2006 Entrants & Winners
The 2006 Grand Final of Blueprint: The North East Universities Business Planning Competition was held on Wednesday 18th October 2006, once again at the prestigious Hilton Newcastle Gateshead on the banks of the Tyne.
The black tie event was the culmination of a year's hard work from some of the brightest young entrepreneurial talent in the region. 17 finalists made up of staff and students from across the North East's five universities went head-to-head in a bid to be crowned Blueprint winners.
Prizes this year, in both award categories were, winners - £10,000, second place £5,000 and £2,500 for highly commended, plus generous in-kind support packages for all the winners.
The black tie event was the culmination of a year's hard work from some of the brightest young entrepreneurial talent in the region. 17 finalists made up of staff and students from across the North East's five universities went head-to-head in a bid to be crowned Blueprint winners.
Prizes this year, in both award categories were, winners - £10,000, second place £5,000 and £2,500 for highly commended, plus generous in-kind support packages for all the winners.
This Year's Blueprint entrants were:
Auricularis - Simon Creek
Simon has created a revolutionary foam-based earplug that utilises the ear's natural shape. The product has a range of other commercial applications which will be developed as the business grows..... more
MagLev - Mr Robert Muscroft & Dr David Sims-Williams
Aims to make Formula 1 safer with his high-tech: superconducting magnetic levitation system.... more
TeraNova Photonics - Prof Nicolay Zinov'ev & Prof Martyn Chamberlain
Creators of a nanotechnology diagnostic tool to provide ultra-fast spectral nano-imaging.... more
Vimuse Technologies - Nat Amos, Mike Bigg, Gareth Charnock, Adam Clements, Daniel Harvey, Daniel Rackham
A unique marketing web application which offers effective marketing solutions to the leisure and retail industry on a national level to a local region.... more
Conostem - Prof Coline McGuckin, Dr Nico Forraz, Dr Mike Haider and Dr Mike Nicholds
Conostem provides adult stem cell-derived enabling technologies for the advancement of drug discovery and clinical practice world-wide.... more
Supe - James Surgeon & Matt Surgeon
Supe is a soup bar that offers high quality fresh soup, to eat in or take away. Their aim is to provide healthy quality fast food for people to enjoy. Supe will be offered as a venue to local artists and surplus food will be offered to local charities..... more
Systemlays UK - Robin Scott
Systemlays provides an online subscription service offering advice to users of betting exchanges in a rapidly growing market, providing a mechanism to 'back' or 'lay' betting selection. Since entering the competition, Rob has successfully sold his company and software and is planning his next business venture.... more
TopoTyne - Prof Caroline Austin, Dr Ian Cowell, Dr Kay Padget, Dr Mike Tilby, Dr Elaine Willmore.
Topotyne provides a state-of-the-art technique to test drugs and chemicals for their potential damage to DNA in cells.... more
Blackhawk Hearse - Gordon Fitch, Maggie Drysdale
A unique idea of a hearse carriage that's joined to a Harley Davidson trike which has been imported from Philadelphia and provides a uniquely different hearse for biker and non biker funerals.... more
Nzomics - Prof Gary Black, Dr Justin Perry and Meng Zhang
Offering better value for money in line with a growing demand for protein manipulation specialists, Nzomics recognises the need for 'greener' methodologies in the production of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals.... more
Root Design - Rich Phililps
Rich supplies DJ slimats which feature the work of young artists and designers from around the region. The bespoke idea for djs slipmats is specifically for beat matching and scratching, reducing the friction between the record and turntable.... more
Zest Innovation - Laura Williams & Nina Belk
Zest is a Service Design Consultancy agent who works with clients to develop their companies services.... more
Herbees - Denise McLeary
A social enterprise which aims to increase employment opportunities in the horticultural sector for local adults with learning disabilities. The plan, which picked up the Hatchery’s Business Award, will serve the North East’s hotels and restaurants with fresh, locally grown herbs.... more
Juo Ltd, Jessamy Kelly & Joanne Mitchell
Juo is a partnership between designers Jessamy Kelly and Joanne Mitchell in collaboration with sales agents iii.UK Ltd. Juo is be based at the National Glass Centre, Sunderland.... more
Microrobotix - Prof John McIntyre, Dr Odin Taylor, Prof Bob Mattheys, Dr Mark Bedworth, Colin Allison, Kevin Chapman
Microbotix has created an intelligent robotic platform as the basis of several products such as learning, toy markets, industrial inspections, security/safety and search and rescue.... more
Little Red Dot Technologies - Dr Iain Spears, Mr Gary Quinn, Dr Geoff Archer
Little Red Dot Technologies delivers a low cost solution for real-time digital tracking of human motion with CannyTrack.... more
moShine Animation Studio - Satish Shewhorak, Michael Siu, Stephen Caie
moShine is a multi-disciplinary animation and design studio with an impressive portfolio of creative and commercial design .... more