IDEA Competition Announces Winners and Runners Up for 2015

BEMIDJI, MN - April 23, 2015 - The IDEA Competition announced the names of three 2015 winners and three runners-up on Wednesday, April 22 at the IDEA awards banquet held at University of Minnesota Crookston. Each winner receives $10,000 in cash to advance their business idea, plus additional specialized technical assistance.

The 2015 winners are:

* Paul Eickhof, Crookston, president of Eickhof Columbaria, Inc. - manufacturer of columbaria, now bringing to the market the Ossuarium, a new product that incorporates traditional architecture with the idea of an ossuary.

* William Weaver, Bemidji, founder of LitWeaver, Inc. - a cloud-based digital curriculum provider for grades 5-12, designed to address the opportunities and challenges of 21st century education.

* Adam and Tim Wagner, founders of Vertical Malt - a craft malting company, which is rooted in the local agricultural economy and provides specialty malt products to the craft brewing industry.

The 2015 runners up are NISKY, LLC., creator of the GOALTENDERS BFF, Trinity Land Craft, LLC., creator of the Tanto(tm) personal vehicle, and Stittsworth Meats, a family-owned and operated meat market.

The main goal of the IDEA competition is to assist promising local entrepreneurs in the commercialization of innovative products, processes and deliveries by connecting them to the best resources available, along with access to the capital it takes to launch a successful venture.

The IDEA Hall of Fame added the Steiger family, creator of the Steiger tractor to its distinguished list of inductees. The IDEA Hall of Fame was established to recognize the accomplishments of the region's legacy innovators-those within the region who have inspired others with their entrepreneurial vision, leadership and achievement.

Major sponsors of the IDEA Competition include: Northwest Minnesota Foundation, 360 Manufacturing Center of Excellence, University of Minnesota Crookston, Bremer Banks of Crookston and Warren, Minnkota Power Cooperative, Inc., Security Bank USA, Northwest Regional Small Business Development Center, Border State Bank, Ultima Bank Minnesota, and LaValley Industries.