Babson MBA student business Mass Probiotics LLC – a company launching the first non-dairy probiotic beverage called “PHD” for “Probiotic Health Drink” – is winner of $20,000 from the College’s 2007 MBA business plan competition.
From left, Mass Probiotics LLC team members: Ken Dupuis, Matthew Gilman representing event sponsor Brown Rudnick Berlack Israels LLP, Katherine Otway, and Vice Provost for Entrepreneurship, Steven Spinelli
Current student Katherine Otway M’07, of Wakefield, Mass.; and Babson alumni William Boone M’04, Sudbury, Mass.; Erik Skala M’02, Needham, Mass.; David Tabaczynski M’02, Groton, Mass.; and Ken Dupuis blended their skills to develop this unique health beverage to win the 2007 Douglass Foundation Graduate Business Plan Competition.
Mass Probiotics LLC is the first probiotic beverage company in the U.S. Probiotics are live microorganisms called “friendly bacteria” that grow naturally to benefit our digestive and immune systems. The probiotics for PHD are clinically proven to rebalance your digestive tract to function as nature intended. The team believes probiotics to be the next big thing in health, growing in popularity like that of antioxidants and omega-3s.
First runner-up for the Douglass Foundation prize was Feed Resource Recovery, Inc., a company that provides supermarket and restaurant locations with onsite waste processing systems that convert previously discarded food waste into a distributed source of renewable energy and organic fertilizer. Its founder is Shane Eten who will graduate in May 2007.
Feed Resource Recovery Inc. members from left: Matt Gillman, Shane Eten, Ryan Begin, and Spinelli
A team of MBA students including Mary Brennan, (Mary is a Babson 1996 undergrad), John Gingrich, Amanda Santos, and Christian Volmar, all 2nd year MBA students, presented a business plan for marketing Paragon Lake, a company that designs, manufactures, and distributes fine custom jewelry to retailers and consumers in the U.S. that was 2nd runner-up.
Paragon Lake team from left: Christian Volmar, John Gingrich, Amanda Santos, Matt Gillman, Mary Brennan and Spinelli
The Douglass Foundation Entrepreneurial Prize Competition is a graduate business plan competition that awards cash prizes of $35,000 and additional services in kind totaling more than $40,000 to the winners and runners-up. The business plans cover start-ups, acquisitions, company growth, real estate development, or entrepreneurial ventures. The Babson graduate student or team who submits the most feasible business plan for an entrepreneurial venture receives the $20,000 first place cash prize, $10,000 for placing second, and $5,000 to third.
