Las Positas College Announces "Shark Tank" Competition Winners

Four business-savvy students hailing from the Tri-Valley are winners in Las Positas College's "Shark Tank"®,an entrepreneurship competition in the style of the popular ABC television series of the same name. The competition was open to all students in all majors.

The team of Amy Lundeen of San Ramon and Jonathan Schannep of Livermore won the prize for 'Most Innovative Idea' for "Information Life-Line," a software application that can help save lives in an emergency. Schannep also has served as a Marine and earned his degree in Fire Science from Las Positas College.

The team of Mario Castillo of Pleasanton and Keven Hempel of Livermore won "Idea Most Likely to Succeed" for "Laundry Buddy," their software application to improve laundry day at a self-service laundry.

Three individuals volunteered to serve as judges, or "sharks." There are Scott Vigallon, Las Positas College Instructional Technology/Open Learning Coordinator, Brandon Cardwell, Las Positas College alumnus and Vice President of the i-GATE Innovation Hub of Livermore and Jody Bagno-Dill, founder and CEO of JAZZ Business Consulting.

Student winners were presented with cash prizes and also will receive complimentary mentoring sessions from Livermore's i-GATE Innovation Hub.

"We were very impressed with the ideas and presentation skills of the students," said Business and Marketing Department Coordinator Lisa Taylor Weaver. Ph.D. Business Instructor and "Head Shark," Tom Blinn of Livermore, organized the competition designed to spark interest in entrepreneurship, foster innovation and give students the opportunity to develop the mindset and skills of successful entrepreneurs.

"Shark Tank" is one of three Business and Marketing Department initiatives during the 2013-14 Academic Year that are providing entrepreneurship education and enrichment for the campus and community.

In September, the department brought to campus the "Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour," a national motivational touring event that featured some of the country's top young entrepreneurs and supports success in all majors and all careers.

The department also sponsors an ongoing "Business & Entrepreneurship Speaker Series" featuring area business leaders who have embraced an entrepreneurial approach and startup spirit to achieve professional and organizational success.

Las Positas College currently enrolls approximately 9,000 students and offers curriculum for students seeking transfer to a four-year college or university, career preparation, or basic skills education.

The College provides university transfer classes, retraining classes for those in need of employment or career advancement, a first-time educational opportunity for many adults, enrichment classes for those seeking a broader perspective, and career and technical training for those entering the technical and paraprofessional work force.