Peter Tchoryk of Windsight Wins ACE ‘09 Elevator Pitch Competition

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Ann Arbor, Mich., January 23, 2009 – The ninth Annual Collaboration for Entrepreneurship took place January 22, attracting record attendance of over 500 attendees from across the Great Lakes region to an event that is fast becoming a premier gathering for the region’s entrepreneurial community.

In addition to collaboration, there was competition: Peter Tchoryk, CEO of Windsight was named the winner of ACE’s elevator pitch competition, with judges noting both his presentation skills and the strong business case he argued. Mr. Tchoryk was selected from a field of six competitors that also included Edward Shaffer of Advanced Battery Concepts, Aaron Nelco of Audiallo, Alice Brown of In the Groove, Jake Sigal of Myine Electronics, and Brian Tell of ShadePlex.

Peter Tchoryk was congratulated by Chris Holman, ACE’s Emcee, Small Business Advocate at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, publisher, and TV & radio host. As the winner, Mr. Tchoryk will receive a number of free services and memberships from ACE partner organizations.

The judging panel for the competition included Christine Gibbons of Venture Investors, Eric Olson of DFJ Portage, Bob Savage of Rocket Ventures, and Chris Sklarin of Chrysalis Ventures.

ACE ’09 expanded its program by introducing a new intercollegiate pitch competition. Competing were teams from Bowling Green State University, Grand Valley State University, University of Michigan, University of Toledo, and Wayne State University. The University of Michigan team was named winner of the intercollegiate competition.

“This year’s ACE was our largest and most successful to date, and that’s good news for startups and the impact that new technology ventures will have on our economy” said Gerry Roston, ACE Committee Chair. “We are pleased that ACE can bring together so many people in the growing regional entrepreneurial community.”

ACE ‘09 organizers include New Enterprise Forum, MIT Enterprise Forum of the Great Lakes, Ann Arbor SPARK, Automation Alley, Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest, Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center, Regional Growth Partnership and Rocket Ventures of Toledo, the University of Michigan College of Engineering Center for Entrepreneurship, and the University of Michigan Technology Transfer Office.

ACE’s Lead Sponsor is Butzel Long Attorneys and Counselors. Our Professional Services Sponsor is Hylant Insurance Group, and our Co-Sponsors are the Entrepreneurial Initiative of Southeast Michigan and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. ACE’s Lead Media Sponsor is the Michigan Business Review.

For additional information on ACE ‘09, visit www.ace-event.org.
For more information, contact:
Steve Crang
Hutchins Crang Marketing Group
734-418-3388
scrang@hutchinscrang.com