BSU business team wins competition

The Boise State University College of Business and Economics ROCAS student team continues to gain recognition in business plan competitions across the United States and Canada. The team of BSU graduate students took first place at a national business plan competition in Canada and will advance to the “Superbowl of world business plan competitions” in May.

The team, ROCAS International, took first place against 15 other teams in the Elevator Pitch round in the Stuart Clark Venture Challenge, hosted by the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg. The ROCAS team also placed second in the Most Innovative Technology category at the University of Oregon when the team participated in the New Venture Championship in Portland April 12-14. It received the award out of a field of 20 teams from across the United States, Canada and Thailand.

The team will next compete against other teams at Moot Corp, the “Superbowl,” at the University of Texas in Austin, May 2-5.

According to Professor Kent Neupert of the College of Business and Economics, the concept and team were developed by Boise State University College of Business and Economics, the Idaho Small Business Development Center and SCORE in working with a local inventor to commercialize new obstacle detection technology. The management team includes the CEO of ROCAS International John Harvey, Ron Haxton, Tara Poulton and Jim Shaffer, the inventor.

“ROCAS International Inc. will develop, manufacture and market a patented dependable and durable laser-based radar electronic device, the Rotor Obstacle Collision Avoidance System (ROCAS),” Neupert said.

“The system detects wires, trees, structures and other obstacles encountered by helicopters during take-off and landing, and while hovering and performing other low-speed maneuvers.”

Neupert said 170 to 200 civilian helicopter accidents occur every year in the United States. Six percent of helicopter accidents are due directly to wire strikes, according to a study by the National Transportation Safety Board.

“The same study identified 15 causes for helicopter accidents, of which 11 of those causes may have been avoidable if the operator had ROCAS aboard,” Neupert said.

According to Neupert, the ROCAS obstacle avoidance system can significantly reduce the number of helicopter accidents that occur yearly.

“The initial target markets will be Emergency Medical Services (EMS), police and other commercial helicopters, followed by entry into U.S. Government military aircraft and then international expansion,” Neupert said.

According to www.mootcorp.org, the Moot Corp Competition, now in its 24th year, was the first business plan competition when it began in 1984. 

The competition’s Website said 24 teams will compete in five challenges, each hosted by a different firm.

“In the challenges, each team will have 30 minutes to provide an overview of its venture and interact with the investors. The
winners will each receive $1,000,” the Website says.

Ten semifinalists will then compete in two divisions. The judges in each division will select a finalist and four finalists will compete for the title of Global Champion.

DARCIE NUTT
News Writer

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