Three local companies shine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entrepreneurs Make Their Pitch

The downsizing of large corporations like Kodak, Xerox, and Delphi are a sign of transition for the local business market. As Rochester switches over from an economy driven by large companies to one driven by small businesses a local business competition rewarded some aspiring entrepreneurs.

"We're hoping that tonight's winner uses the $25,000 prize to go on and get there company going, hire some people,” said Paul Wetenhall, president of High Tech Rochester. “We hope they get wealthy."

The 2007 Regional Rochester business plan contest featured six finalists. These companies specialized in health care, solar energy, and internet services. Each company was given ten minutes to sell their business venture to a panel of the region's most influential business people.

Three received awards but the big winner was iCardiac Technologies out of Brighten. The research firm uses technology created at the University of Rochester to test the safety of cardiac drugs. The analysis is sold to pharmaceutical companies. The company’s president hopes his business plan becomes a model for other aspiring entrepreneurs.

"A lot of the bigger companies are no longer here, or they're not growing,” said iCardiac's Alex Zapesochny. So it's up to small companies like ours and many of the other that you heard tonight to create those jobs and create those opportunities for Rochester," He added.

iCardiac will have a chance to compete for a $100,000 prize in the Golden Horseshoe Business Challenge at the end of the month.