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Penn State Startup, RealForests, Took Home Some Real Cash!

                                        

STATE COLLEGE, PAHave you ever wondered what it would take to run your own startup? Six local entrepreneurial teams led by Raymond Robinson, Catherine Rogers, Sheridan Miyamoto, Brennan Holderman, Joseph Sinclair/Mandy Heard, and Steve Lutz just completed a ten-week business startup boot camp, the TechCelerator @State College. 

On Tuesday, December 3, 2019, at the Technology Center on Innovation Blvd in State College, each team pitched their business concept to a panel of independent judges for a cash prize of $10,000! The winner, Brennan Holderman with RealForests, developed LiDAR technology that uses emerging data collection techniques to measure various resources such as forest inventories.

The cohort represented an exciting mix of target markets. The products and services of the other participants ranged from a software platform that aids in medical education, an online platform that collects information on international arbitration cases, a stand-alone method for capturing and storing diagnostic images for medical review, an easy-to-learn/use 3D printer, and a job match platform for career seekers.

A standing-room-only crowd was on hand to support the efforts of these local startups.  Bob Dornich, the BF TechCelerator’s Program Director, commented, “Congratulations to last evening’s winner of the $10,000, Brennan Holderman with RealForests!  However, I hope that all the participants believe they took something home as a result of going through our process. The curriculum is not for the faint of heart, and anyone who makes it through the ten weeks is a winner in my estimation.”