In this Issue
	NASDAQ Educational Foundation Grant LodeStar Universal Coaches UT MBAs Texas MOOT CORP Competition Qualifying Rounds UT Teams Win at Shirley Murphy Competition

LodeStar Universal Coaches UT MBAs

"Close your laptops; put away your pens and paper. Park your judgments at the door, and hold on to your sense of humor." So begins a unique UT MBA classes, where note taking is discouraged, laughter is encouraged; yet people remember course content even years later. For the past ten years, Dallas-based expert Alex Ramsey has been teaching New Venture Creation students how to deliver an effective investor presentation. In the process, the president of LodeStar Universal challenges every assumption about presenting and changes forever how people think about, for example, nerves ("a good thing," says Alex) and PowerPoint ("dangerous"), among others. The greatest business plan can't sell itself, and pitching an idea effectively is a challenge all entrepreneurs face, including MOOT CORP competitors. That's why on November 20 and for 10 consecutive years Alex has worked her special magic, transforming otherwise ordinary delivery into extraordinary investor presentations. Gary Cadenhead says Alex is MOOT CORP's "Secret Weapon." Using a process based on neurological research, theater techniques, and models of decision making, Alex shares the same information and techniques with UT students as she applies to clients who are in the market raising venture capital. Alex's consulting expertise also attracts celebrities clients such as Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean and the Dr. Phil Show as well as companies such as ExxonMobile, Manulife, and Brinker and Smaller. To reach Alex and learn more, click here. »

Texas MOOT CORP Competition Qualifying Rounds

On Tuesday, Dec. 2, ten teams of MBAs in Gary Cadenhead's New Venture Creation course competed in the Texas MOOT CORP Competition Qualifying Round. This competition is for UT students only. This year for the first time, four different sections of the New Venture Creation course had qualifying competitions: one in the spring for full-time MBAs, one in the summer for Option II MBAs, one for full-time MBAs and one for the Texas Executive MBAs (TEMBA) in the fall. In all, 40 teams participated in qualifying competitions in the past 12 months. Sixteen of these will have made the semi-finals to be held on January 22 and the top four will be finalists on Feb. 5. One of the finalists will receive a $100,000 investment from the MOOT CORP Pontoon Fund, a year's free rent at the Austin Technology Incubator and $2,500 of legal services from Haynes & Boone plus represent the McCombs School in the Global MOOT CORP Competition in May 2004. All the finalists will have the opportunity to participate in business plan competitions hosted by other universities. This year, we will participate in the Venture Challenge hosted by San Diego State University, the International Business Plan Competition hosted by the University of San Francisco, the New Venture Championship hosted by the University of Oregon, the Southwest Business Plan Competition hosted by Rice University and the McGinnis Venture Competition hosted by Carnegie Mellon University. UT MBAs have represented the McCombs School admirably in these competitions in past years. For example at San Diego State University, UT teams have had 13 finalists in the last 12 years and won the competition four different times. No other business school comes close to matching this record. With 16 semi-finalists in our competition, Gary Cadenhead is optimistic that this may be our most successful set of teams ever. To give you a flavor of these, we offer the following brief descriptions of the four finalists from the Dec. 2 Texas MOOT CORP Competition Qualifying Round. Dynamic Habitats produces a modular building system that is transportable, customizable, and upgradeable. Their solution is built around the education, military, and healthcare markets. PC Deli will be your local computer retailer and service source. PC Deli intends to be known for its quality computers, speedy service, friendly technicians, and personable trainers. Jetson's will develop standalone facilities that fully automate fast food production. Their first facility design will allow them to open a chain of take-out and delivery pizza stores. This business model will significantly reduce real estate and labor costs versus the competition while offering a high quality product. And TransPharmx, Inc. has a novel, patented transmucosal drug delivery system which enables the development of cheaper, more effective, more convenient, and more competitive medications. For more information on MOOT CORP, click here »

UT Teams Win at Shirley Murphy Competition

Two UT teams won first and third place in the annual Shirley Murphy Business Plan Contest hosted by the Murphy Enterprise Center at the University of North Texas in November. Both teams will now compete in the Texas MOOT CORP Competition Semi-Finals on January 22. First place prize of $25,000 was awarded to Advanced Laser Composites from The University of Texas. The second place prize of $15,000 was awarded to Cooking in College, a joint team from UNT and Texas Christian University. And the third place prize of $10,000 was awarded to Chipotle Business Group, a joint team from UT Austin and UT Arlington. Teams of up to five members, containing at least one full-time undergraduate student, from across the state submitted entries in the competition. Teams could also include individuals other than students - business associates, friends or family. Each team had to provide proof of their concept or a prototype. The first place team representing Advanced Laser Composites consisted of Scott Evans, Donnie Vanelli and Chris Schaefer, all of whom are current engineering students from UT Austin. Advanced Laser Composites plans to manufacture tools and dies for the metal casting industry using silicon carbide molds which provide advantages in lead time, quality, cost, and cycle time over current tool steel products. The process is faster, more capable and less labor intensive than current methods. The third place winner, Chipotle Business Group, is a joint team from UT Austin and UT Arlington - Joe Zirnhelt, Scott Evans, George Stevens, Sridhar Pushpavanam, Jim Farrell, Lawrence Samuel and Tracey Ayre. Addressing the issue of quick, easy, economical, accurate and comprehensive safe testing of water quality, CBG uses an electronic chemical sensor technology developed and patented at UT. Often referred to as the "lab on a chip" or "taste chip", the technology can be packaged as a disposable cartridge and processed with a handheld device. Advantages are numerous including allowing for immediate quantitative results in the field, providing equal or enhanced accuracy compared to other methods and providing the opportunity to react and contain problem areas before harm occurs or fines are levied. It significantly reduces testing costs by eliminating costly equipment, space and lab personnel, and it provides for a more productive, efficient work environment. For more information on Shirley Murphy Competition, click here »