Hundreds of people showed up Friday night at Chop Shop (2033 W. North Ave.) in Wicher Park to learn the answer to one questions: What's The Big Idea?
Finalists in Community, Technology, Art & Design and Food & Drink were given 90 minutes to complete the most important part of the process: Selling their idea to potential investors (or, in this case, voters). Displays included everything from turkey meatballs to plastic hand-clappers to rubber bracelets.
As the votes were being tallied, Riot Fest creator and keynote speaker Mike Petryshyn shared the trials and tribulations--and fun--behind the now 10-year-old festival, urging finalists to keep their ideas in Chicago and not sell out to a larger company. Retaining control of Riot Fest, he said, has helped him keep his vision pure.
But you're here for the good stuff, right? Here now, the winners of RedEye's first Big Idea Awards. A reminder: Each idea took home the following prize package.
- A professional mentorship from an established entrepreneur in the same category or industry as the submitted idea, with a minimum time commitment of 3 hours per month for 3 months
- Three (3) quarter page ROP ads in RedEye anytime during the 2015 calendar year.
- A Small Business Membership to the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce for the 2015 calendar year, and a $250 Chicagoland Chamber gift certificate.
- A trip for Winner and a guest to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic from Apple Vacations,
Technology
GoReturnMe: Cloud-based reward if found
Karl Steltenpohl & Frank Pope
Community
Think Before You Shoot: To create change, think change
Anthony Sturdivant
Art & Design
Improve It: Improv corporate training that supports charity
Erin Diehl
Food & Drink
Logan Oyster Socials: Chicago's traveling oyster bar
Rickie Perez
