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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 22, 2006

The first ever Ivy League invention competition that unites distinguished entrepreneurs with students to develop and launch innovative technologies through unique programming is offering a glimpse into the technological future with the announcement of ten finalists chosen to compete in the second annual PennVention competition at the Weiss Tech House at the University of Pennsylvania. On April 7, 2006, a diverse group of student inventors from nine different majors across the University will compete for thousands of dollars in cash and prizes and a chance to bring their products to market. This year's inventions could revolutionize the way we stay warm in the winter, treat muscular degeneration, clean our laundry and even play golf.

"The caliber of student inventions developed at the Weiss Tech House is remarkable," said Roger Shiffman, President and CEO of Zizzle, LLC and cofounder of Tiger Electronics Company. "I've found working with these students through the process to be a very worthy investment."

Months of consultation and workshops with distinguished entrepreneurs during the Inspiration and Achievement rounds of the competition will culminate at the PennVention 2006 invention fair where students present their products to a panel of business leaders, technologists and venture capitalists.

The following finalists, selected to compete in the PennVention invention fair for the marketability and potential for commercialization of their inventions, will receive an $850 Keystone Innovation Zone award to help develop a prototype and the Bresslergroup Product Design Prize of personalized industrial design consulting services.

Dropps	Pre-measured, environmentally-friendly dissolvable packets of laundry detergent.
Fire Retardant Paint	Treated acrylic resin that is both flame retardant and self extinguishing.
Hotbean	Actively warming winter hat.
Hublock	Innovative deterrent to bike theft.
Laptunes	Product that allows swimmers to listen to their favorite tunes while doing laps.
Lazy Man’s Can	Garbage can that helps you to empty it.
MuscleMorph	Specializes in delivering next-generation actuation technology for advanced motion needs.
Octave Swing Trainer	Electronic golf club “coach” that provides visual and audio feedback on your golf swing.
Transverge	Identity-based communications service that integrates email, instant messaging, VoIP, and SMS into a centralized, unified network.
VuShare	System that allows two people to watch two different channels on the same television screen at the same time in full screen.

A panel of industry experts including William Schawbel, Founder and CEO of the Schawbel Corporation and Josh Kopelman, creator of Half.com and current Managing Director of First Round Capitol, will award more than $50,000 in cash and in-kind prizes. Prizes include selective laser sintering prototyping services from Paramount Industries; pro bono legal consultation from Lowenstein Sandler, PC; six months of inclusive office space and amenities from the Science Center, and a cash award and meeting with industry buyers from QVC.

Since it’s inception in 2003, the Weiss Tech House has helped young entrepreneurs launch several successful products. Last year’s PennVention winners Samuel Reeves and Josh Koplin, creators of the HRI Minesweeper robot that detonates land mines, were recently hired by a Swiss think tank, Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian De-mining, to conduct a study on de-mining which took them to Afghanistan, Bosnia, Croatia, and Thailand.

"We've seen students come to the Weiss Tech House with nothing more than an interest in technology and leave with an incorporated business and a world of opportunities open to them," said Dr. Karl Ulrich, Faculty Director of the Weiss Tech House.

Senior Jonathan Danoff and junior Jared Bernheim recently incorporated their business, Intellistem Orthopaedic Innovations, an early stage medical device company focused on developing innovative products to extend the lifetime of prosthetic implants, and have begun benchmark trials.

Twenty-one year old Senior Allison Floam will sell her innovative beach towel, Sunsak, on QVC this spring.

PennVention will take place at the Weiss Tech House on the University of Pennsylvania campus on Friday, April 7, 2006. Press is invited to attend a pre-awards ceremony screening between 3:00 and 4:00 PM. To RSVP or for more information contact Jenny Brennan at (703) 919-6292 or brennan.jenny@gmail.com.