-IN THEIR CHILD THAT WAY.
IF YOU COULD DO IT THROUGH A DEVICE THAT YOU HAVE--
YOU KNOW, ONLINE SIGNATURE, SOME KIND OF PROGRAM OF THAT SORT…
UM, IT WOULD INTEGRATE YOUR TECHNOLOGY WITH THE SAFETY OF YOUR CHILD.
>> SO, WOULD THAT BE DIFFERENT THAN WHEN I BRING MY CHILD TO THE DAYCARE
AND CHECK-IN IN PERSON?
IS IT MORE OF A-- SOMETHING THAT MIGHT ALERT ME
IF SOMEONE WAS TO PICK MY CHILD UP?
>> EXACTLY, THAT'S JUST A FEATURE THAT WOULD BE ADDED ON AS A SIDENOTE.
UM, YEAH.
>> SO...
YOU'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT, LIKE, REAL-TIME VIDEOS OF YOUR CHILD
IN THE DAYCARE, BEING ABLE TO, AT ANY POINT IN THE DAY,
SEE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THEM?
IS THAT PART OF THE CONCEPT?
>> YES, SOME DAYCARES ALREADY IMPLEMENT A VIDEO CAMERA SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM
THAT THEIR PARENTS CAN LOG ONTO.
THIS SYSTEM WOULD IMPLEMENT IT FOR THEM,
AS WELL AS THE DAYCARES THAT DON'T HAVE THE BUDGET
TO IMPLEMENT A SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM, SUCH AS--
IT WILL WORK OFF OF THE SCHEDULING SYSTEM
THAT THE CHILDCARE PROFESSIONAL INPUTS INTO THE SYSTEM,
AND THE PARENT CAN LOOK ON THEIR, YOU KNOW, MOBILE DEVICE,
AND IT HAS A REAL-TIME SNAPSHOT, YOU KNOW, OF WHAT THE SCHEDULE
SAID THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE DOING AT THIS TIME,
SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, SNAP-- SNACK TIME--
APPLE SLICES ARE WHAT THEY'RE EATING TODAY...
AND JUST... THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> OKAY, SO, YOUR PRIMARY MARKET FOR THIS, OBVIOUSLY,
WOULD BE THE DAYCARE PROVIDERS… >> MMM-HMM.
>> FACILITIES. >> YEAH, YUP--
I WOULD THINK THAT THIS WOULD, LIKE I SAID, GIVE THEM A LEADING EDGE
OVER DAYCARE CENTERS.
IN CALEDONIA, WHERE I LIVE, THEY HAVE MILESTONES
AS WELL AS ADVENTURES DAYCARE ACROSS THE STREET.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ONE OF THEM, YOU KNOW, TAKE THIS IDEA
AND GIVE THEM AN EDGE OVER THE OTHER DAYCARE CENTER.
IF, YOU KNOW, PARENTS WOULD GO TO THIS DAYCARE CENTER
BECAUSE THEY HAVE THIS SYSTEM.
>> WELL, AUSTIN, I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU IF YOU HAVE LOOKED INTO
WHAT IT WOULD COST TO CREATE THIS PROGRAM THAT IS GONNA BE WEB-BASED.
>> I HAVE NOT, NO. >> YOU HAVE NOT LOOKED INTO THAT?
>> I WANTED TO DO MORE MARKET RESEARCH TO THE ACTUAL PARENTS,
AS WELL AS THE CHILDCARE PROFESSIONALS,
TO SEE WHAT KIND OF FEATURES THEY WOULD WANT SPECIFICALLY,
AND THEN, OFF OF THAT, I WOULD BUILD A PRICE.
I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE U.X. DESIGN OUT OF GRAND RAPIDS,
TO TRY TO IMPLEMENT THIS IDEA. >> ARE WE READY FOR THAT IDEA?
MOST OF THE DAYCARE CENTERS DO HAVE COMPUTERS?
>> UH, SORRY, I DIDN'T HEAR THE QUESTION.
>> ARE MOST OF THE DAYCARE CENTERS THAT YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH--
DO THEY HAVE COMPUTERS?
DO THEY HAVE THAT CAPABILITY?
>> I BELIEVE THAT THEY DO.
THE ONES I DID HAD THAT TO THE OPTION,
BUT I'M THINKING, FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD,
WHEN TECHNOLOGY IS MORE, YOU KNOW, IMPLEMENTED IN THESE DAYCARES,
THIS SYSTEM CAN REALLY JUMP-START THEM
INTO USING THAT TECHNOLOGY TO THE FULLEST POTENTIAL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD JOB. (applause)
IS HOPE WITH US TODAY?
OKAY, HOPE WASN'T FEELING VERY WELL.
WE WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO HER IDEA.
UH, SHE PROPOSED AN IDEA, AND IT WAS TITLED “YOUTH FOR ABSTINENCE.”
THE NEXT PRESENTER, ANDREW-- ANDREW HARTGER.
IS ANDREW HERE?
NO-- WELL, WE HOPE THAT SOME OF OUR PRESENTERS
THAT DID MAKE IT TO THE FINALS--
YOU KNOW, WE WERE HOPING THAT THEY WOULD BE HERE,
BUT WE HOPE THAT NOTHING WRONG HAS HAPPENED TO THEM,
SO LET'S MAKE SURE TO KEEP THEM IN OUR THOUGHTS.
THE VERY NEXT PRESENTER, CARL-- I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS TRUE,
BUT CARL TOLD ME THAT WE HAVE THE SUMMER OLYMPICS THIS YEAR,
AND HE SAID THAT THIS NEXT IDEA THAT HE HAS
POSSIBLY COULD BE CONSIDERED BY THE NEXT SUMMER OLYMPICS
AS AN OFFICIAL EVENT.
UH, CARL NYSTROM IS "CUSTOM BEER PONG."
(audience chuckling)
THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A COLLEGE-- COLLEGE STUDENTS JUST CAME FROM THAT--
HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?
>> THEY HAVE LEAKS. >> THEY HAVE LEAKS-- THERE WE GO.
>> UH, SO IF I GO OUT ON THE WEEKEND OR I DO ANYTHING
AND I DON'T KNOW SOME PEOPLE AT THE PARTY,
THE FIRST THING THAT I DO IS I LIKE TO GO DO SOMETHING ENTERTAINING.
I'LL GRAB A FRIEND AND I'LL BE LIKE, "HEY, YOU WANNA PLAY SOME BEER PONG?"
IT'S SIMPLE.
OF COURSE, THE ANSWER IS "YES."
UM, LIKE, I'VE SEEN ANYWHERE FROM, LIKE, A TABLE LIKE THIS RIGHT HERE
TO A FANTASTIC TABLE AT A BUDDY’S HOUSE THAT I MADE FOR HIM.
ABSOLUTELY HANDS-DOWN-- I'LL SAY THEY THROW THE BEST PARTIES.
THE BEER PONG TABLE JUST HAS PEOPLE LINED UP.
IF YOU WALK INTO, LIKE, GRAND VALLEY, MICHIGAN STATE, WESTERN, CENTRAL--
THEY ALL PARTY. (laughing)
EVERY SINGLE PERSON PARTIES-- EVERYBODY KNOWS IT.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE KNOWN FOR.
AND THEY ALL THROW, LIKE, HUGE BASHERS.
I'VE BEEN TO A FEW.
THEY'RE PRETTY COOL.
BUT I STICK TO BEER PONG.
IT'S MY GAME, I LIKE IT, IT'S FUN.
THE IDEA OF IT IS...
YOU HAVE EIGHT-FOOT LONG TABLE OR A SIX-FOOT LONG TABLE--
YOUR CHOICE-- 27 INCHES WIDE, ABOUT 5 INCHES DEEP.
IN BETWEEN THE TABLE, LIKE, WE'LL PUT PLEXIGLASS ON TOP OF THIS,
THIS WILL BE FILLED WITH NOTHING BUT AIR,
AND THEN ANOTHER LAYER WOULD BE THIS,
AND INSIDE OF IT AND YOU COULD HAVE YOUR FAVORITE ALCOHOL BOTTLE.
MINE WOULD BE GREY GOOSE.
YOU PUT GREY GOOSE BOTTLES
LINING THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BOARD.
AND THEN, FILL IT WITH HIGHLIGHTER MIX-- (bell dinging)
AWW… YEAH, FILL IT UP-- MAKE IT SWEET.
>> OKAY, VERY GOOD.
(applause)
>> MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE I'M SO OLD, BUT...
WHAT IS BEER PONG? (laughing)
>> BEER PONG IS A GAME-- YOU GOT TEN CUPS.
YOU LINE FOUR UP, THREE UP, TWO UP, ONE.
SO, IT'S A TRIANGLE.
IT'S VERY POPULAR RIGHT NOW.
AND YOU HAVE PING-PONG BALLS, BASICALLY.
BOTH SIDES HAS TEN CUPS INTO A TRIANGLE.
THE OBJECTIVE IS TO MAKE IT.
YOU MAKE THE CUP, YOU PULL THE CUP,
AFTER YOU AND YOUR PARTNER SHOOT...
AND THEN, IT CONTINUES ON.
THERE'S DIFFERENT THINGS YOU CAN DO.
LIKE, THREE-TWO-ONE, WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO THAT.
A "ZIPPER" IS THREE THIS WAY AND TWO RIGHT HERE.
YOU CAN DO A RHOMBUS.
THERE'S DIFFERENT, LIKE, PATTERNS YOU CAN MAKE FOR IT.
>> SOUNDS FUN. (audience chuckling)
>> CARL, SO HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE MONEY HERE?
I MEAN, I'M TRYING TO-- YOU'RE GOING TO SELL THE IDEA?
IS IT SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO DO IT PERSONALLY.
I LIKE TO BUILD THINGS, I LIKE TO USE MY HANDS, I LIKE TO WORK.
>> SO-- >> UM...
YOU COULD MAKE MONEY OFF IT THIS WAY...
LIKE THE BEER PONG TABLE THAT I MADE FOR MY BUDDIES.
IT'S PRETTY SWEET.
IT'S GREY GOOSE BOTTLES INSIDE THAT I HAVE,
AND WHAT YOU DO IS YOU PAINT IT YOUR FAVORITE COLORS,
WHATEVER YOUR FAVORITE N.F.L. TEAM IS OR WHATEVER.
AND THEN, LIKE, IF ANYONE ASKS, “OH, WHERE DID YOU GET THIS ONE?”
I'M A REFERENCE.
I HAVE THREE MORE PEOPLE WANTING BEER PONG TABLES CURRENTLY...
BECAUSE OF THE ONE I SET UP AT MY BUDDY'S HOUSE IN LANSING.
AND SO, A PRETTY BIG SCHOOL, IT'LL GET AROUND,
AND IT'S PRETTY SWEET. >> OKAY-- SO, THE ENVIRONMENT IS ALSO--
YOU HAVE-- IT'S KIND OF A PARTY ENVIRONMENT KIND OF A THING?
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PARTY ENVIRONMENT IN ORDER FOR IT TO SUCCEED?
>> YOU CAN HAVE THE PARTY ENVIRONMENT,
BUT, LIKE, SOME PEOPLE JUST LIKE TO CHILL, HAVE A CASUAL BEER,
DRINK WITH BUDDIES, WHICH IT'S A VERY CHILL GAME, TOO.
OR IT CAN BE EXCITING-- DEPENDS ON THE MOOD YOU'RE IN.
>> OKAY, THANKS.
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S A PRETTY DECENT IDEA.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER IN BUSINESS,
IS IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE MARKETING TO COLLEGES--
AND OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S THOUSANDS OF COLLEGES NATIONWIDE.
UM, YOU KNOW, LET'S SAY BEST CASE SCENARIO--
SUDDENLY, EVERYBODY WANTS ONE.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT BUILDING THESE YOURSELF--
WHAT WOULD YOU DO FOR THE NEXT STEP,
IF SUDDENLY, YOU POST THIS ONLINE
AND TOMORROW, YOU'VE 187 ORDERS THAT NEED TO BE FILLED?
>> UM...
RIGHT NOW, I HAVE-- MY DAD OWNS A WAREHOUSE FOR HIS BUSINESS.
WITH-- OH, I SHUT IT OFF.
ALL RIGHT, ANYWAY-- ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOOD.
SO, HE OWNS HIS OWN BUSINESS, HAS HIS OWN WAREHOUSE,
DOES HIS OWN MANUFACTURING AND EVERYTHING.
THE BOARDS WOULD BE EASY-- I CAN ORDER THAT STANDARD FROM A LUMBER THING,
PLUS MY DAD GETS IT FREE WITH ALL OF HIS BUSINESSES.
AND THEN, HE HAS A WORKSHOP.
ALL I'D HAVE TO DO IS CUT THE BOARDS, CONTINUOUSLY RUNNING THEM,
AND THEN, ON TOP OF THAT,
I HAVE PLENTY OF-- LIKE, I COULD HIRE PEOPLE.
THAT'D BE EASY ENOUGH.
AND THEN... LIKE, THE ONLINE THING,
THE ONLY THING I WOULD WORRY ABOUT
IS WHAT THEY WOULD WANT IN IT.
'CAUSE IF THEY WANTED BEER BOTTLES IN IT OR SOMETHING...
LIKE, BEER BOTTLES WOULDN’T BE TOO HARD TO GET.
BUT LIKE, A GREY GOOSE BOTTLE OR SOMETHING, YOU'RE LOOKING AT--
I THINK IT, PER FIFTH, IT'S ABOUT $35, $39.
SO, THAT'D BE PRETTY EXPENSIVE TO TRY AND GET THOSE.
BUT OVERALL, I WOULDN'T BE TOO WORRIED ABOUT IT,
JUST BASED ON HOW MANY I CAN RUN OUT PER HOUR.
>> NOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE GREY GOOSE BOTTLES BEING $39 APIECE,
ARE YOU ANTICIPATING ACTUALLY PUTTING THESE IN THERE FULL?
>> NO, NO, DEFINITELY NOT.
YOU CAN, LIKE, PUT-- MOST PEOPLE WILL PUT LIKE A HIGHLIGHTER MIX IN IT,
AND THEN, WHAT YOU CAN DO
IS YOU CAN PUT, LIKE, A BLACK LIGHT AROUND THE SIDE--
LIGHT 'EM UP. >> OKAY.
>> ALL RIGHT, VERY GOOD!
THANK YOU.
(applause)
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CARL.
OUR NEXT PRESENTER-- JEFFREY NOEL.
“BOOKHIPPIE” IS HIS IDEA.
TELL US ABOUT “BOOKHIPPIE.”
THAT'S-- THERE YOU GO, SIR.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME,
AND YOUR CONSIDERATION OF MY IDEA.
MY IDEA IS CALLED “BOOKHIPPIE.”
MY IDEA STEMS FROM A RESEARCH STUDY THAT WAS DONE
BY THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE.
IT SAID THAT FROM THE 1986 TO 2004,
TEXTBOOKS INCREASED IN PRICE 240 PERCENT.
WE'RE SEEING TEXTBOOKS THAT COST $200, $300,
AND WE HAVE, ACROSS ALL THE CAMPUSES IN THE UNITED STATES,
WE SEE A MONOPOLY STARTING TO BE BUILT…
WHERE THE ON-CAMPUS BOOKSTORES--
THERE'S REALLY NO ALTERNATIVE FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE, LIKE, FINANCIAL AID,
OR MAYBE THEIR PARENTS ARE PAYING FOR IT OR WHATEVER.
SO, MY IDEA TO HELP SOLVE THAT ISSUE...
WHAT IT IS, IT'S AN ONLINE SITE THAT ALLOWS STUDENTS TO REGISTER BOOKS
THAT THEY HAVE FROM CLASSES THEY'VE ALREADY TAKEN.
THEN, THROUGH A MATCHMAKING SYSTEM,
PAIRS THEM UP WITH OTHER STUDENTS THAT HAVE COMPLETED THE COURSES
THEY'RE GOING INTO.
SO, LET'S SAY "POLITICAL SCIENCE 101" IS A CLASS THAT I'VE COMPLETED.
BUT, I'M GOING INTO "ENGLISH 101."
WHAT THIS DOES IS IT FINDS ANOTHER STUDENT THAT IS GOING INTO "POLI SCI 101"
AND HAS COMPLETED "ENGLISH 101,"
AND IT MATCH-MAKES US, SO THAT WAY, WE CAN TRADE OUR BOOKS,
INSTEAD OF GOING TO THE BOOKSTORE AND SPENDING $200, $300.
AT THE NEXT LEVEL, LET'S SAY I HAVE A BOOK THAT I CAN'T TRADE.
“BOOKHIPPIE” WILL BUY THIS BOOK FROM THE STUDENT,
AND THEN LIST IT ON SOMEWHAT OF AN AUCTION SITE.
WHAT THIS DOES IS THAT WHEN A STUDENT PURCHASES THE BOOK
FROM A DIFFERENT COLLEGE... (bell dinging)
IT ALLOWS THEM... (chuckling)
IT ALLOWS THEM TO BASICALLY SEND THAT BOOK ANONYMOUSLY
TO THAT OTHER STUDENT AND RECEIVE COMPENSATION FROM “BOOKHIPPIE."
>> HAVE YOU LOOKED AT ALL INTO THE SOFTWARE SIDE OF IT,
AS FAR AS THE DEVELOPMENT AND WHAT KIND OF COSTS WOULD BE INVOLVED.
>> WELL, ACTUALLY, I'M A WEB DEVELOPER HERE.
UM, I'VE ACTUALLY COMPLETED THE ENTIRE SITE.
IT IS FUNCTIONAL.
IT'S READY FOR LAUNCH.
THE E-COMMERCE IS STILL SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE DECIDED--
DO WE WANT IT TO GO THROUGH PAYPAL?
DO WE WANT TO WRITE SOMETHING (indistinct)?
MAYBE DO OUR OWN THING?
IT'S COMPLETELY UP IN THE AIR RIGHT NOW, BUT WE DO HAVE THE WEBSITE READY TO GO.
>> WHAT KIND OF GUARANTEE WOULD I HAVE, AS A STUDENT,
THAT WHEN I PUT MY BOOK IN THE MAIL, I HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE OTHER ONE YET--
MY BOOK DISAPPEARS, I NEVER RECEIVE ONE,
NOW I HAVE $200 TEXTBOOK THAT I JUST MAILED AWAY.
>> I'VE ACTUALLY-- I'VE ACTUALLY HAD SOMEBODY ASK THIS QUESTION BEFORE.
AND WE DO HAVE THIS BUILT INTO THE MARKETING PLAN.
WHAT IT DOES IS THAT THIS LIST BASICALLY DOESN'T PURCHASE ANYTHING
UNTIL THERE IS A BUYER.
SO, ONCE WE CONNECT A BUYER WITH A SELLER,
THEN WHAT IT DOES IS IT PURCHASES THAT BOOK.
THIS PERSON THAT BOUGHT THE BOOK
BASICALLY PUTS IT INTO THIS ESCROW ACCOUNT.
IT SITS THERE UNTIL THEY RECEIVE IT ON THEIR END.
IF WITHIN A WEEK, TWO WEEKS, WE HAVE A--
UM, YOU KNOW HOW THEY PRINT OUT THOSE PRE-POSTAGE,
FOR U.P.S. WITH A TRACKING DEVICE?
UM, BASICALLY, WHAT WE DO
IS THAT WHEN IT GOES FROM ONE PERSON TO THE OTHER,
THE SELLER OF THE BOOK PRINTS OFF THE LABEL
AND WE TRACK IT ON OUR END.
SO, WHEN WE SEE SOMETHING HAD ARRIVED,
THEN WE SEND THEM THREE E-MAILS OVER THREE DAYS
AND SAYING, "HEY, YOU RECEIVED YOUR BOOK.
"HOW DO YOU LIKE IT?
"DOES IT WORK-- IS IT GOOD?"
IF THEY DON'T RESPOND WITHIN THREE DAYS, THE COMPENSATION IS SENT TO THE SELLER.
THE BUYER IS ASSUMED TO HAVE THE BOOK, AND THAT'S THE END OF THAT.
>> SO, IS THERE A COMMISSION FOR DOING THESE BOOK TRADES?
>> WELL, THE BOOK TRADES, I'M THINKING IS GONNA BE A DOLLAR.
BUT IF IT GOES ON TO THE LISTING AUCTION SITE--
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GO TO AMAZON, THEY SAY, "WE HAVE 44 FOR $3.93."
UM, IT WORKS KIND OF LIKE THAT, WHERE THAT TOP NUMBER
IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE THE LOWEST SELLER.
SO, LET'S SAY SOMEBODY SAYS THEY WANT TO SELL THEIR BOOK FOR FIVE BUCKS,
AND EVERYTHING IS ABOVE FIVE BUCKS.
WE'RE ONLY GOING TO DISPLAY THAT WE HAVE A BOOK FOR $5.
AND WHAT IT'S GONNA DO IS THAT WHEN THE PURCHASE IS MADE,
THEN THAT'S WHEN THE BOOK IS SENT.
UM, SO, THEN, WHAT WE DO IS THAT...
THE ALGORITHM THAT'S BEEN WRITTEN
BASICALLY ROUNDS UP TO THE NEAREST DOLLAR,
AND THEN ADDS A DOLLAR.
SO, YOU PAY A FLAT RATE.
SO, YOU SEE, LET'S SAY SOMEBODY LISTED THEIR BOOK $4.58.
ON THE OTHER END, THE PERSON THAT'S PURCHASING THE BOOK IS GONNA SEE,
"THIS BOOK IS FOR SALE FOR $6."
WE'RE BUYING IT FROM THIS PERSON FOR $4.58,
SO WE PROFIT $1.42 TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
OBVIOUSLY, WE GOT SHIPPING COSTS,
SO IT'LL BE FACTORED INTO THE ALGORITHM.
>> I THINK IT'S A VERY GOOD IDEA.
IT REMINDED ME OF WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE TO COLLEGE.
AFTER EACH SEMESTER, THE LIBRARY WOULD HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS,
IN WHICH EVERYONE BROUGHT IN THEIR BOOKS--
THEIR USED BOOKS, AND THEN, THAT'S WHERE THE MATCHING OCCURRED.
SO, I THINK THERE'S A BIG NEED FOR THIS,
AND IT'S A GOOD THING FOR THE STUDENTS.
SO, I REALLY LIKE THE IDEA.
WOULD YOU ALSO LIMIT THE PRICE OF THE BOOK
BEFORE YOU ACCEPT A BOOK TO COME IN?
BECAUSE I NOTICED YOU COMPLAINED ABOUT THE PRICES OF IT BEING $200, $300.
>> WELL, THAT'S THE BEAUTY ABOUT THIS.
WHEN PEOPLE LIST THEIR BOOKS ONLINE,
THEY'RE COMPETING WITH OTHER PEOPLE WITH THAT BOOK.
IF YOU DON'T LIST YOURS AT A REASONABLE PRICE,
YOU'LL NEVER SELL THAT BOOK.
AT THE SAME TIME, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WE GO TO THE BOOKSTORE
AND WE SELL OUR BOOKS FOR 20 BUCKS WHEN WE PAID $200.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SEE THERE'S A RATIONAL--
"THERE'S A PRICE I'M WILLING TO PAY."
AND SO, THEY'LL SEE, "OKAY, THIS BOOK IS 20 BUCKS.
"I CAN SELL MY BOOK FOR 20 BUCKS AT THE BOOKSTORE,
"OR I CAN GO ON ‘BOOKHIPPIE’ AND SELL MY BOOK FOR 60 BUCKS,
"WHICH IS A FAIR VALUE BECAUSE I PAID $200."
SO, THERE'S GOING TO BE AN EQUITABLE VALUE THERE
FOR BOTH THE SELLER AND THE BUYER...
TO PAY LESS. >> SO, YOU WON'T HAVE ANY LIMIT THEN?
YOU'RE GOING TO GO WHATEVER THE DEMAND IS, THEN?
>> YUP, EXACTLY-- THE DEMAND AND THE SUPPLY.
>> NOW, THE OTHER QUESTION THAT I HAD IS WHY "HIPPIE”?
WHY “BOOKHIPPIE”?
>> WELL, ACTUALLY, IT CAME FROM A VERY CREATIVE IDEA.
UM, WE THOUGHT ABOUT GOOGLE+,
YOU KNOW, HOW EVERYBODY HAS THEIR LITTLE CIRCLES.
UM, COMMUNITY COLLEGES, GRAND VALLEY, DAVENPORT,
THOSE ARE GONNA BE “CIRCLES,”
BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN BIGGER CIRCLES AND THEN BIGGER CIRCLES.
AND SO, WE KIND OF THOUGHT ABOUT, "OH, THERE'S ALL THESE HIPPIES THAT ARE,
"YOU KNOW, TRADING ONE THING FOR ANOTHER, AND THESE CIRCLES--
"WE CALL THEM THE HIPPIE CIRCLES.”
UM, AND I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS A CUTE IDEA, YOU KNOW?
>> HAVE YOU PUT ANY THOUGHT INTO HAVING DIFFERENT CATEGORIES,
DIFFERENT GRADES OF A SPECIFIC BOOK, AS FAR AS THE VALUE--
IF I LOOK AT A MATH TEXTBOOK AND IT'S BEAT UP
VERSUS MID-QUALITY VERSUS A HIGH-QUALITY,
AND HAVING DIFFERENT PRICE POINTS AT THAT.
>> WELL, I WOULDN'T EVEN SAY IT WITH THE PRICE POINTS,
BECAUSE IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHO THE PERSON--
THE PERSON THAT BOUGHT THAT BOOK IS GOING TO DETERMINE,
"IS THIS GOING TO BE ACCEPTABLE FOR ME TO USE IN MY CLASSES?"
IF WITHIN THAT THREE DAYS, THEY SAY, "NO, THIS IS NOT THE BOOK THAT I NEED,"
OR "THIS BOOK IS WAY TOO DAMAGED FOR ME TO USE,"
WITHIN THOSE THREE DAYS, THOSE THREE E-MAILS, THEY CLICK, "NO,"
IT PRINTS OUT A RETURN SHIPPING LABEL, THEY SEND IT RIGHT BACK TO THE SELLER.
>> I GUESS MY QUESTION BEYOND THAT IS, YOU KNOW,
YOU SAY YOU'RE GOING TO SHOW WHATEVER THE BEST PRICED BOOK IS.
YOU'VE GOT ONE OF THESE BOOKS AVAILABLE FOR $5,
SO YOU'RE GOING TO SAY, "WE HAVE THIS BOOK AVAILABLE FOR $5.”
BUT, YOU KNOW, IF I'M GOING ON THERE, AND IF THERE'S A CONSISTENT PROBLEM
WITH HEARING ABOUT, "MY FRIENDS HAVE ORDERED BOOKS AND THEY COME--
"THEY SHOW UP AND THEY'RE IN ROUGH CONDITION,"
YOU KNOW, WOULD IT BE MAYBE ADVANTAGEOUS,
WHERE YOU COULD SAY, "WELL, WE HAVE AN ‘A,’ A ‘B,’ AND A ‘C’ QUALITY BOOK,
"AND ONES AVAILABLE FOR THIS PRICE.
"YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT $5, WE'VE GOT $10, WE GOT $25,
"YOU KNOW, AND WE'VE GOT THE THREE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES."
>> YEAH, THAT IS ACTUALLY A PRETTY GOOD IDEA,
TO MAKE, LIKE, A STAR RATING SYSTEM.
UM, YOU CAN EVEN DO THAT BASED ON THE SELLER.
UM, THE PERSON THAT'S SELLING THE BOOKS, THEY'RE GOING TO BE REVIEWED BY THE PEOPLE
THAT ARE BUYING THEIR BOOKS, KIND OF LIKE WITH EBAY,
WHERE WE HAVE 40 PEOPLE THAT SAID, "GREAT,"
BUT THIS ONE PERSON SAID, "THIS BOOK WAS TERRIBLE."
I GUESS, NOT NECESSARILY RATING THE BOOKS, BUT MORE SO, WHO'S SELLING THE BOOKS.
>> AND THAT COULD BE--
ONE OF MY THOUGHTS WAS ON THE GRADING SYSTEM.
IT'D BE SIMILAR TO, LIKE, AT AN AUTO TRADER,
WHERE YOU GO ON THERE AND YOU, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT “GOOD CONDITION,”
“POOR CONDITION,” YOU KNOW, “EXCELLENT CONDITION.”
YOU CAN LOOK AT YOUR BOOK AND GO, "WELL, YOU KNOW,
"YEAH, MY COVER'S A BIT TATTERED AND I'VE GOT SOME TORN PAGES,
"SO THIS ONE THEN QUALIFIES AS A ‘B’-RATED BOOK,”
AND YOU KNOW, GO INTO THAT CATEGORY.
>> YEAH, I DIDN'T SPECIFICALLY IMPLEMENT THAT INTO THE WEB DESIGN ITSELF,
BUT SPEAKING ABOUT IT HERE, IT'S ENTIRELY POSSIBLE.
THE ALGORITHM IS VERY EASILY CHANGED,
TO WHERE THE BUYERS AND THE SELLERS CAN ADD ANY TYPE OF ATTRIBUTES
TO THEIR NAMES OR EVEN FOR THE PRODUCT THEY'RE SELLING,
BECAUSE IT'S ALL THROUGH E-COMMERCE.
>> LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR JEFF.
(applause) EXCELLENT JOB.
FOR THE ENTREPRENEUR, IT TAKES THE SUPPORT OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
YOU'RE HEARING A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS TODAY.
WHETHER WE GO THROUGH THE HISTORY BOOKS
AND WE TAKE A LOOK AT SUCH NAMES AS VANDERBILT, SCOTT,
ROCKEFELLER, FORD, CARNEGIE,
OR WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE NEW NAMES
OF JOBS, GATES, SERGEI BRIN, AND LARRY PAGE,
OR MARK ZUCKERBERG.
IF YOU GO BACK THROUGH THE HISTORY,
YOU FIND OUT THAT THEY HAD A LOT OF DIFFERENT IDEAS,
AND THEY TRIED A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE PROPOSE IS THAT YOU GO THROUGH VARIOUS ITERATIONS,
AND THEN YOU LAND ON THAT ONE BIG IDEA.
SO, AGAIN, A LOT OF COURAGE TO STEP FORWARD WITH THESE IDEAS.
UH, RICHARD DEVOS-- WE HAD SOME TIME TO SPEND WITH HIM A FEW SUMMERS AGO,
THE STUDENTS HERE AT GRCC.
IN FACT, THE THREE GENERATIONS OF THE DEVOS FAMILY,
AND WHAT WE REALLY ENJOYED AND VALUED
WAS WHEN MR. DEVOS WENT THROUGH ALL THE BUSINESSES
THAT HIM AND MR. VAN ANDEL STARTED THAT DIDN'T WORK,
UH, LEADING UP TO, FINALLY, THE CREATION OF AMWAY.
AND IF YOU LISTEN TO ALL THOSE STORIES OF TRYING AND SUCCESS AND FAILURE,
AND THEN HAVING THE COURAGE TO GET UP AGAIN, IT'S JUST FASCINATING.
AND SO, AGAIN, WE NEVER KNOW.
WE MIGHT HAVE THE NEXT STEVE JOBS OR LARRY BRIN RIGHT HERE
IN OUR AUDIENCE OR PRESENTING WITH US TODAY.
SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE OTHER THING I'D LIKE TO DO IS ALSO THINK ALL THE FACULTY
AT GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
WE BELIEVE AT GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
THAT WE HAVE A UNIVERSITY-QUALITY EXPERIENCE FOR OUR STUDENTS,
YET AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE PRICE,
WHICH REALLY IS AN EXCELLENT VALUE PROPOSITION
THAT CAN'T BE FOUND ELSEWHERE,
ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES THAT WE SEE.
WE ONLY RECRUIT THE VERY BEST OF FACULTY
AND THE VERY BEST OF STAFF HERE
TO HELP GROW OUR ECONOMY THROUGH YOU, THE STUDENTS.
OUR FUTURE IS WITH YOU.
I'D LIKE TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FORMER BUSINESS DEPARTMENT HEAD,
PROFESSOR GLENN GELDERLOOS, WHO'S AT THE BACK THERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING WITH US.
IF WE COULD HAVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR HIM, PLEASE.
(applause)
I GROW EVERY DAY IN APPRECIATION OF WHAT A DEPARTMENT HEAD GOES THROUGH,
UH, AND I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH NICER TO YOU, GLENN, THROUGH ALL THOSE YEARS.
YOU DID A WONDERFUL JOB.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DID FOR OUR DEPARTMENT.
AND WE HAVE A STEVEN SPIELBERG AT GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE WOULD DO WITH HIM--
HE'S HELPED US PRODUCE A LOT OF FILM, TODAY'S IDEA PITCH--
THE 2012 IDEA PITCH WILL BE ON THE GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE YOUTUBE CHANNEL.
AND, IN FACT, IT YOU CAN SEE 2011 AND THE 2010--
YOU CAN FIND THAT ON OUR BUSINESS DEPARTMENT HOMEPAGE.
SO, PLEASE VISIT IT, AND WE HAVE MANY VIDEOS--
AND THAT'S KLAAS KWANT AND HIS WONDERFUL CREW OF FILMMAKERS
HERE AT GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
IF WE COULD HAVE A VERY SPECIAL, WARM APPLAUSE FOR HIM...
(applause)
IT’S JUST AMAZING.
IT'S JUST REALLY AMAZING WHAT HE CAN DO.
UH, THANK YOU FOR STAYING WITH US AND NOT GOING TO HOLLYWOOD.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP…
DAMION HARDEN, “GLOW N WALK.”
DAMION, SHARE WITH US YOUR IDEA.
>> HELLO, EVERYBODY.
DAMION HARDEN.
UM, HOW MANY OF US DRIVE AT NIGHT?
I'M SURE EVERYBODY IN HERE DRIVES AT NIGHT.
I'M SURE EVERYBODY AT LEAST KNOWS ONE PERSON THAT OWNS A DOG.
WELL, PUT THOSE TWO IN THE SCENARIO FOR YOU.
SAY, HOW MANY TIMES HAS ANYBODY EVER BEEN DRIVING
DOWN A CITY OR A RURAL STREET AND-- BOOM!
OUT OF NOWHERE, A PEDESTRIAN AND THEIR PET ARE, LIKE, TWO OR THREE CAR LENGTHS
FROM BEING MADE A HOOD ORNAMENT.
UM...
I HAVE A SIMPLE SOLUTION FOR HELPING PEOPLE SEE THESE ANIMALS AT NIGHT.
IT'S CALLED THE “GLOW N WALK,” A.K.A. “DUKE NIGHT-WALKER.”
IT IS A LEASH AND HARNESS COMBO MADE OF L.E.D. LIGHTS,
AND THE CHARACTERISTICS--
THE NEON CHARACTERISTICS OF DEEP-SEA CREATURES
KNOWN AS BIOLUMINESCENCE.
THE HARNESS LIGHTS WILL PROMOTE SAFETY AND AWARENESS,
AND ALSO, IT WILL HELP VISIBILITY
OF THESE PEDESTRIANS AND THEIR PETS AT NIGHT.
UM...
THE IDEA CAME TO ME WHEN I--
ACTUALLY, PROBABLY 20 MINUTES BEFORE THE DEADLINE FOR THIS PITCH,
AND I ALMOST HIT SOMEBODY-- AND IT ALMOST--
IT'S A REAL THING TO ALMOST HIT A PEDESTRIAN AND THEIR PET.
AND IT'S A VERY BIG LIFE-CHANGER,
SO I THINK THIS WILL PROMOTE SAFETY
AND HELP PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO WALK THEIR DOGS AFTER DUSK,
'CAUSE SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE TO WALK-- (bell dinging)
AFTER NIGHT.
“GLOW N WALK”... THANK YOU.
>> WELL DONE. (applause)
>> HOW WOULD YOU PLAN ON RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT YOUR PRODUCT?
>> UM, ACTUALLY, JUST COME UP WITH A CLEVER MARKETING SCHEME--
IF YOU PRODUCE THE ITEM,
UM, ONLY GIVE IT TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT--
A FIXED GROUP OF PEOPLE, MAYBE 25, AND HAVE THEM WALK THEIR DOG.
AND I'M PRETTY SURE THAT IT-- FROM SEEING THIS, IT'S A COOL IDEA,
AND I'M PRETTY SURE THAT OTHER PEOPLE WILL WANT TO KNOW,
"WHERE DID YOU GET THIS IDEA FROM?”
OR, "WHERE DID YOU GET THE ITEM FROM?”
AND I THINK THAT, WITH THE WAY TRENDS ARE,
EVERYBODY'S TRYING TO BE THE NEXT TRENDSETTER.
I THINK THAT THIS WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA.
>> NOW, YOU MENTIONED L.E.D. LIGHTING, AS WELL AS BIOLUMINESCENCE.
HOW DID YOU PLAN ON INTEGRATING THE BIOLUMINESCENCE?
OR WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THAT BE VERSUS THE L.E.D.,
OR WOULD THEY WORK TOGETHER?
>> UH, I THINK THAT WOULD BE THIS PATENT STRONG POINT,
WITH THE BIOLUMINESCENCE FROM THE DEEP-SEA CREATURES.
IT WOULD MAKE IT DIFFERENT FROM JUST THE L.E.D. LIGHTS OR THE MICROFIBER--
I MEAN, THE FIBER OPTICS AND THINGS LIKE THAT YOU HAVE TODAY.
>> NOW, THESE L.E.D.s-- ARE YOU USING BATTERIES?
OR, I MEAN, I HOW ARE YOU GONNA ENERGIZE THEM OR...
>> OH, THE-- WELL, I THINK A LOT OF RESEARCH NEEDS TO BE DONE
BY MARINE BIOLOGISTS AND THINGS OF THAT SORT,
BUT MAINLY, I THINK THE...
THE MOST THING, I THINK, WOULD BE AA BATTERIES,
BUT KEEP IT AWAY FROM THE PET AND CLOSER TO THE PEDESTRIAN,
SO IT WOULD BE PET-SAFE.
>> WOULD BOTH PERSONS-- ER, INCLUDING THE ANIMAL,
AS WELL AS THE PERSON WOULD HAVE TO WEAR THIS?
>> NO, NO, IT'S JUST A LEASH AND HARNESS COMBO.
JUST THE HARNESS AND LEASH FOR THE DOG.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU.
>> UH, BACK TO ONE OF THE ORIGINAL QUESTIONS WITH THE BIOLUMINESCENCE
AND THE L.E.D.s, YOU KNOW,
IT SOUNDS LIKE WHEN YOU'RE SAYING YOU NEED TO TALK TO MARINE BIOLOGISTS
AND DO RESEARCH ON THIS, IT SOUNDS LIKE-- >> JUST TO MAKE IT PET-SAFE.
>> OKAY, TO MAKE IT PET-SAFE.
A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT POP INTO MY MIND IS...
UH, WOULD YOU BE ACTUALLY EXTRACTING SOMETHING FROM THE MARINE CREATURES
TO BE ABLE TO PUT INTO YOUR PRODUCT?
>> NO, JUST THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THOSE, JUST THE CHARACTERISTICS.
>> OKAY, 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY--
IS A LOT OF TIMES, PEOPLE WHO ARE PET OWNERS
WOULDN'T WANT ANYTHING WITH AN ANIMAL PRODUCT.
YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU'VE HARMED AN ANIMAL TO--
>> MOST DEFINITELY, JUST THE CHARACTERISTICS
OF THE BRIGHT GLOW IN THE DARK--
I ALMOST WANT IT TO BE REMINISCENT OF THE LUKE SKYWALKER LIGHT SABER...
JUST THE GLOWING CAPABILITIES OF IT.
>> ALL RIGHT, VERY GOOD. (applause)
EXCELLENT.
OUR NEXT PRESENTER...
WITH THE IDEA "HOLLYWOOD STYLES FOR LESS,”
A WELCOME APPLAUSE FOR ASHLEY CALVERT.
(applause)
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.
HOW IS EVERYBODY DOING?
NOW, I KNOW EVERYBODY LOOK AT CELEBRITIES
AND THEY’RE LIKE, "OH, LOOK AT KIM KARDASHIAN HAIR
"OR LALA ANTHONY OR BEYONCE."
I KNOW, LADIES-- I KNOW YOU WONDER LIKE, “OH, MY GOSH, HER HAIR IS SO BEAUTIFUL,
"I WISH MY HAIR WAS LIKE THAT...
"BUT I BET IT COST A FORTUNE."
WELL, WITH MY BUSINESS FEATURE, "HOLLYWOOD LOOKS FOR LESS,"
YOU CAN GET THAT-- YOU CAN GET THAT STYLE AT EVERYDAY PEOPLE PRICES.
THIS SALON WOULD BE A EXPRESS NATURAL HAIR CARE SERVICES
TO ADD EXTENSIONS TO THE HAIR,
BY EITHER BRAIDING OR WEAVING.
NOW, HAIR EXTENSIONS IS NOT ANYTHING NEW.
WOMEN HAVE BEEN WEARING THEM FOR YEARS.
OBVIOUSLY, WIGS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO, JUST ADDING CONVENIENCE AND PRICE TO THIS PARTICULAR ITEMS,
WOULD MAKE THIS BUSINESS UNIQUE.
NOW, MOST SALONS CHARGE, UM--
TO APPLY INSTANT EXTENSIONS INTO THE HAIR,
IT RANGES FROM $120 TO $200,
AND THE PROCESS TO INSERT THEM,
IT CAN GO ALL THE WAY UP FROM THREE OR MORE HOURS.
WITH THIS VISION WITH MY PARTICULAR "HOLLYWOOD LOOKS FOR LESS,"
IT WOULD CUT PRICE DOWN, WITH PRICES STARTING AT $50,
AND MAKING MAXIMUM TIME TO BE TWO HOURS,
DEPENDING ON THE CLIENT AND HAIRSTYLE DESIRED, OBVIOUSLY.
BUT WE WOULD JUST GO FOR TWO HOURS.
UM...
LET’S SEE…
SO YEAH, JUST WITH THAT-- JUST ADDING THOSE TWO THINGS IN THERE, THAT WOULD--
YOU KNOW, EITHER IT'S TIME AND CONVENIENCE.
AS YOU KNOW, LADIES WILL SPEND MONEY... (bell dinging)
ON, YOU KNOW, MAKING-- ENHANCING THEIR BEAUTY.
SO, CONFIDENCE IS THE BEST ACCESSORY,
SO HAVING A NEW HAIRSTYLE WILL MAKE EVERYTHING--
WANT THE HOLLYWOOD LOOK FOR LESS.
(applause)
>> IS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR PRODUCT
AND THE TECHNIQUE THAT YOU WOULD BE USING THAT WOULD ALLOW YOU
TO GREATLY REDUCE THE COST OF DOING THE PROCESS?
OR IS IT THAT YOU'D JUST BE CUTTING YOUR PROFIT MARGINS
COMPARED TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE NORMALLY USED TO PAYING?
>> ACTUALLY, THAT'S SOMETHING I DIDN'T GET TO HIT.
UM, ACTUALLY, IN ORDER TO CUT THE PROCESS, YOU WOULD PUT IT INTO A DUAL--
IT'S A DUAL PROCESS.
YOU HAVE A PERSON CALLED A "BRAIDER,"
WHO WOULD BRAID THE HAIR INTO THE PATTERN
TO WHATEVER THE STYLE THE CLIENT WOULD LIKE.
UM, WITH THAT, THAT CAN CUT DOWN TIME.
I KNOW I HAVE A FRIEND THAT CAN BRAID SOMEBODY'S HAIR JUST…
BRAIDING IT IN A BASIC PATTERN IN 30 MINUTES.
AND THEN, YOU WOULD HAVE SOMEBODY CALLED THE "STYLIST,”
WHICH WOULD WEAVE THE HAIR IN, APPLY IT WITH THE NEEDLE AND THREAD,
AND THEN THEY GO FROM THERE.
SO, YOU MAKE IT A DUAL PROCESS,
AND ALSO, LEARNING THE CORRECT TECHNIQUES TO PUT--
TO INSERT INTO CERTAIN PATTERNS TO MAKE IT EFFICIENT, TIME EFFICIENT,
AND TO HAVE IT COME OUT NICE AS WELL.
>> SO, YOU'RE CUTTING DOWN ON THE TIME THAT IT TAKES,
BUT IN ESSENCE, YOU'RE ALSO DOUBLING THE STAFF THAT IT TAKES
TO DO IT BY HAVING TWO PEOPLE DO THE PROCESS INSTEAD OF ONE.
UM, IS THERE STILL GOING TO BE A COST SAVINGS THERE?
OR IS THERE GOING TO BE ENOUGH PROFIT LEFT OVER?
>> UM, ACTUALLY, THERE HAS BEEN DIFFERENT PROTOTYPES OF SHOPS LIKE THIS
THAT ARE VERY SUCCESSFUL... VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL.
UM, THERE IS, FOR INSTANCE-- THERE IS A SHOP I KNOW OF.
I USED TO PERSONALLY DRIVE FROM GRAND RAPIDS
TO GO DOWN TO DETROIT TO GO GET MY HAIR DOWN-- MY HAIR DONE--
AND LIKE I SAID, IF YOU LIKE PARTICULAR SHOPS HERE IN GRAND RAPIDS,
IF YOU GO AND ASK-- YOU GONNA CHARGE ME $200,
OF COURSE, WITH A PARTICULAR PRICE RANGE THAT YOU'RE OFFERING,
YOU'RE GOING TO GET MORE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW?
BECAUSE, "OH, I CAN AFFORD $50, $60 TO GET IT IN," VERSUS THE $200.
“OH, GIRL, WHERE YOU GET YOUR HAIR?" “OH, I WENT TO, YOU KNOW--"
YOU KNOW, THAT CAN BRING IN-- ESPECIALLY WITH A PARTICULAR SERVICE,
YOU CAN EITHER DO, LIKE, A WALK-IN SERVICE,
WITH THAT TYPE OF-- I THINK WITH THAT PRICE POINT
AND HAVING TWO PEOPLE.
OBVIOUSLY, WITH THE STYLISTS, I HAD PUT IN THE PLAN, THEY WOULD GET--
THE BRAIDERS, SINCE IT'S SO BASIC,
THEY WOULDN'T GET PAID AS MUCH AS THE STYLISTS, OBVIOUSLY,
'CAUSE THEY'RE NOT DOING AS MUCH WORK.
UM, AND ACTUALLY, IN MICHIGAN, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE A LICENSE
TO DO THIS TYPE OF WORK, 'CAUSE THERE'S NO CHEMICALS.
SO, THAT CUTS DOWN A LOT OF PRICE, IN GENERAL.
SOMEBODY DOESN'T HAVE TO PAY TO GO TO SCHOOL
TO DO THESE PARTICULAR SERVICES, YOU KNOW?
MORE PEOPLE BRAIDING AND THREADING AND LEARNING TECHNIQUE IS,
YOU KNOW, IT'S MORE EFFICIENT AND MORE PEOPLE CAN DO THIS.
>> AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE
YOU DON'T UNDERCUT YOURSELF WITH SUCH A HUGE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN WHAT THE MARKET IS CURRENTLY SUPPORTING AND WHAT YOU'RE OFFERING.
YOU KNOW, DOING A LOT OF VOLUME IS A GREAT THING,
BUT, YOU KNOW, JUST MAKE SURE THE MONEY IS THERE FOR YOU.
>> RIGHT.
>> (indistinct speaking). >> SORRY.
>> YOU KNOW, THE WAY YOU WERE GOING TO REDUCE THE COSTS
IS BECAUSE OF YOUR DUAL PROCESS?
UM, NOW, YOUR AUDIENCE-- OR YOUR CLIENTS--
IS IT PRETTY MUCH A BROAD CLIENTELE?
OR IS IT A SPECIFIC TO A GIVEN TYPE OF HAIRSTYLE?
>> IT WOULD BE BROAD. >> IT WOULD BE BROAD?
>> UM, SOMETHING SIMILAR TO WHAT I AM SPEAKING OF
IS SOMETHING I HAVE ON MY HEAD RIGHT NOW.
IT'S, UM-- YOU WOULD NORMALLY BRAID THE HAIR…
IT COULD EITHER BE CORNROWS OR IN A CIRCLE, FRENCH BRAIDS,
AND THEN YOU WOULD NORMALLY BUY HAIR--
IT COMES, LIKE, ON A TRACK.
SOME-- THERE'S OTHER TYPE-- BUT THERE'S DIFFERENT TYPE OF WAYS
YOU CAN ACTUALLY PUT EXTENSIONS INTO HAIR.
THEY HAVE A THING CALLED "FUSION," THAT'S WITH GLUE.
UM, THEY HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPE OF STYLES--
A LOT OF DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES HOW YOU CAN INSERT THE PARTICULAR THING.
UM, MOST HAIR TYPES USE THE SAME TYPE OF HAIR.
BUT OBVIOUSLY, WE WOULDN’T BE PROVIDING THE HAIR THAT THE CLIENT WOULD USE.
THEY WOULD BRING THEIR OWN HAIR,
SO IT WOULD FIT TO WHAT THEIR NEEDS WOULD PARTICULARLY BE.
WE WOULD JUST BE INSTALLING THE HAIR.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NOW, IF THE CLIENTS ARE GOING TO BE BRINGING THEIR OWN HAIR IN,
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S READILY AVAILABLE OTHER PLACES?
OR MIGHT THAT BE ANOTHER MARKET FOR YOU TO TAP INTO,
IN ORDER TO SELL THAT?
>> ACTUALLY, THAT'S ANOTHER PART OF MY WHOLE SPIEL.
UM, I HAVE A FRIEND THAT LIVES DOWN IN ATLANTA.
SHE WORKS AT A SHOP THAT'S REALLY SIMILAR TO THIS PROTOTYPE.
SHE'S WORKED THERE FOR THREE YEARS AS A HEAD STYLIST.
SO, AS I WAS SPEAKING OF TECHNIQUES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE-- SHE KNOWS THAT.
THAT'S NO ISSUE.
AND THEN, UM, WE ALSO-- SHE ALSO KNOWS A GIRL--
OR A GIRL WHERE YOU CAN GET HAIR.
OBVIOUSLY, THEY BUY THEM FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES,
'CAUSE THAT NORMALLY COMES FROM MALAYSIA, BRAZIL, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
AND YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, WITH ANY TYPE OF PRODUCT YOU BUY,
IF YOU GO STRAIGHT TO THE MIDDLEMAN, IT'S GOING TO BE CHEAPER.
UM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU BUY IT IN BULK, OBVIOUSLY,
THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER SERVICE I WAS ALSO--
I WOULD ALSO MARKET INSIDE THE SALON AS WELL--
IS HAIR AS WELL.
(applause) >> THANK YOU.
I ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE-- WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO A LOT OF THIS,
THESE THINGS WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT,
IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE PROPER STAFF AND SUPPORT,
AND I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MARY GUNDERSON.
THERE IS MARY RIGHT THERE-- IF WE COULD GIVE HER, PLEASE,
A NICE ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
(applause)
FOR OUR FINAL PRESENTER, NICHOLAS WHYATT,
WITH "EMPLOYEE REVIEW."
(applause)
>> IMAGINE YOURSELF IN A RETAIL STORE.
YOU’RE SHOPPING BUT YOU'RE HAVING TROUBLE FINDING EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR,
SO YOU GO UP TO AN EMPLOYEE AND YOU ASK THEM FOR HELP.
THEY GIVE YOU FRIENDLY, GOOD SERVICE,
THEY TAKE YOU EXACTLY TO WHERE THE ITEM IS,
AND MAYBE THEY GIVE YOU A FEW TIPS ON HOW TO USE IT.
YOU'VE HAD THIS GREAT EXPERIENCE WITH THIS CUSTOMER
BUT, OTHER THAN WORD-OF-MOUTH, YOU REALLY HAVE NO WAY TO RELAY THAT TO OTHERS.
AND AS THE EMPLOYEE, YOU HAVE NO WAY TO RECORD THIS EXPERIENCE
AND MAKE A RECORD OF IT FOR OTHER PEOPLE.
"EMPLOYEE REVIEW" IS MY IDEA FOR A NEW TYPE OF SOCIAL NETWORK, UM...
THAT WILL REMEDY THIS.
IT WOULD BE A WEBSITE WHERE THE CUSTOMER CAN GO ON
AND SEEK OUT THE EMPLOYEE'S PROFILE.
THEY WOULD HAVE PREVIOUS JOB EXPERIENCE,
CURRENT JOB EXPERIENCE,
MAYBE SOME QUALIFICATIONS THEY HAVE--
THEIR SKILLS, THEIR KNOWLEDGE, THEIR ABILITIES.
KIND OF LIKE A RESUME SNAPSHOT.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT WOULD BE A HUB FOR THESE POSITIVE REACTIONS.
THE USER, ON THE OTHER END, WOULD LOG-IN, FIND THE HELPFUL EMPLOYEE'S PROFILE,
GO IN THERE AND USE A RATING SYSTEM TO RATE THEIR LEVEL OF SATISFACTION,
AND UTILIZE COMMENTS TO SAY WHAT EXACTLY THEY HELPED THEM WITH,
HOW WELL THEY DID AT THEIR JOB,
AND JUST IN GENERAL, HOW GOOD OF AN EXPERIENCE THEY HAD,
OR POTENTIALLY BAD.
UM, SO, AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME, HOPEFULLY THIS HELPFUL EMPLOYEE
WOULD HAVE COLLECTED A LARGE BASE OF POSITIVE COMMENTS
AND REVIEWS ABOUT THE WORK THAT THEY DO.
YOU COULD THEN EQUIP YOURSELF WITH THIS--
THESE REVIEWS FROM THESE CUSTOMERS,
AND GO TO AN EMPLOYER AND USE IT ALONGSIDE YOUR RESUME
TO CREATE A POWERFUL TOOL-- (bell dinging)
UM, AS AN ADDITIONAL WAY TO SELL YOURSELF.
IT'S A WAY TO MAKE THE INTANGIBLE TANGIBLE,
AND IT'S A WAY TO ADD VALUE TO YOURSELF WHILE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A NEW JOB.
(applause)
>> NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS WOULD BE, AS A CUSTOMER COMING IN,
WHAT WOULD BE THE INCENTIVE FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO GO ONLINE
AND RATE THE PERSON THAT I JUST DEALT WITH...
'CAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT, TYPICALLY,
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HEAR FROM ANYONE UNLESS THEY HAVE A COMPLAINT
TO SAY ABOUT ANYONE.
WHAT'S GOING TO ENCOURAGE ME, IF I HAD A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE,
TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR EMPLOYER IS AWARE OF IT,
SO THAT THE STATISTICS DON'T LOOK LOPSIDED,
SO THAT ALL YOU'RE HEARING THE COMPLAINTS ALL THE TIME?
>> SURE, UM...
MY MAIN INSPIRATION FOR THIS WAS THAT WHEN I GO TO A STORE
AND I DO HAVE A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE,
THERE'S NO SYSTEM IN PLACE FOR ME TO COMPLEMENT THESE PEOPLE,
EVEN THOUGH I MAY WANT THEM OR THEIR EMPLOYERS
TO KNOW THAT THEY’RE DOING A GOOD JOB.
THERE'S REALLY NOWHERE TO DO THAT.
UM, ANOTHER THING THAT I THOUGHT ABOUT
WAS THAT IF THEY DO GO ON THERE AND LEAVE A REVIEW,
PERHAPS SOME TYPE OF DISCOUNT SOLUTION COULD BE USED,
IF YOU WERE IN ASSOCIATION WITH DIFFERENT TYPE OF STORES--
THEY COULD GET A COUPON FOR THAT STORE WHERE THAT EMPLOYEE WORKED,
BUT MAINLY IT WAS THE THOUGHT THAT IF PEOPLE HAD AN OUTLET
FOR THEIR GOOD REACTIONS,
THAT THEY WOULD SEEK IT OUT AND USE IT, IF THEY KNEW ABOUT IT.
>> IN THE EVENT OF A NEGATIVE EXPERIENCE THAT I HAVE,
DOES THE EMPLOYEE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER AN EXPLANATION
AS TO-- YOU KNOW, TO THEIR EMPLOYER, FOR INSTANCE.
MAYBE NOT MAKE IT PUBLIC, BUT AT LEAST BE ABLE TO ENTER SOMETHING IN
IF THEY RECEIVE A NEGATIVE REVIEW,
AND SAY, YOU KNOW, "THIS IS MY VIEW OF THE SITUATION
"IS THIS IS HOW I THOUGHT I HANDLED IT PROPERLY,
"AND YOU KNOW, PERHAPS, YOU KNOW, I COULD BE GIVEN SOME FURTHER INSTRUCTION
"AS TO HOW TO DO BETTER NEXT TIME."
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY, IF YOU GO TO AN EMPLOYER
AND YOU'RE TRYING TO SEEK A JOB AND THEY SEE ALL THESE NEGATIVE COMMENTS,
I THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO EXPLAIN YOURSELF.
I'VE ALSO THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE NEGATIVE COMMENTS,
BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM, YOU JUST HAVE 100 PERCENT POSITIVE COMMENTS,
AND I KIND OF-- IT DILUTES THE VALUE OF THE POSITIVE COMMENTS
THAT PEOPLE RECEIVE, AND IT KIND OF TAKES AWAY FROM THAT.
THERE WOULD BE AN AUDITING SYSTEM, WHERE YOU COULD--
IF SOMEONE WAS HARASSING OR JUST BEING VERY EGREGIOUS
WITH THEIR NEGATIVE COMMENTS,
YOU COULD GO IN AND CREATE AN AUDIT THROUGH THE WEBSITE
AND REMOVE THAT, BUT LIKE I SAID, THE NEGATIVE COMMENTS
ARE ALSO VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY ADD MORE VALUE TO THE POSITIVE.
>> AND IS THIS GOING TO BE JUST A COMMON COURTESY
OR AN ACTUAL BUSINESS?
AND IF IT IS A BUSINESS, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE MONEY OFF OF IT?
>> UM...
THROUGH TRADITIONAL WEB ADS--
THEY WOULD BE PLACED ON THERE, AS WELL AS-- IF IT IS SUCCESSFUL,
PEOPLE DO HAVE INTEREST IN IT, A PREMIUM SERVICE WOULD BE OFFERED.
WHILE WHILE YOU'RE ON THERE, IF YOU PAY PERHAPS A MEMBERSHIP,
YOU COULD GET ACCESS TO A VIDEO SERIES
WHERE PEOPLE CAN HELP YOU KIND OF TAILOR YOUR RESUME,
PERHAPS AN EXCLUSIVE FORUM THAT NONMEMBERS WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO ACCESS,
WHERE YOU COULD HAVE INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS COME IN THERE
AND ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
UM, BUT... THOSE ARE THE TWO OUTLETS, MAINLY, THROUGH WEB ADVERTISING--
YOU KNOW, TRADITIONAL BANNER ADS AND PAID LINKS,
AND THEN THE PREMIUM MEMBERSHIPS AS WELL.
>> YEAH, SO OBVIOUSLY, YOU HAVE TO-- TO MAKE THIS WORK, YOU NEED TO...
BUILD UP AN EMPLOYEE DATABASE.
AND SO, WHAT WOULD YOUR PLAN BE TO ATTRACT EMPLOYEES
TO REGISTER THEMSELVES, SO TO SPEAK, ON THE SITE.
>> UH, I THINK IT'S JUST A MATTER OF GETTING IT OUT THERE AND MAKING IT KNOWN.
UM...
JUST ADVERTISING IT AND LETTING PEOPLE KNOW
THAT THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO ADD VALUE TO YOURSELF.
LIKE MYSELF, I HAVE A PRETTY LIMITED RESUME,
SO THIS IS ANOTHER OUTLET FOR ME,
IF I HAD, LIKE, A PROFILE OF GOOD COMMENTS--
I CAN GO TO AN EMPLOYER AND SAY, "HEY, YOU SHOULD LOOK AT THIS.
"THIS IS WHAT ALL THESE PEOPLE SAID ABOUT MY WORK."
LIKE I SAID, PEOPLE WOULD USE IT TO MAKE THE INTANGIBLE TANGIBLE, YOU KNOW?
THESE COMMENTS ARE JUST BEING LOST AND EMPLOYERS DON'T KNOW ABOUT THEM.
SO, I THINK PEOPLE WOULD SEEK IT OUT AND LIKE TO USE.
I KNOW I WOULD.
>> DID YOU EVER CONSIDER ACTUALLY TALKING WITH BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS,
IN TERMS OF...
OFFERING THIS SORT OF INTERNET SERVICE,
AND THEY WOULD ACTUALLY ENCOURAGE, MAYBE, THEIR EMPLOYEES TO SIGN UP.
>> YEAH, IF WE COULD-- >> OR MAYBE EVEN MANDATE THEM TO SIGN-UP.
>> SURE.
IF I COULD PARTNER WITH CERTAIN COMPANIES TO KIND OF GET THE WORD OUT,
IT WOULD ALLOW THE EMPLOYEES MORE CONFIDENCE
BECAUSE THEY COULD SEE HOW THEY WERE DOING,
HOW PEOPLE VIEWED THEM,
AND IT WOULD GIVE EMPLOYERS A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT REALLY IS GOING ON.
LIKE I SAID, YOU DON'T ALWAYS GET THE POSITIVE COMMENTS
AND SOMETIMES NOT THE NEGATIVE,
SO IT WOULD GIVE THEM AN ADDITIONAL OUTLET TO INVESTIGATE
HOW WELL THEIR EMPLOYERS ARE ACTUALLY DOING.
AND ON ANOTHER NOTE, IF YOU ARE SEEKING FOR A PLACE TO GO,
I KNOW I WOULD RATHER PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR A PRODUCT
OR SERVICE IF THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION WAS HIGHER,
YOU KNOW, AS OPPOSED TO CHEAPER PRICE WITHOUT CUSTOMER SATISFACTION.
SO, YOU COULD KIND OF USE TO REVIEW OUTLETS
THAT HAVE HIGH RATINGS.
>> FROM A BUSINESS OWNER’S STANDPOINT,
ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT I WOULD HAVE ABOUT THE SYSTEM IS,
IS THERE ANY DETERRENT FROM MY EMPLOYEES OFFERING DISCOUNTS TO CUSTOMERS,
JUST TO IMPROVE THEIR RATINGS?
YOU KNOW, SUDDENLY, IT'S COSTING ME MONEY,
AS A BUSINESS,
BECAUSE THEY'RE CUTTING DEALS SO THAT THEIR RATINGS CAN GO UP.
SO, SORTA SAFEGUARD FOR THAT? >> SURE.
LIKE I SAID, IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE THOSE DISCOUNTS OFFERED,
BUT, UM, IF THOSE WERE THERE,
UM, I'D LIKE TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF SYSTEM IN PLACE--
KIND OF LIKE EBAY, WHERE YOU SEE PEOPLE WHO ARE LEAVING THESE COMMENTS--
UM, THE FREQUENCY OF THE COMMENTS THEY MAKE, AND KIND OF THE LENGTH--
THAT COULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT TO OFFER THESE DISCOUNTS.
MAYBE YOU HAVE TO LEAVE TEN REVIEWS IN ORDER TO GET THE COUPON,
SOMETHING LIKE THAT... UM...
>> WELL, WHAT I'M REFERRING TO IS MORE FROM AN EMPLOYEE STANDPOINT.
SO, I'M TRYING TO SELL YOU AN ITEM OF CLOTHING
AND I SAY TO YOU, "HEY, YOU KNOW, I CAN OFFER YOU A 15 PERCENT OFF DISCOUNT,
"YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE WILLING TO GO ON
"AND GIVE ME A POSITIVE REVIEW WITH MY COMPANY."
YOU KNOW, NOW, SUDDENLY, IT'S COSTING MY EMPLOYER MONEY IN ORDER--
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I AM KIND OF BEEN A LITTLE BIT BACKHANDED
AND TRYING TO WORK AROUND THE SYSTEM FOR MY OWN BENEFIT.
BUT AS I WAS SAYING, IS THERE ANY SORT OF THOUGHT TO A SAFEGUARD,
SO THAT THE EMPLOYER DOESN'T ACTUALLY LOSE MONEY IN A SITUATION?
>> SURE.
I GUESS I HADN'T THOUGHT TOO MUCH ABOUT THAT.
THE MAIN TIE-IN WITH THAT WAS KIND OF LIKE WHEN YOU GET A RECEIPT,
AND YOU CALL IN AND DO A SURVEY, THEN YOU DO GET A COUPON LIKE THAT.
SO, MY THOUGHT WAS THAT WOULD BE MORE OF A PROMOTIONAL THING
THEN KIND OF DEEP CUTS IN COST. >> SURE.
UNFORTUNATELY, NOT EVERYONE IN THE WORLD IS HONEST, SO...
(applause)
>> SO, WHAT'S NEXT?
NOW WE'VE HEARD ALL THE PRESENTERS PRESENT THEIR GREAT IDEAS.
LET'S GIVE ONE BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO ALL THE PRESENTERS.
YOU'RE ALL WINNERS… (applause)
IN OUR EYES. (applause)
IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE TO COME UP HERE AND PRESENT YOUR IDEAS.
UM, ON BEHALF OF THE BUSINESS DEPARTMENT,
WE ARE PROVIDING REFRESHMENTS AND FOOD JUST OUTSIDE THE AUDITORIUM
WHILE THE JUDGES DELIBERATE.
I WOULD ASK THAT YOU ALLOW THE JUDGES TO MAYBE GRAB A REFRESHMENT
AND SOME FOOD AS THEY GO INTO A SPECIAL ROOM THAT WE HAVE FOR THEM.
AND THEN, WE'LL ANNOUNCE THE RETURN OF THE JUDGES,
AND THE AWARDS WILL BE GIVEN TO FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD PLACE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
(applause)
WE'RE BACK...
AND WITH SOME EXCITING NEWS.
FIRST OF ALL, JUST A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL OF YOU, PLEASE.
IF YOU COULD JUST GIVE YOURSELVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
(applause)
NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TONIGHT, FIRST PLACE, SECOND PLACE--
GREAT, YOU MOVE ONTO REGIONALS.
THIRD PLACE, YOU GET SOME MONEY, BUT THEN, ALSO KEEP IN MIND
THAT THE PEOPLE WHO DID NOT WIN AT THE IDEA PITCH
WERE ONES THAT WENT ON TO DEVELOP BUSINESSES
AND GET QUITE A BIT OF SEED CAPITAL AS WELL, SO DON'T LET THIS DETER YOU.
UH, THE MAKE-UP OF AN ENTREPRENEUR IS TENACIOUSNESS, RIGHT?
AND KEEP WORKING ON YOUR IDEA, KEEP BELIEVING IN YOURSELF.
I'M GOING TO TURN THE MIC OVER NOW TO THE JUDGES,
AND EACH JUDGE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT WITH YOU
ABOUT WHAT THEY THOUGHT OF TONIGHT,
AND YOUR PRESENTATIONS.
AND THEN, THEY'LL GIVE ME BACK THE MIC,
AND THEN I'LL ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS FOR TONIGHT.
>> SHOULD I STAND? >> YEAH.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, FIRST OFF, I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING TONIGHT.
YOU GUYS HAD GREAT IDEAS.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL FOR SOME OF THE IDEAS WE HEARD TONIGHT,
WHETHER THEY END UP PLACING OR NOT.
UM, YOU KNOW I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS
TO PURSUE THE IDEAS THAT YOU HAVE--
RESEARCH 'EM SOME MORE, SEE IF THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE OUT THERE,
SEE IF YOU CAN LEARN FROM WHAT YOU FIND,
WHAT MISTAKES OTHER PEOPLE HAVE MADE TRYING IN THIS BUSINESS--
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW,
I WOULD SAY HAS BEEN ONE OF MY STRONG POINTS
IS LOOKING AT HOW OTHER PEOPLE HAVE DONE THINGS WRONG
AND LEARNING FROM THEIR MISTAKES AND LISTENING, YOU KNOW,
TO WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT.
BUT AGAIN, I JUST ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS ALL AND WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK.
(applause)
>> WELL, UH, I AGREE A LOT WITH JUSTIN HERE--
WE HEARD A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS.
AND I THINK A WISE MAN ONCE SAID THAT THE ONLY BAD IDEA
IS THE ONE THAT'S NOT EXPLORED.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WITHIN G.E., IN OUR ENGINEERING,
WE ACTUALLY DO BRAINSTORMING SESSIONS WHERE WE GO AROUND THE TABLE
AND ASK FOR IDEAS, JUST AT THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT,
AND IT'S JUST A PROCESS WE USE.
SO, WE GET A LOT OF DIFFERENT IDEAS OUT ON THE TABLE,
AND THEN WE TALK ABOUT THEM,
AND BASICALLY DECIDE WHICH ONES ARE BEST TO GO WITH.
AND SO, IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT PROCESS--
TO HAVE IDEAS AND TO EXPRESS IDEAS.
AND SO, I THINK THIS COMPETITION
IS VERY RELEVANT TO THE REAL WORLD.
AND, UH, THANKS FOR LETTING ME BE A PART OF IT.
(applause)
>> ALL RIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO... (chuckling)
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE GRCC STAFF,
INCLUDING FELIX PEREIRO FOR INVITING US TO BE JUDGES TODAY.
THIS HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE,
AND I SECOND JUSTIN AS WELL AS RANDY
AS FAR AS ENCOURAGING YOU TO CONTINUE TO BRAINSTORM
OR COME UP WITH IDEAS, AND TO BE PERSUASIVE,
AND TO STICK WITH YOUR IDEAS AND YOUR GUT FEELING KIND OF THING
WITH THESE IDEAS THAT YOU’RE COMING UP WITH.
SO, TRY AND SELL IT.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS READING
BEFORE COMING HERE THIS AFTERNOON,
WAS ABOUT THE PRESIDENT OF FRANCE, CHARLES DE GAULLE…
UH, ALGERIA WAS HAVING KIND OF A REVOLUTION,
AND IT WAS A COLONY FOR FRANCE FOR MANY YEARS,
AND CHARLES DE GAULLE WENT TO ALGERIA
AND CONVINCED HIS COMPATRIOTS
THAT DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE ALGERIA...
AND HE WAS VERY PERSUASIVE.
HE HAD THE IDEA
AND HE PERSUADED ALL HIS COMPATRIOTS TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY,
BECAUSE FIGHTING AND WINNING WAS NOT GOING TO AVOID
THE INDEPENDENCE OF ALGERIA.
BUT HE WAS ABLE TO CONVINCE HIS COMPATRIOTS
TO LEAVE ALGERIA BY PERSUADING THEM.
HE HAD THIS IDEA, EVEN THOUGH, AT THE TIME,
THEY DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE ALGERIA.
THEY WERE VERY HAPPY THERE.
SO, BE PERSUASIVE, JUST LIKE HOW HE WAS...
WITH YOUR IDEAS.
AND THANKS AGAIN FOR HAVING ME.
(applause)
>> THAT'S FANTASTIC-- I MEAN, TO HAVE JUSTIN--
I MET HIM WHEN HE WAS VERY YOUNG,
AND HE'S BUILT THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT BUSINESSES,
HE'S A JOB CREATOR IN MICHIGAN, CREATING OVER 50 JOBS.
ESPECIALLY IN THIS ECONOMY, IT'S BEEN VERY TOUGH.
SO, LET'S GIVE HIM A SPECIAL ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR JUSTIN.
(applause)
RANDY IS AN INCREDIBLE ENGINEER
AT GENERAL ELECTRIC AND AN INCREDIBLE FRIEND,
AND HE'S GIVEN A LOT TO HELP PEOPLE SOLVE TECHNOLOGY PROBLEMS,
AND ALSO TO THINK WITH REASON AND LOGIC,
AND HE'S JUST A FABULOUS FRIEND.
COULD WE GIVE RANDY WALTER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AS WELL?
(applause)
AND THEN, TONY BOWIE AND I GO BACK A LONG, LONG WAY,
AND AGAIN, IT SHOWS THAT TONY AND I ARE IMMIGRANTS TO THIS COUNTRY,
THAT THIS IS A GREAT COUNTRY,
UH, THAT IF YOU COME HERE WITH YOUR IDEAS
AND YOU'RE WILLING TO WORK AND STUDY HARD,
AND PUT IN THE CLOCK TIME, THAT GOOD THINGS WILL HAPPEN FOR YOU.
AND TONY DOES THAT NOT ONLY AT GENERAL ELECTRIC,
BUT ALSO DOES THAT FOR CHARITY, AND IN HIS OWN TIME AS WELL.
SO, A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR TONY.
(applause)
YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY INTERESTING THAT WE HAVE THE IDEA PITCH COMPETITION,
AND WE CAME UP WITH THE LIGHT BULB--
AND THIS WAS SOME OF OUR STUDENTS THAT CAME UP WITH THIS.
AND ALSO, IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE FRONT OF YOUR PROGRAM,
IT'S A QUOTE FROM THOMAS EDISON,
AND WE REALLY THANK GENERAL ELECTRIC FOR BEING VERY, VERY SUPPORTIVE OF US,
YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WITH THOMAS EDISON, OF COURSE,
AND GENERAL ELECTRIC HAVING SUCH CLOSE TIES.
WELL, ENOUGH OF THAT!
NOW, WE GET DOWN TO WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW,
IS WHO TOOK FIRST, WHO TOOK SECOND, AND WHO TOOK THIRD PLACE.
SO, AGAIN, HERE WE GO.
LET ME GET THE FIRST CHECK READY HERE.
IN THIRD PLACE... JENNIFER VANDERPLOEG.
COME UP HERE.
(applause)
HERE WE GO-- LET'S GET A-- LET'S GET A PICTURE.
LET'S GET A PICTURE HERE.
IT'S A CLOSE-UP HERE.
THERE WE GO-- THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
(applause)
SECOND PLACE…
WHAT MIGHT IT BE, WHAT MIGHT IT BE?
HERE WE GO-- DAMION HARDEN!
DAMION HARDEN-- HE'S MOVING ONTO REGIONALS!
(applause) ALL RIGHT!
LET'S GET A PICTURE HERE.
FANTASTIC-- WAY TO GO, SIR!
(applause)
THAT'S RIGHT, DAMION, IF YOU TAKE THAT CHECK TO ANY CHASE BANK,
IF YOU HAND IT TO THEM... (laughing)
NO, AMY-- AMY, I THINK, WILL DO A TRADE FOR YOU.
HOW DO WE DO THAT, AMY?
THEY TRADE YOU THE CHECK AND THEN THEY GET SOMETHING, OKAY?
ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FIRST PLACE, RIGHT?
VERY PERSUASIVE ARGUMENT, GREAT IDEA,
AND GREAT ABILITY TO SHARE THE IDEA-- JEFFREY NOEL!
>> OH, MY GOD! >> FIRST PLACE!
(applause)
WITH “BOOKHIPPIE.”
THERE YOU GO-- EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT.
BOTH JEFFREY AND DAMION WILL BE MOVING ON TO THE COMPETITION.
WE INVITE MANY OF YOU, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME.
IT'S WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7-- (chuckling)
AUGUST 7-- WEDNESDAY-- I'M STILL IN THE SUMMER DEPARTMENT HEAD DUTIES HERE.
IT'S NOVEMBER 7-- WEDNESDAY, NEXT WEEK.
IT STARTS, AMY, AT 6 O'CLOCK?
AT 6 O'CLOCK, SO YOU KNOW,
PLEASE KEEP THEM IN YOUR THOUGHTS
AND MAYBE COME OUT AND SUPPORT DAMION AND JEFFREY,
AND WE HOPE THAT THEY TAKE FIRST OR SECOND PLACE, OR BOTH,
AT THE AQUINAS COMPETITION, WHEN THEY'LL BE COMPETING
AGAINST SIX OTHER UNIVERSITIES THAT ARE SENDING THEIR TWO BEST AS WELL.
AGAIN, A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL OF YOU!
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. (applause)
GOD BLESS... DRIVE SAFE... (applause)
KEEP THOSE IN MIND ON THE EAST COAST
THAT ARE GOING THROUGH SOME STORMS RIGHT NOW.
TAKE CARE. (bell dinging)