Awesome Controller receives Indianapolis Startup Weekend top prize

November 21, 2011

INDIANAPOLIS - Awesome Controller, which allows users to play retro video game systems with modern Bluetooth controllers, took top honors at the 7th Indianapolis Startup Weekend Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Nov. 18-20).

Forty-six participants competed and eight teams presented their startup ideas during the event at the Purdue Research Park of Indianapolis. Typically several new businesses are created during Indianapolis Startup Weekend, which is part of a global movement.

"Indianapolis Startup Weekend reflects that entrepreneurial interests remain strong in the state of Indiana," said Joseph B. Hornett, senior vice president, treasurer and COO of the Purdue Research Foundation, which manages the Purdue Research Park. "Companies developed at Startup Weekend contribute to Indiana's economy and the public's well-being."

Other ideas presented during the event included KidPal, an application that tracks children's progress and activities in school; Owambe, a live event social networking technology; Readious, an online text/content personal feed; ServeCreatively, which connects the creative class with nonprofits; SponsorProof, which verifies that event sponsors receive the recognition they paid for; VenuHound, which connects people looking to host events with undiscovered locations; and Writing Style, an online content publishing platform for the fashion industry.

During the 54-hour event, attendees shared their best ideas for a web or mobile application on Friday to encourage others to join their development team. Teams designed and developed business plans and prototypes Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday evening, teams pitched their companies and demonstrated their prototypes to a jury comprised of entrepreneurs, investors, startup lawyers and technology professionals, who offered feedback. The jury voted on which startups had the most potential to become a business, and Awesome Controller will compete in the Global Startup Battle 2011. People can vote for their favorite startup Nov. 22-28 at Facebook.com/startupweekend and http://www.globalstartupbattle.com

Many times a viable company emerges, such as Pocket Tales, a company that turns reading books into an interactive game; ShoutNow Inc., an automated messaging system; StatsSquared Inc., a Twitter analytic tool; and EatDrink.it, a restaurant rating tool. CivicResound LLC, a social good company that was developed during the Indianapolis Startup Weekend, now is a tenant in the Purdue Research Park of Indianapolis.

The event was sponsored by Purdue Research Park, Ice Miller, 21st Century Fund, SmallBox Web, KA+A and Angie's List.

About Purdue Research Foundation

Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. The foundation accepts gifts; administers trusts; funds research, scholarships and grants; acquires property; and negotiates research contracts on behalf of Purdue. In the 1990s, the foundation was charged with helping the university in the realm of economic development. The Purdue Research Foundation oversees the Purdue Research Park, which is the largest university-affiliated business incubator in the country. In addition to the Purdue Research Park of West Lafayette, the foundation has established technology parks in other locations around Indiana including Indianapolis, Merrillville and New Albany.

Purdue Research Foundation contact: Steve Martin, 765-588-3342, sgmartin@prf.org