Catch a Piece of Maine Entrepreneurs Recognized by Inc. Magazine

Brendan and John Ready of Ready Seafood and Catch a Piece of Maine were just named two of the top 30 entrepreneurs under the age of 30. We shared their story of taking lobstering to new levels in our last Snack and Yack. They essentially sell timeshares in lobster traps. You can purchase a lobster trap for a whole year for $2995 with your own private lobsterman assigned to you. You get the lobster caught in your trap, with a guarantee of 13 four-person gourmet lobster bakes. They even use a camera so that you can see the lobsters in your trap online!

Check them out at http://www.catchapieceofmaine.com/ and see the other cool entrepreneurs under the age of 30 at http://www.inc.com/30under30/2008/prolist.html.

Project 10 to the 100th

To celebrate Google's tenth anniversary, the company is going to spend up to $10 million on the most innovative ideas that will impact the most people. Hence, the contest is called Project 10 to the 100th, which is a REALLY big number.

The types of ideas are unlimited, but the concept is to select the best ideas (up to five will be "winners") that fit the following criteria:

Reach - How many people will be affected?
Depth - How deeply are people impacted? How urgent is the need?
Attainability - Can this idea be implemented within a year or two?
Efficiency - How simple and cost-effective is your idea?
Longevity - How long will the idea's impact last?

Let's get some submissions from Maine! The deadline to submit an idea is October 20. Here is the web site: http://www.project10tothe100.com/how_it_works.html

Don't Tell Them It Can't Be Done

A while ago, UMaine engineers attended a meeting about homeland security technologies, and they wondered whether it would be possible to create a wooden structure that could withstand a bomb blast. Other scientists and military officials didn't believe it could be done.

Since then, a group of UMaine faculty, staff and students set out to prove them wrong. Today, the Advanced Engineered Wood Composites Center unveiled a blast-resistant building that has survived the Army's torture tests. Engineers made the structure stronger by applying a special coating to the building materials. UMaine has filed for a patent on the technology.

Congratulations to the students and staff at AEWC!

An Exercise in Innovation

Have you already given up on your New Year's resolution to get in better shape? Maybe you just need an innovative, new fitness class to keep you going.

There are a bunch of new programs and businesses that are picking up on the latest fitness trends, which include dance inspired programs fueled by the infatuation with television programs like Dancing with the Stars, and programs that focus just on kids.

I enjoy Zumba, which is actually about ten years old, but has been getting a lot of attention lately. It is a fun and easy fitness class set to the latin music like salsa and merengue. The founders have been very entrepreneurial, licensing the program to individual instructors and fitness centers around the world. They have created DVDs and even their own line of clothing. I hope someone licenses the program in this area soon!

Another dance inspired program is Pure Barre, started by dancer Carrie Rezabek, when she was in her mid 20s. After developing and teaching the program, which as the name implies, uses a ballet barre, she began licensing it in other geographic areas. This program is also now available on DVD.

Do you have your own idea for a fitness business? Entrepreneur Magazine has an article this month on how others got started in the fitness industry. The Foster Student Innovation Center has the current and several back issues of the magazine for you to come by and read any time!

And the Winner Is...

The Foster Student Innovation Center hosted the oral presentations for our Green Products Competition on Thursday. We had four student teams compete for the top prize of $5000 toward starting a new business.

Justin Jamison (pictured above receiving his certificate) and Brooks Einstein took top place for their plan, Local Food Solutions. They propose to set up a microprocessing facility for organic milk to supply the Greater Bangor Region. Both are MBA students. Justin has several years of experience in agricultural management and Brooks has experience in store leadership with Whole Foods Market, currently the world leading retailer of organic and local foods.

Second place went to Willis Beazley for his plan to make soaps from glycerin that is a byproduct of making biodiesel.

We look forward to working with these students as they continue to evaluate their plans!

Gifts from the Top of the World

Here's a great story from right here in Maine! A few years ago, Jeff Clapp was sitting at home watching a documentary about the oxygen cylinders and other debris left behind by mountaineers climbing Mount Everest. He was dismayed that this beautiful place was littered with garbage, and he decided to do something about it!

He traveled to Nepal and worked with Sherpas to collect the cylinders. Now, he is sculpting them into amazing bells and bowls. He sells them on his website, Bells from Everest. If you can't afford a bell or bowl, you can consider purchasing the Everest Ornament, which is a clear glass ornament filled with strands of metal that are created from the carving process, another example of his philosophy of not letting anything go to waste. I hear that these were hot gifts in Hollywood this past Christmas!

Jeff's eventual goal is to teach the Sherpas to do the metalworking so that they can set up their own sustainable enterprise. I think this is a great story of innovation and social action!

Recycled Fashion

This week we will host the oral presentations and announce the winners of our Green Products Competition. In recognition of this event, this week I will post about interesting businesses that recycle materials to make their products.

I have been eying these bags for some time now. Ecoist develops products made from recycled, organic, or earth-friendly materials, that are manufactured through a fair trade network. I love the clutches made from candy and bottle wrappers, the totes made from recycled rice bags, and the bags made from old movie posters. What's also great is that each one is unique, so you will stand out in a crowd.

Back at the Blog

We're finally back at it! Welcome to our new blog for the University of Maine Foster Student Innovation Center. The FSIC provides the knowledge, tools and inspiration to help Maine students become innovators and entrepreneurs. We're helping them realize their dreams to start businesses, non-profits and creative projects.

A lot has happened since we originally started a blog, including our name change. We are very honored that the Student Innovation Center has been named in recognition of Bion and Dorain Foster. These two very generous people are dedicated to helping our students succeed, and they have plenty of experience to share with us. Bion has started nearly 50 businesses in his career, and Dorain has many years of management experience, particularly in the hospitality industry.

We have been working with many new students on businesses and projects, and several of our existing student businesses have won grants, received investment, taken on new customers, and created new products. It was an exciting fall!

This blog will feature information about noteworthy events, cutting-edge businesses, cool products, our favorite innovators, and the challenges and opportunities facing innovators and entrepreneurs. Check here regularly for valuable information and when you need a little inspiration to keep you going on the trailblazing path.

My closing thought for the day: "All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them." - Galileo Galilei