2021 Idaho Entrepreneur Challenge

Cargo Made Ez

Adam Stock (Brigham Young University-Idaho)

We are revolutionizing the logistics industry, starting with flatbed and small trucks. Other products on the market today such as ratchet and tiedown straps are susceptible to human error and load shifts, and failure to secure a load can mean thousands of dollars in losses, or worse – even potential liability. Cargo Made EZ places loads under constant pressure with an incredibly easy to use strap locking system that can be tightened to different levels of strength, and Cargo Made EZ can place a load under manufacturer spec for regional, interstate, or international shipping. Our system is a locking system constructed of Kevlar tie downs, being resistant to knives, sun damage, as well as flame resistant, making petty theft during shipping essentially a thing of the past!

New Award!

Trolley House Ventures is an Angel Investment Group located in Boise, Idaho. Our mission is to help the Treasure Valley entrepreneurial ecosystem thrive. We do this by investing our capital and our time supporting early-stage startups and collaborating with others helping build this ecosystem. We work primarily with pre-seed and seed stage companies.

The Trolley House Ventures Award is the first of its kind at the Idaho Entrepreneur Challenge. The direct tie to the investment community helps students see the next step for their venture. The award itself will have a cash prize for the student team that shows great promise, is committed to pursuing their idea and is most “venture-ready”. In addition to the donation of the award funds, Trolley House Ventures will commit their time with the student team having an option to enter into a formal 3+ month mentorship program in which the Trolley House Ventures Members will work with the Awardee Team to advance their concept.

Following this Program, the Awardee Team will have the opportunity to pitch to the full Trolley House Ventures Membership for an investment. Trolley House Ventures is investing in Idaho students because they believe in the power of entrepreneurship and business to positively impact people’s lives and their community and these student entrepreneurs have the potential to write the next chapter of Idaho’s history of entrepreneurship and innovation.

HONU Systems

Cole Alteneder + Landon Lively (University of Idaho)
HONU Systems offers an affordable and robust patented unit that circulates enough water to eliminate harmful algae, bad odors, and insect breeding from stagnant ponds. Each unit accomplishes this with a 1 hp motor that creates a subtle whirlpool to effectively move 1 acre of water each day. The unit, once installed, needs no human interaction to run effectively. This will save the organization valuable time and money.

Dream Driven Apparel

Alex Safiran (Boise State University)

Dream Driven Apparel offers made to order customizable clothing and accessories. Compared to many other clothing companies, Dream Driven is truly customizable. Designs are made in-house, printed, and then shipped to the customer’s doorstep. This customizable feature has created its own niche in the competitive clothing industry. These products target people with particular interests like car enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers. To-Date, over 130 products have been sold.

Lifestyle + Service

Track Winner:

3D Printcess
Sierra Sandison (Boise State University)
3D printed designs, gifts, and prototyping services

1st Runner-Up:

Dream Driven Apparel
Alex Safiran (Boise State University)
Apparel to represent the power of dreams.

2nd Runner-Up:
Metalbars.com
Channing Mitson (Idaho State University) + Justin Mitson (Boise State University)
Personalized Laser Inscribed Silver Bars for Gifts

Manufactured Goods

Track Winner:

Cargo Made EZ
Adam Stock (Brigham Young University – Idaho)
We eliminate worry for logistics professionals

Tie for 1st Runner-Up:

HAUS
Lyndsay Watkins + Kelsey Ramsey (University of Idaho)
Home Access Utility System

Tie for 1st Runner-Up:

Sawtooth Supplement Science
Caleb Johnston (Boise State University)
Science based animal nutrition solutions.

Social + Environmental Impact

Track Winner:

HONU Systems
Cole Alteneder + Landon Lively (University of Idaho)
Moving Water is Healthier Water

1st Runner-Up:

Campus Can Crushers
Addie White (University of Idaho)
Making Recycling Part of College Pride

2nd Runner-Up:

Beaming
Alaina Holland + Terra Miller-Cassman (Boise State University)
Sustainable solutions for repurposed lumber wrap

Software + Technology

Track Winner:

Schoolhouse Simulations, LLC
Sydney Hartford, Amy Huck, Riley Merithew + Daniel Robinson (University of Idaho)
Schoolhouse Simulations, LLC is a software company with the vision to inspire educators to explore best practices they can use while teaching.

1st Runner-Up:

GrainBot
James Bradley, Austin Trail, + Anthony Black (University of Idaho)
Grain Mill Automation Device

Tie for 2nd Runner-Up:

OneBill
McKay Smith (Brigham Young University – Idaho)
All your bills sent to an app

Tie for 2nd Runner-Up:

Waytamin
Joshi Kolikapudi, Lavanya Galla, Abhilash Reddy, Varsha Venugopal + Kiran Pelluri (University of Idaho)
Digital solution to alleviate wait times discomfort