Start-Up Winners Staying Busy

11/12/2012 (Updated 6:56:16 PM)

(Source: Jason Weinstein)

Binghamton's first-ever Start-up weekend was, in a word, intense.
"It's been quite a weekend, that's for sure," said Elle Bienvenu of ProtoME 3D.

"It feels like a really long day," said Sam Festa of ProtoME 3D.
"It was based on these reality shows where they just throw in a whole bunch of people and see who can be eliminated. You had a minute to do your pitch," said Kathy Kuzia of ProtoME 3D.

Kathy Kuzia and her team with ProtoME 3D spent that minute well. The start-up offering 3D prototype printing services to local businesses won the weekend. Along with it a $2,000 grand prize and package of legal, accounting, and marketing help. In all, the weekend was a grueling process of feedback and criticism.

"And then we would just readjust to that and then we'd have coach number seven show up and kill your idea until we had one little solid nut that was tangible," said Kuzia.

But the work is just starting. The team had 24 hours to produce a video about it's business to compete against the winners of the 130 other start-up weekends. The winner of that contest will earn more prizes and a trip to meet the founders of Google. One reason this team felt it won this weekend was that it offered a tangible product to local businesses.

"3D is the natural choice. It's a new technology that is really exciting and really evolving and can really apply to traditional manufacturing here," said Kuzia.

While the weekend was a boost to this business, continued start-up weekends could be a boost to the local economy.

"I really want to start a business and see this become the Parlor City again," said Jerry O'Brien of ProtoME 3D.

"Maybe it will bring more local business and people won't want to move away as much as they do now," said Bienvenu.

The team's video will go live at it's website protome3d.com on November 21st.

****In Vestal, Jason Weinstein, Fox 40 HD News****

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