Teams of UD students, alumni to travel to China for business competition

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More than 60 teams are expected to compete in the final round for the chance to win a $15,000 grand prize, $8,000 second place award or $4,500 third-place prize. The competition is supported in part by Google and China’s Ministry of Education, according to the university.

The international contest challenges participants to develop ideas that make the world more sustainable, efficient and interconnected. Finalists advanced from 13 regional rounds held across China.

At a regional round held in Suzhou, UD alumni Gonzalo Perez and Bernard Dalichau won a second place prize worth 80,000 Chinese yuan, the equivalent of about $12,000. Their “Code E Drone” entry is designed to fly into national disasters and emergency situations inaccessible to police, paramedics and other first responders.

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UD students Michael Sundermeier and Nick West tied for second and also won a prize worth $12,000 for Guardian Angel Directions, an app that gives directions based on the safest route, according to the university.

“We are very proud of how well the two UD teams in this year’s competition,” said Vince Lewis, director of the school’s L. William Crotty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. “This is the first year any team from UD has participated, and despite the challenges of jet lag, and logistics, they were able to demonstrate their technical capabilities as well as the significant opportunities they are trying to address.”

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