In addition to their exciting concept – a nanomaterial that detects the source of meat decay – Nanotechnology Engineering students Nina Jeorje, James Oswald, Heemal Parimoo and Connor Rupnow have a keen – and award-winning – understanding of the business concepts required to commercialize their technology. Three members of this Capstone Design team, James, Nina and Connor, are using that know-how to take powerful first steps towards producing and marketing their invention to the meat industry through their startup company, Diffusiv.
James Oswald and Nina Jeorje from Diffusiv, display their first-place RBC EPIC Business Model Canvas Competition trophy.
James and Nina demonstrated their group’s collective business smarts when Diffusiv won EPICentre’s 4th annual RBC EPIC Business Model Canvas Competition (BMCC), which was held at the University of Windsor’s Odette School of Business in November 2019.
In the competition, student entrepreneurs demonstrated their understanding of business models, business model validation and the business model canvas through a video submission of their own entrepreneurial experiences. Based on these video submissions, semi-finalists were chosen to deliver their presentations in front of two panels of experts. After delivering their pitch and answering a comprehensive round of questions about their business model in two rounds of competition, James and Nina were awarded first place from among a strong group of contenders.
With their first place finish, Diffusiv won $10,000 and six months of dedicated desk space at EPICentre, the hub for all entrepreneurial activity on the University of Windsor campus.
Congratulations to Diffusiv for this inspiring accomplishment in the early stages of their startup endeavor.