Six student businesses have been selected from a field of more than 200 business plans to participate in the final round of the 2003 Babson College Business Plan Competition on April 8, 2003 in Olin Hall, Babson College.

Douglass Foundation Graduate Business Plan Competition finalists:

Ferrate Solutions -- Water Purification Technology. Ferrate Solutions is commercializing a proprietary process that can be utilized to manufacture a chemical, potassium ferrate, which is 2-4 times more effective and cost-efficient at treating contaminated water than current chemicals. Rezwan Sharif, the Babson student running the project, is from Bangladesh where 70 million people are exposed to arsenic poisoning from the drinking water. Says Sharif, "With Ferrate Solutions, I have a real chance to provide an inexpensive way to treat this contaminated water."

GI Dynamics -- Products to safely treat obesity.

The History Shoppe -- A store that will provide one-stop shopping for history enthusiasts.

Through the generosity of Donald J. Douglass P'87 and the Douglass Foundation, the business plan competition for MBA students was established in 1987. The prizes are awarded to the graduate individual or team that submits the most feasible business plan in any of the following areas: start-ups, acquisitions, company growth, real estate development, and intrapreneurship. A panel of judges consisting of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and local business people evaluates the business plans and listens to finalists' presentations.

John H. Muller, Jr. Undergraduate Business Plan Competition finalists:

Goscha Golf – Goscha Golf is a golf club manufacturing company with new innovative ideas and valuable relationships with industry leaders.

Goscha Golf designs and manufactures innovative golf equipment on an outsourced basis using leading edge exclusive technology.

GotVMail Communications -- GotVMail Communications provides small businesses with an image of success and professionalism with innovative and advanced toll free voicemail solutions. http://www.gotvmail.com

Kismet -- A Babson undergrad, who literally eats and sleeps entrepreneurship (he lives in Babson's e-Tower dorm (http://www.etower.org/), came up with the idea of creating the ultimate dating venue…Kismet presents the kind of intimate yet fun setting where couples concoct their favorite desserts in the privacy of a "pod" milieu that would make Body Snatcher Donald Sutherland proud.

John H. Muller, Jr. Undergraduate Business Plan Competition (formerly The Philip Charm Prize Competition) awards $5,000 to the Babson undergraduate individual or team that develops the best business plan for an entrepreneurial venture. The Muller Prize was established in 1997 through the generosity of former Babson President William F. Glavin and Mrs. Glavin. It honors the entrepreneurial accomplishments of John H. Muller Jr. P'79, H'96, founder and former chairman of General Housewares Corporation and chairman of the Babson College Board of Trustees from 1989 to 1997. The award originated in 1984, as the Philip Charm Prize, with a generous gift from Leslie Charm '64 in honor of his father, Philip Charm. The Muller Prize continues Babson's tradition of honoring outstanding student business initiatives. An independent panel of judges evaluates the business plans and listens to finalists' presentations.

For more information, agenda, and online registration: www.babson.edu/entrep/bplan

The competitions are part of Babson's day-long Celebration of Entrepreneurship, from 8 am to 4 pm, sponsored by the Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship.

The celebration will highlight the best of Babson's entrepreneurial minds through the Babson College Business Fair.

The celebration will examine the role of social entrepreneurship in today's society through a keynote address by Ben Cohen, cofounder of Ben & Jerry's Homemade Inc. and founder of TrueMajority. Babson will induct Cohen into its Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs.

The Celebration will host the presentation and induction ceremony of the Shelby Cullom Davis Entrepreneurship Prize, which is presented to the undergraduate student team or individual that completes the most successful Management Consulting Field Experience (MCFE) or Entrepreneurial Field Study project for a non-profit organization.

The Celebration will host the presentation of the Student Business Initiative Award (SBIA) from the Babson College Alumni Association. The SBIA is presented annually to an undergraduate student who demonstrates initiative, character, originality, persistence, and success in managing a venture. Emphasis is also placed on the learning experience involved in the student's business endeavor.

Last year, hundreds of investors, entrepreneurs, students, alumni, faculty, staff, and service providers took part in the business fair and business plan competitions, and we anticipate an even greater turnout at this year's all-day celebration.