A 25-thousand dollar grand prize is helping a Grand Valley State University junior move forward with a marketing idea. And as he develops the product… he’s also hoping to get a patent.
“It was fun to finally get the big prize and get validation for all the work we’ve done through the years.”
Jordan Vanderham is a Holland native and Junior at Grand Valley State University. Back in March, he won 25 thousand dollars at the GreenLight Business Model Competition in East Lansing. The product design and manufacturing student is developing a thermal energy conservation mask. An idea he came up with a couple years ago.
“It’s designed primarily for the cold weather industrial workers; so you’re outside for a 24 hour shift. You’re constantly breathing in, so we thought we could come up with a better solution to do that.”
And that solution he says, is better than the competition.
“It’s a predecessor almost o the scarf. But where the scarf will get wet and soggy and hold water near your face and that can cause frostbite, or other competitors more developed, they just put a cup in front of your mouth and it’s not too comfortable. We have some patentable technology that will make us different in the market.”
Vanderham will tell you coming up with the idea is only one part of the process. He’s learning a lot about being an entrepreneur. His business, Orindi Ventures includes help from two students from Kendall College of Art and Design as well as help from GVSU’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
“I think the entrepreneurship is the reason I’m doing it. I mean to take a problem that you experience and not just settle for it. To actually acknowledge it and move forward with a solution. I love the problem solving activity.”
As the process continues to move forward, Vanderham says he’s now working on other products and designs and is looking to patent the “Mask” in the coming months.
