Startup Showdown 2008

FSB teamed up with Rice University in a contest to find the best student business plans in the nation.

And the winner is: Death to scalpers

Their software stops the middleman from jacking up the price of your concert tickets. (more)

• Pitch in a minute

• $675,000 in prizes: All about the Rice competition

Second place: Hot ski jackets

This team�s idea was a real gas: inflatable outdoor-wear to keep the cold out. (more)

• Pitch in a minute

Third place: How to live forever

In this bank you don�t save your pennies. They save your healthy cells for a rainy day. (more)

• Pitch in a minute

The entire playing field

Here's how all 36 teams stacked up against each other. (more)

Gone in 60 seconds Each team was given one minute to describe its business plan. Watch the top pitches below.
The winner: Scalpers beware Qcue's Barry Kahn delivers his team's winning sell. (more)	Second place: Gassing up Klymit's Nate Alder with the pitch that landed his team the number two spot. (more)
Third place: Save your cells NeuroBank's Ray Sekula sells saving cells for the number three slot. (more)
QUIZ Do you have what it takes to win a business plan competition? Think you have a stellar business plan? Take this quiz to find out if your plan could wow the judges. (more) FORUM Do business school students have the best business ideas?	More Want to compete? Find out more about the Rice Business Plan Competition and the deadlines for next year. (more) Quick Vote Which of the top seven companies has the best idea? qcue Klymit NeuroBank MicroTransponder Enexra HeartSounds Etoh Pharmaceuticals or View results

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Classroom vs. crash-course

My dream is to launch my own business someday. Now that it's time to choose a major, I'm debating if I should major in entrepreneurial studies or major in engineering to acquire a set of skills first. Is majoring in entrepreneurship a good choice? More

- Spate, Orange, Calif.

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Startup Showdown 2008

FSB teamed up with Rice University in a contest to find the best student business plans in the nation.

Gone in 60 seconds

Each team was given one minute to describe its business plan. Watch the top pitches below.