After four months, hundreds of entries and weeks of training and preparation, we crowned 2008's Idea Idols in a dramatic final on 19th February 2008 at The Said Business School.
Over 300 people attended to watch the finalist deliver their 2 minute elevator before facing gruelling questions by the four judges, including Deborah Meaden, who is well known for being one of the Dragon's on the BBC's Dragon's Den. Other judges were Katherine Mathieson, Head of Future Innovators at NESTA, Reshma Sohoni, CEO of Seedcamp, and Sebastian Grigg, MD of Investment Banking at Credit Suisse. http://tinyurl.com/35o57f
Deborah Meaden commented that "the presentations we had here tonight beat 90% of the presentations we have on Dragon's Den"
The atmosphere in the lecture theatre was electric. Alasdair Bell and Jennifer Tsim, two of the OE committee members, hosted the evening and kept the crowds entertained as they introduced the event. Once the finalists had pitched their idea and faced tough questions, the judges went off to deliberate as to the winner.
The joint winners were fledging firms Altitude Medical and Zoombu, which were awarded £4,500 each.
Altitude Medical, set up by Alexander Roman Oshmyansky and Dan V Nicolau Jr, have produced a simple device which involves antiseptic being released every time a door handle is used in a hospital. The inventors believe that this device will reduce the risk of infections and superbugs in hospitals caused by staff and visitors failing to wash their hands properly. Altitude Medical were also awarded a £500 People's Choice Award after winning the vote of over 300 local entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, business angels and fellow students. Later this concept won second place in the international, £25k Big Idea business idea competition.
Zoombu is an idea which Alastair David Hann came up with. He describes it as the ultimate way to plan a trip between any two places in Europe. Zoombu searches every permutation of coach, rail, air, sea and car travel, enabling users to find the fastest, cheapest or greenest routes between the destinations.
Glen Mehn received £500 to make the trip to Silicon Valley to present their heat transfer concept to Google.
Here is what the press said:
- Oxford Mail – Idea Idol Winners Named http://www.oxfordmail.net
- BBC Radio Oxfordshire: Alasdair Bell, Altitude Medical and Zoobu were interviewed on BBC Radio Oxford about the competition and the businesses.
- Cherwell and Oxford Student ran features on the competition.
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