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Thirteen student ventures are among the 23 new businesses now operating in
UND’s Skalicky Tech
Incubator and the Ina
Mae Rude Entrepreneur Center. They range from a company
producing clip-on flashlights for aircraft pilots to a public
relations firm and a business selling art over the Internet.
Some of the companies resulted from business plans developed
in UND classes, and most of the budding entrepreneurs got
started through internships that combined real-world experience
with their studies, says Bruce Gjovig, director of the Center
for Innovation.
“We are fortunate to have friends like UND alumnus Kurt
Mueller, who provides funding for entrepreneur internships,
and Bart Holaday of the Dakota Foundation, which provides
incentives through its Dakota Student Seed Fund,” Gjovig
said. “Supporters like these make it possible for students
to realize their dreams.”
The student companies, their owners, and hometowns
include:
- Pilot Friendly Products, Mike Shope
of Seattle, Wash.
- Vitamation, Chris Moen and Marilee
Schott, both of Grand Forks.
- Guava Paste, Rodrigo Cintra, an international
student from Brazil.
- Midnight Sun PR, Shelle Michaels of
Adams.
- Savant Art, Matt Van der Molen of Richland
Center, Wis.
- SNIRT, Mitch Hagerty of Pembina.
- Lil Whipper Snippers, Drew Parsley
of Warroad, Minn.
- Sports Training Enhancement/Under Armour,
Justin Hecht of East Grand Forks, Minn.
- Iron Roses, Dustin Stewart of Warroad,
Minn.
- Tech Clothing, Vinh Nguyen of Sacramento,
Calif.
- Heli-Adventures, Jeremy Prinkki of
Roberts, Mont.
- Vinograd Winery, Cyril Wrabec of Sugar
Creek, Mo.
- Euphoria Nightclub, Devon Allen of
Seattle, Wash.
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