LA MIRADA, CALIF. —  Six finalists have been announced for Biola University’s first-ever startup competition, hosted by Biola’s Crowell School of Business. Finalist teams will now be matched with a personal coach and develop a business plan with the goal of launching their business and winning one of three varying cash prizes and startup packages available.


“What a ride it's been for the Biola Startup Competition — going from a mere concept a year ago to 29 entrepreneurial teams pitching their concepts this month,” said Gary Lindblad, dean of Biola’s Crowell School of Business. “We are excited to enter the next phase of the competition where six teams move forward, are paired with experienced coaches, and fully develop their business plans and pitches for the Spring 2016 finals.”


The six finalists were selected from 29 entries, which totaled approximately 125 participants. Each team includes at least one current Biola student and alumnus who graduated less than ten years ago.


The finalists are as follows in no particular order:

  • House Account Inc.: House Account is changing the way people view homeowners insurance to provide peace of mind and long term savings.
  • Lightspeed Imaging: Lightspeed Imaging was founded on the idea of creating high quality and inexpensive Color Renderings to the construction and design industry, delivering them to customers in as little as 4 hours.
  • Luminosity: As an online Christian magazine for teen girls, Luminosity is on a mission to create an encouraging outlet for teen Christian girls to connect both online and offline.
  • The Illuminate Collective: The Illuminate Collective plans to answer the rising demand for authentic, antique Moroccan rugs by sourcing them directly from the remote villages in rural Morocco from which they originate.
  • White Elephant Post: White Elephant Post provides students the opportunity to maximize their return on unwanted books and required academic materials.
  • Worship Better: Worship Better is a tool for intentionality — a theologically guided, content-and-quality-focused worship planning tool for today’s Evangelical worship leaders.

The final six teams will now develop a 15-page business plan. Crowell School of Business will host two mandatory workshops to assist teams in writing their business plan and learning how to make a pitch. Business plans are due by March 14, 2016.


Judges will announce the three winners on April 8, 2016, along with which cash prizes each team will win to help fund their startups. The first place group will receive a cash prize of $15,000 and Legal Services Startup Package from Brown & Streza LLP and an Accounting Services Startup Package from Nienow & Company, LLP. The second and third groups will also win cash prizes and complimentary meetings with Brown & Streza and Nienow & Company.


ABOUT THE STARTUP COMPETITION


The Biola Startup Competition is a new initiative that offers all current Biola undergraduate students, graduate students and recent (2005 or later) alumni the opportunity to transform a promising idea into a successful startup company. Aided by experienced executives and business leaders, you and your team will have the chance to pitch your concept, develop a business plan, gain valuable real-world insights and compete for capital. Hosted by Biola’s Crowell School of Business, the competition aims to foster kingdom-minded, Christ-honoring entrepreneurship across the university community and develop greater opportunities for business as ministry.


Contact Jenna Loumagne, media relations specialist, at jenna.l.bartlo@biola.edu for more information or an interview.