EAST LANSING — Last week’s Hatching first anniversary event saw a startup concept called Jurymind win the competition.
Jurymind is a smart phone application that potential members of a jury can use to receive proactive reminders and instructions for their jury duty service. A link to the application would be printed directly onto the jury summons, allowing for immediate installation and use of the app.
“This idea … creates efficiencies to a process that may have been archaic and cumbersome,” said Tony Willis, manager of business acceleration for the Lansing Economic Area Partnership, one of the Hatching’s sponsors. “Jury duty is an important civil duty and I believe that Jurymind can help make the process more efficient.”
Additionally, a $500 donation from Commonwealth Enterprises and Startup Lansing was made to a new youth startup business, Handmade Chips. Eighth grade student Nathan Town pitched his idea for an organic baked potato chip business that he plans to market throughout his school. The judges saw potential in Town and chose to provide funding to his business in addition to the winning idea, an achievement that has never occurred prior to this month’s event.
The Hatching has been responsible for the launch of 12 startup companies since its inception in June 2013 as well as the creation of 18 jobs. Thus far, 95 news ideas have been submitted to the Hatching website and over 4,000 online votes have been cast. A partnership between LEAP and Spartan Innovations, the Hatching pitch competition has awarded $1,000 each month to a brand new startup business idea, to be used for startup costs as well as legal services provided by Loomis, Ewert, Parsley, Davis & Gotting P.C. This month’s sponsorship came from Michigan State University Federal Credit Union.
To receive funding, startup companies must create an LLC and be ready to start their businesses in the Lansing area. Each of the monthly winners will earn the opportunity to pitch again at The Hatching finale event held in December, for the chance to win $10,000 to cover business expenses.
“Twelve months later, the Hatching is still going strong,” said LEAP CEO Bob Trezise. “This month the event was standing-room only and was the who’s who of the region’s innovation crowd.”
People interested in participating and pitching in the upcoming events are asked to submit their ideas to www.thehatching.org. The next Hatching event will take place July 30 at Beggar’s Banquet in East Lansing and will continue every last Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m.
More about LEAP at www.purelansing.com. The Hatching was co-founded by LEAP, the Michigan State University innovation accelerator Spartan Innovations, and the Lansing businses incubator New Enterprise Opportunity (NEO) Center.