Microsoft executive impressed by rebooted One Spark: ‘I’ve never seen anything like it’ The reviews are in and One Spark 2.0 was a resounding success.
One of the most glowing assessments came from someone who has attended myriad technology events, including South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, which is considered the gold standard for tech festivals.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Jim Brisimitzis, general manager of Microsoft USA’s Startup Program. “And I never expected to see it in Jacksonville.”
He was here to present the awards following “Spark Tank,” a competition among 10 selected One Spark exhibitors patterned after the “Shark Tank” television program.
Jacksonville-based Staramba USA won the top prize of the Microsoft BizSpark Plus award, which is access to one year of business and tech support from Microsoft, valued at $120,000.
It also will receive business accelerator services from PS27 Ventures, a Jacksonville-based company that consults with small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Staramba partners Adam Dukes and Bryce Pfanenstiel will use the assistance to develop improvements in 3-D modeling and printing technology at their headquarters Downtown along East Adams Street.
Second-place winner B&G Educational Innovation from Indian Head, Md., also will receive one year of BizSpark Plus. The company develops animated training systems for nurses.
The one year of BizSpark Plus also was awarded to Jacksonville-based Tenant Tag, which finished third. Greg Dyer is developing computer software and a mobile app for property managers.
Brisimitzis said after experiencing Spark Walk on Wednesday, followed by Spark Tank and the daylong One Spark Innovation Day conference at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, “there is something here.”
He said within five years, there will be “a strong ecosystem” in Jacksonville for entrepreneurs and start-up companies.
Even those who presented at Spark Tank but weren’t called up to accept an award were impressed by the rebooted One Spark.
Michael and Cheryl Wooley presented Vestpakz, a combination vest and backpack that began 16 years ago as their daughter’s sixth-grade science project.
From Live Oak, they were one of 66 exhibitors at Spark Walk.
Since they developed the product with a pattern made from a paper grocery bag, it has been sold at FAO Schwartz toy store in New York City and in about 70 Walmart stores.
FAO Schwartz went out of business and the product didn’t sell well enough to remain in Walmart. But that hasn’t deterred the Wooleys from continuing to pursue their dream.
Spark Walk gave them something they believe will be useful but was out of their reach.
“We had a focus group of 40,000 people,” said Cheryl Wooley. “We never could have afforded to do that.”
While Spark Tank was in session on the third floor at the Hyatt, One Spark Innovation Day on the second floor provided speakers, workshops and seminars for more than 400 entrepreneurs and others who have or want to start a small business.
Kate Stewart, co-founder and president of Jacksonville Community of Entrepreneurs Inc., said she was impressed by the quality of the speakers and their interaction with attendees as well as the overall next generation of One Spark. Her group presented the conference.
“I am as pleased as I can be,” she said this morning. “The team came up with the right formula for One Spark.”
She said in addition to connecting innovators with capital and knowledge, the event also gave the area the opportunity to see the ideas coming out of the local creative community.
“We’re going to take what we learned and make it even better next year,” said Stewart.
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