The successful outcome of the first year of Venture Forward was that we had a total of 26 applicants, 10 finalists of which 8 were able to continue to the final presentations.

And the winners were...

First Place - $25,000 investment from Cameco
Business: uDrop eSell
Team: Kevin Bergeron, U of S, College of Commerce
Tanis Black, U of S, College of Commerce
uDrop eSell is a drop-off store that has taken consignment shops into the information age providing an easy, fun & hassle-free way for consumers to sell their goods on eBay. Customers drop off items to sell and uDrop researches its value, takes photographs, writes descriptions, answers questions, processes payments and sends customers their money.
Website: www.udropesell.com

Second Place - $15,000 investment from PIC Investments Group Inc.
Business: Acoustic Intelligence
Team: Albert Jame, Bachelor of Commerce, Zu.com
Travis Wiens, U of S, Ph.D 1st year, M.Sc, B.Eng
Travis Wiens & Albert Jame of Acoustic Intelligence are pleased to introduce their first product, The Vamp, an accessory targeting guitarists. The Vamp’s technology enables it to learn characteristics from vintage or expensive amps and is able to recreate those tonal properties on cheaper amps.

Third Place - $10,000 investment from Wiegers Financial
Business: ID Fashions
Team: Carolyn Carleton, SIAST – Woodland, Entrepreneurship & Small Business
I.D. Fashions is owned by Carolyn Carleton, who designs logos and applies them to current fashions for wholesale to Christian retail stores. The I.D. is short for Imago Dei, which is Latin for image of God. Carolyn is married and has two beautiful girls ages 3 & 1 ½.
Website: www.idfashions.ca

Fourth Place - $2,000 sponsorship
Business: ABC Inc.
Team: Devin Stus, U of S, College of Engineering
ABC Inc. is a company whose competitive advantage lies in its ability to develop, build and market new and unique products. Its first product will be a new automotive lighting accessory, which it plans to sell through retailers in Canada and the United States.

Business: B & D Audio Scrapbooking
Team: Bobbi Cammer, U of S, College of Law
B & D Audio Scrapbooking will be the first company of its kind in Saskatchewan, providing high quality, creatively crafted, personalized audio packages for us at special personal occasions, or as keepsake gifts. The benefits to clients, and the goal of the company are captured in the company slogan – “A Better Way to Tell Your Story.”

Business: CWC Research & Development Ltd.
Team: Chad Chorney, U of R, Business Administration
CWC Research & Development Ltd., established by Chad Chorney of Regina, SK has developed an innovative improvement feature that compliments existing irrigation technology.

Business: Old Movie
Team: Bobbi Cammer, U of S, College of Law
Dustin Cammer, U of S, College of Commerce
Neil Billinger, U of S, unclassified student
Ivan Gandzalas, U of S, College of Commerce
Derek Nyman, Rafter 9 Driver
Old Movie will provide the residents of Saskatoon with the city’s only ballroom style nightclub with an upscale, Old Hollywood theme. We expect to change Saskatoon’s perception that it cannot support high class, cultured venues of this type. An evening of glamour somewhere in time, Marilyn Monroe would be right at home at our place.

Business: Pure JDM
Team: Chris Weinrauch
Eric Weisgerber, Kelsey SIAST, ABE 12
Pure JDM provides a unique car buying experience to the customers in Saskatchewan, one that focuses on consumer satisfaction. We understand that vehicle purchasing is necessary, but sometimes an unpleasant experience. Our goal is to provide the customer with an enjoyable honest service by satisfying individual customers with high quality cars from Japan.

2004-05 Judges

First Round

Ben Nussbaum, Nussbaum & Co., Barristers & Solicitors
Cliff Wiegers, Wiegers Financial
Jim & Greg Yuel, PIC Investment Group Inc.
James Salamon Chartered Accountant
Jill Sauter, Superior Millwork
Tom Oakes, 8th Street RV

Final Round

P.A. Thomas, C.A.
Ben Nussbaum, Nussbaum and Co., Barristers and Solicitors
Jeret Bode, GrowthWorks
Jim Yuel, PIC Investment Group Inc.; Adventure Destinations International