Prizes

2019 Prize Winners

Scholarships

Draper University is a five-week program that fosters a community of diverse leaders who want to change the world by equipping them with skills, access, and resources in Silicon Valley. The Grand Prize winner was awarded a $10,000 scholarship, Track Winners received $5,000 per team, and Runners Up received $2,000 per team.

In-Kind

Embarc Collective: a startup hub in Tampa Bay, Florida with a mission to help startup talent build bold, scalable, thriving companies, is offering an all-expenses paid, 2 day trip to Tampa Bay to the Grand Prize Winner (includes hotel, flight, tour for up to 2 people). The winner will not only immerse in Tampa Bay’s startup community through curated meetings but also meet with Jeff Vinik’s investment team while in town. (Total Value: $4,000)

Hubspot for Startups: a full suite of software for marketing, sales, and customer service, with a completely free CRM at its core at a startup-friendly price for Grand Prize and Track Winners. (Total value: $85,000)

Indie Do Good: an entrepreneur’s consulting and services company, will provide a Strategic Success Report for the Grand Prize and Track Winners to help these businesses be more successful, grow faster and do more good. (Total Value: $75,000)

Shoobx: the only all-in-one solution for a company’s HR, equity, fundraising, and governance needs from incorporation to exit, will provide one free year of subscription services* to the Grand Prize and Track Winners. *Does not include transaction services such as incorporation fees or 409A valuations (Total Value: $3,100)

This Year’s Judges

• Melissa Parker Draper '77, Smith Board of Trustees
• Tim Draper, Founder, DFJ Venture Capital and Draper University
• Jenn Abraham, Director, Distribution & Maker Support, Indie Do Good
• Michele Courton Brown, CEO, Quality Interactions
• Shaherose Charania, Senior Director, Nike Valiant Labs
• Debby Farrington '72, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, StarVest
• Allie Felix '14, Director of Programming and Partnerships, Embarc Collective
• Jennifer Green, New England Regional Director, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship
• Dorothee Heisenberg, Executive VP and Co-founder, Clear Guide Medical, Inc.
• Randy Krotowski, General Manager, C3 IoT
• Lianna Kushi '06, Executive Director, Entrepreneurship For All (EforAll)
• Emily Levy, Founder, Mighty Well
• Brenda Lewis '67, Principal, Transactions Marketing
• Ashley Lucas, Director of Marketing, Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership
• Ron Molina-Brantley, Vice President Operations, Valley Venture Mentors
• Melissa Noonan-Mazzei '96, Director of Jewelry Authentication/Production, The RealReal!
• Matthew Papakipos, Investor, Papakipos Family Investments
• Anne Richie, Venture Partner, JumpStart Inc.
• Gwen Robinson, Managing Director, CRA, Santander Bank
• Daniel Ross, CEO, Daisa Enterprises
• Payton Shubrick, Innovation & Design Thinking Manager, MassMutual
• Chris Simms, Partner, Alchemy Fund
• Mona Sinha '88, Co-Founder, Raising Change, Inc.
• Philip H. Steckler III, Vice President and Principal, Country Business Inc.
• Ali Usman, PixelEdge, Founder
• Dawanna Williams '90, Founder and Managing Principal, Dunbar Development Partners
• Brenda Wishart, Partner & Executive Recruiter, Aspen Square Management
• Gail Zauder '79, Managing Partner, elixirAdvisors 

Past Winners