‘CoverMe’ named 2019 SBDC Metro East Start-Up Challenge winner
Cover Me, of Edwardsville, is the winner of the Illinois SBDC for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s 6th annual Metro East Start-Up Challenge business plan competition. CoverMe emerged from eight Southwestern Illinois-based entrepreneurs to claim the $10,000 first prize.
Tech entrepreneur Jeremy Packer has created CoverMe, an E-Gaming Platform that connects players and sponsors.
Representing House of Ninjas LLC, of O’Fallon, owner John Wilmas received the $6,000 prize as runner-up. John and Nicky Wilmas hope to promote an active, healthy lifestyle for kids by tackling physically challenging obstacle courses designed and inspired by the hit TV competition, American Ninja Warrior. The gym is scheduled to open mid-November in O’Fallon.
Sharon and Michael Sabo’s Tricentum Technologies LLC, of Monroe County, earned $4,000 for third place. The Renault duo has patented a medical product for use by patients with physical challenges and/or visual impairments that need to self-inject medication. The product goes over a syringe cap allowing ease of removal and ultimately the administration of required medicine.
“We are impressed by the large number of superior quality concepts brought forth by the participants,” said Jo Ann DiMaggio May, IL SBDC for the Metro East director. “It made the evaluation process and final decision on awarding the prize money extremely difficult for all of our reviewers and judges.”
The winners will also receive in-kind support from Carol Sparks, Sparks Law of Troy, and accounting services from Scheffel Boyle, of Edwardsville, to help form their businesses and manage start-up expenses. Other in-kind services include website design assistance from Tech Fusion, of Troy, and co-working space for a set period of time at The Lodge in Edwardsville.
The top three teams presented their winning business concepts before a live audience at the Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois (SWIL) board of directors meeting on Friday, Nov. 1. SWIL includes more than 200 leaders in business, industry, education, government and labor in southwestern Illinois.
May and SBDC Business Specialist Marti Wieland are enthused about the overall participation in the Challenge and the applicants’ efforts put into their business ideas and presentations, and hope to see continued community involvement for next year’s Challenge.
“Our goal is to continue to increase awareness and reach of the Start-up Challenge’s vast opportunities,” May said. “The Challenge is becoming a recognized fixture in the region’s entrepreneurial community, and the Illinois SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE looks forward to its continued growth and success.”
The IL SBDC for the Metro East organizes and manages the competition with the support of the SIUE School of Business, as well as from other business and economic development partners throughout its 9-county service area.
Finalists in the 2019 MESC also included:
- Maydai Trauma Focused Clinical Research & Network Center of East St. Louis
- Daughtsy of Belleville
- Grain Densification International of Granite City
- Stone’s Essential Care Package: Just for You! of Belleville
- 724 St. Louis Rd. d.b.a Hyperion Commercial Properties of Collinsville
PHOTO: SBDC Business Specialist Marti Wieland, John Wilmas, of House of Ninjas, LLC, SIUE School of Business Dean Tim Schoenecker, Jeremy Packer, of CoverMe, Executive Director of the Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois Ronda Sauget, Sharon Sabo, of Tricentum Technologies LLC, and SBDC Director Jo Ann DiMaggio May.
