Joshua Goldade and Kristine Lesch won the Marketplace for Entrepreneurs BOSS Business Plan Competition in Bismarck, N.D., from among 19 aspiring North Dakota firms. Their company, SunAir Power, LLC, was developed from an electrical engineering capstone senior design project at the University of North Dakota titled “Standalone Integrated Wind and Photovoltaic Power Generating System.” They hope to develop this concept into a small business in the state of North Dakota.
Marketplace for Entrepreneurs is a collaborative effort to develop home-based businesses, small businesses, agricultural diversification, value-added agriculture, information technology, new business ideas, marketing skills, and stronger communities. Often described as "a supermarket of ideas, information and resources," Marketplace is also a showcase of innovation, a public forum, a classroom, and much more.
Sen. Kent Conrad and Agricultural Commissioner Roger Johnson presented the grand prize award of $3,000 to Joshua and Kristine and extended their congratulations and pride for this high-tech business opportunity to originate from North Dakota.
SunAir Power is in the development stage, with a product line that includes an outdoor advertising power generator for billboard illumination in locations where existing utility infrastructure does not exist, as well as a portable generator for use in remote locations to run a water pump on a North Dakota ranch, for example. The design choice of the system to include both a wind turbine and a photovoltaic panel was selected to stabilize power output and also minimize size and weight. This system can withstand harsh environmental conditions and minimal daylight hours by utilizing the integrated power generation design.
Goldade of Velva, N.D., recently completed his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at the University of North Dakota and plans to continue his studies at UND to pursue his master’s degree in electrical engineering. Lesch of Hibbing, Minn., is currently attending UND and will graduate in May 2009 with her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.
Marketplace for Entrepreneurs is a collaborative effort to develop home-based businesses, small businesses, agricultural diversification, value-added agriculture, information technology, new business ideas, marketing skills, and stronger communities. Often described as "a supermarket of ideas, information and resources," Marketplace is also a showcase of innovation, a public forum, a classroom, and much more.
Sen. Kent Conrad and Agricultural Commissioner Roger Johnson presented the grand prize award of $3,000 to Joshua and Kristine and extended their congratulations and pride for this high-tech business opportunity to originate from North Dakota.
SunAir Power is in the development stage, with a product line that includes an outdoor advertising power generator for billboard illumination in locations where existing utility infrastructure does not exist, as well as a portable generator for use in remote locations to run a water pump on a North Dakota ranch, for example. The design choice of the system to include both a wind turbine and a photovoltaic panel was selected to stabilize power output and also minimize size and weight. This system can withstand harsh environmental conditions and minimal daylight hours by utilizing the integrated power generation design.
Goldade of Velva, N.D., recently completed his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at the University of North Dakota and plans to continue his studies at UND to pursue his master’s degree in electrical engineering. Lesch of Hibbing, Minn., is currently attending UND and will graduate in May 2009 with her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.
