Goal-setting app wins regional round of business contest
Nathan Bunney won the latest regional round of the Stanislaus Innovation Challenge with a concept that helps people meet personal goals.
He developed software that clients can use to track their progress on weight loss, sobriety and other efforts. The idea won over an expert panel and audience voters at the Riverbank Teen Center on Wednesday night.
Bunney will compete at the Dec. 10 finals in Modesto with five other people with startup businesses. The winner will get $3,500 and the runner-up $1,500. They also will share about $3,000 in legal, accounting, graphics and marketing services.
The contest, now in its second year, is open to people who live, own businesses or attend college in Stanislaus County. They can enter any of the regional rounds.
The challenge is sponsored by the Stanislaus Business Alliance, Wells Fargo, The Modesto Bee and the Stanislaus/Merced Angels investment group.
Five entrants chosen by the organizers took part in the Riverbank round. Along with Bunney, they were:
▪ Troy McComak with a tutoring business that uses tablet computers and unique software for students of all ages.
▪ Geno Franco with an invention that separates oil and grease from wastewater at restaurants and homes.
▪ Josie Cruz with a mop/scrubber for seniors and others who have trouble cleaning floors.
▪ Kirk Stockham with software that recovers computer files and does other forensic work.
All five made two-minute pitches to start the event. Bunney, Franco and Cruz advanced to the second stage, where they were questioned by the judges.
Charlene Solomon won the first regional round in Modesto on Aug. 6 with an invention that lifts immobile hospital patients while they are being cleaned. Seana Day Hull topped the second round in Patterson on Aug. 27 with an idea involving field data analysis for farmers.
Bunney also took part in the Modesto round, where he advanced to the second stage before losing to Solomon.
COMING UP
The Stanislaus Innovation Challenge will have three more regional rounds before the Dec. 10 finals, all from 5:30 to 8 p.m.:
Ceres: Oct. 8, Ceres Community Center, 2701 Fourth St. Deadline is Wednesday.
Oakdale: Oct. 29, Gene Bianchi Community Center, 110 S. Second St. Deadline is Oct. 18.
Turlock: Nov. 17, Demergasso-Bava Hall at California State University, Stanislaus. Deadline is Nov. 8.
Applications and more information are at www.alliancesbdc.com or 209-567-4910.
This story was originally published September 18, 2015 at 1:03 PM with the headline "Goal-setting app wins regional round of business contest."