Modesto man advances in Stanislaus Innovation Challenge

Luke Rocha of Modesto won the latest round of the Stanislaus Innovation Challenge with products that could be used in airsoft tactical war games.

He was among seven people who pitched business ideas Wednesday night in Patterson, the third of four regional rounds leading up to the Dec. 10 finals in Modesto. The overall winner will receive $2,500 in cash and the same amount in professional services.

Rocha said his products could be of use to people in law enforcement and the military. He was a finalist in the Oakdale regional Oct. 8 and was chosen by the organizers to also take part in Patterson.

Joel Gutierrez Campos won the Oakdale regional with a mobile app that allows residents to offer ideas to Realtors and developers on filling vacant properties. Fred Axton won the Modesto regional last month with an idea for disabled-access showers. Still to come is the Turlock round Nov. 12.

The contest is open to people who live in Stanislaus County or own businesses or attend college here. The organizers choose five to seven people for each regional round; they do not need to live in that part of the county. Voting is by an expert panel and the audience.

Each event starts with two-minute pitches, followed by 10-minute Q&A sessions for the three finalists. The other finalists in Patterson were Tim Ramos of Oakdale, with an idea for drought-tolerant landscaping, and David Soiseth of Denair, with a product for woodworking and various construction uses.

The Stanislaus Business Alliance is putting on the contest, co-sponsored by Wells Fargo, The Modesto Bee and the Stanislaus/Merced Angels investment group.

This story was originally published October 30, 2014 at 1:00 PM with the headline "Modesto man advances in Stanislaus Innovation Challenge."