Animated startup make finals of business contest

Michael Boyer won the fifth and final regional round of the Stanislaus Innovation Challenge with his idea for online animated entertainment.

Boyer impressed the expert panel and audience voters at the Turlock event on Tuesday night. He joins four other regional winners in the Dec. 10 finals for the second annual startup business contest.

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.

Boyer Animation Studios produces original cartoons and comic books in various genres for all ages. Details are at www.boyeranimation.com.

Boyer and other entrants made their pitches at California State University, Stanislaus, a co-sponsor of the round.

The contest 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.

The other finalists:

▪ Charlene Solomon won the Modesto regional with an invention that lifts immobile hospital patients while they are being cleaned.

▪ Seana Day Hull won the Patterson round with an idea involving field data analysis for farmers.

▪ Nathan Bunney won the Riverbank regional with software that helps people keep track of personal goals.

▪ Erin Bell won the Oakdale round with ceramic pendants that dispense aromatherapy oils.

The Ceres regional round was canceled.

This story was originally published November 19, 2015 at 5:40 PM with the headline "Animated startup make finals of business contest."