The six finalists were not the only ones to win something in the 2014 Jake Jabs Center for Entrepreneurship Business Plan Competition. In addition to the $21,500 prize money awarded to the six finalists, three entrepreneurs were awarded $1,000 each for excelling in three different categories.

The Posner Social Entrepreneurship Award

The Posner Social Entrepreneurship Award was created for business plans that accepted and embraced the uphill battle of social entrepreneurship.

This year, the Posner Social Entrepreneurship Award went to Ndukt Coffee. Ndukt Coffee is a social networking website with a twist: every member is a coffee company from any level in the supply chain.

The founder, Kenny Schlagel, started Ndukt Coffee without really knowing it on a trip to Chiapas, Mexico. While visiting a coffee cooperative, he agreed to help it develop a web presence. Little did he know, word of his effort spread to other cooperatives and companies.

Thirty countries and 150 companies later, Ndukt is now responsible for the exchange of over 200 million pounds of coffee each year. Schlagel said he plans to turn the Business Plan Competition prize funds into a sample box.

“We will put together a box of different green coffee samples, as well as the exact methods, forms and companies we used to import the coffee – this will allow anybody interested in trading directly with the growers with the knowledge to do so.”

To contact Kenny Schlagel, you can email him here.

The Judy Ward Non-Profit Award

The Judy Ward Non-Profit Award is bestowed upon the business plan that provides the best model for altruism in a non-profit setting.

Heidi Willuhn accepted the Judy Ward Non-Profit Award for founding SOLTALK. SOLTALK manufactures inexpensive solar-powered cell phone chargers.

Cell phones provide security and access to information, education, and transportation. The residents in many areas of developing nations have little to no access to reliable electricity. Those that do must walk long distances risking personal safety to charging stations that could result in lost or stolen phones.

SOLTALK removes these hazards by allowing users to solar charge their phones right where they live. Willuhn located a source of inexpensive yet reliable materials for manufacturing SOLTALK. She said she plans to sell them to established aid-groups to greatly expand her reach.

“By partnering with existing aid groups that have credibility, experience, knowledge and local contacts in countries, I can get my product the last mile and into the hands of those who need it the most.”

To contact Heidi, you can email her here.

The Montana State University Award

The Center for Entrepreneurship added the Montana State University (MSU) Award to reflect the budding partnership between the Jake Jabs Center for Entrepreneurship at CU Denver Business School and the Jake Jabs College of Business & Entrepreneurship at MSU.

Aquatics Unlimited, founded by Ryan Baylies, received the MSU Award. Baylies created Aquatics Unlimited, an aquarium maintenance and service firm, because he found the existing companies didn’t have the best customer service and didn’t offer full spectrum services.

To contact Ryan, you can email him here.

Congratulations to these three winners!