AUBURN HILLS – The Macomb-OU INCubator awarded more than $20,000 in cash and in-kind prizes at Macomb Pitch: A Competition for Small Businesses. First prize went to Flipsi, makers of a bottle that flips inside-out, eliminating any hard-to-reach surfaces, with a patent-pending, food-grade and BPA-free silicone and plastic design.

Foodjunky, the competition’s second-place winner, connects businesses with restaurants online to automate the food-ordering process in the workplace. Third place was awarded to VizBe, a digital, goal-setting platform and resource center that helps people achieve personal and professional success with the proven power of visualization.

Flipsi was awarded $7,000 in cash, 7.5 hours of legal time with Butzel Long, and a one-year affiliate membership to Mac-OU INC, which includes access to the Business Advisory Services Program; the Executives-in-Residence, currently including Butzel Long, and Jim Ruma, local defense expert; Pitch Prep; assistance with access to capital; and one-on-one business development with Mac-OU INC staff.

foodjunky, left with $2,000 in cash and a one-year lease on a Mac-OU INC cubicle while VizBe was awarded $1,000 in cash and a six-month Mac-OU INC cubicle lease. Each also received five hours of consultation with Butzel Long. Other sponsors of the competition included Fifth Third Bank and Macomb County Department of Planning and Economic Development.

High-growth, Michigan-based technology entrepreneurs were welcome to apply, with the caveat of less than or equal to $2.5 million in revenue and less than or equal to three years in business. Nearly 40 applications were received and then narrowed to the top eight finalists by a group of judges. Each finalist was required to participate in a Pitch Prep session, in which an hour of time was donated from Mac-OU INC and top business professionals to provide critical and constructive guidance to a fully-developed and thorough pitch.

This year’s finalists also included:

DetectIR Technologies: Creators of the world’s first portable three-dimensional infrared video camera.

GolfCliks: A micro social-networking site for the golf industry with a commitment to growing the game by bringing players, golf courses and related service providers closer together.

KTISIS: Developers of Universal Natural Gas Technology, a system that is optimized to store and deliver Compressed Natural Gas and Liquefied Natural Gas in a single, lightweight, compact and economical system.

SteriDev: The maker of CleanCase, a device-specific sterile case for mobile devices, for direct use by surgeons.

Transition Coordination Services: The new paradigm in patient transition coordination services, providing real-time data, analytics and interventions through care coordination during an acute episode across the health-care system.
Judges for the evening included Amy Butler, Executive Director of OU INCubator and the Clean Energy Research Center, Patti Glaza, Vice President of Invest Detroit and Managing Director of Detroit Innovate and First Step Fund, Derrin Leppek, Director of the Macomb Community College Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Wendy Richardson, Business Consultant for the Michigan Small Business Development Center, and Mark Sandri, Business Banking Relationship Manager for Fifth Third Bank.