Wicked Sheets are luxury bed sheets designed to wick away moisture from the body, keeping both you and your bed cool and dry while you sleep. This US-based company was founded in 2008 and has experienced exponential revenue growth from online and retail sales year over year. As this year’s winner, they plan to use the $5,000 to fund their certification as a Woman-Owned Small Business with the U.S. Small Business Administration and it will go towards exhibitor space at the North American Women’s Menopause Conference.

Contact:  Alli Truttmann – President and CEO – Wicked Sheets, LLC – alli@wickedsheets.com – 618.531.5284 – wickedsheets.com – facebook.com/wickedsheets  - @WickedSheets

OTHER FOUR FINALISTS:

OneMorePallet connects small shippers with trucking companies that have excess capacity to get a great deal using a Priceline.com like business model. What sets them apart from other ‘middle-men’ in their market is that they work in the best interest of the shipper, so the trucking companies receive incremental revenue at high margins.

Bill Cunningham – (859) 905-0663  – bill@onemorepallet.com – www.onemorepallet.com – @onemorepallet

PartyChic creates party kits that provide all the products and information necessary to host a simple, chic party—from showers, to birthdays to holiday entertaining. Their kits include professionally designed invitations that coordinate with tableware and decorations, as well as meal ideas, recipes, games and tips and tricks. Everything is packaged and sent right to the customer’s door – saving them the hassle of countless online searches and dozens of trips to various stores. By streamlining the party planning process, their customers can do what they are supposed to do — relax and have fun!

Contacts:

Shannon Gadd                                        Therese Pollett

Shannon@getpartychic.com                    Therese@getpartychic.com

502.526.7119                                          502.541.0361

Getpartychic.com

Facebook.com/getpartychic                     Pinterest.com/getpartychic

Greenway Solar makes solar-powered signs that also can tap into a power grid when battery power is low.  Their goal is to lead the future, using their Solar-Powered LED energy management system, to power all future commercial signs.  Saving money and energy, while reducing the carbon footprint.

Contacts:  Jim Ballinger, Ernie Fry, and Jim Glass

Pheeva is rewards platform for online gaming that monetizes every game play in order to reward players with real prizes.  They provide game developers with a loyalty system that is equivalent to the successful Coke and Southwest Airlines rewards programs.

Contact:  Lafe Taylor – lafe@pheeva.com – http://pheeva.com

1. Keely Brandon: Leleren
2. Bill Cunningham: One More Pallet
3. Dan English: Gametut.com
4. Alex Frommeyer: Beam Technologies
5. Shannon Gadd: Party Chic
6. Jim Glass: Glass Sign Co.
7. Nick Mattingly: Silver Sunn
8. Jose Ojeda: Performance Tracker
9. Lafe Taylor: Pheeva
10. Alli Truttman: Wicked Sheets
11. Andy Rust: Luggage Lap Topper

April 10, 2012 – Louisville, KY – Venture Connectors will be hosting the 3rd Annual Venture Sharks Nurse Sharks “Preliminary Bait” round on April 18, 2012 at 5:30 p.m. at the offices of Bingham, Greenebaum, Doll; 101 South Fifth Street; 35^th floor; Louisville, KY.  This round of the competition is open to the public at no charge.

This year, Venture Connectors received over 50 applications from entrepreneurs.  The Venture Sharks committee reviewed each application and chose the top 10 big ideas for the first round of the competition.

On April 18, 2012, 10 entrepreneurs will have 3 minutes to pitch their ideas to a team of judges.  The judges will have 2 minutes ask questions about each of the business ideas.  The top 4 ideas will go “swim with the great white sharks” in the final round of competition.

The final “Shark Bait” round will be held on May 2nd, 2012 at the Venture Connectors’ Luncheon Meeting at the Ali Center in Louisville, KY.  The judges will ask the finalists questions about the marketability of their ideas.  Together, the judges and the audience will select the winning idea.  Only one entrepreneur will win the Grand Prize of at least $5,000.  Attendees will need to RSVP for the final round at: www.ventureconnectors.org.  Non-members of Venture Connectors will be charged $45 when they RSVP.

Sponsors of the 3^rd Annual Venture Sharks Nurse Shark competition are: Bingham, Greenebaum, Doll; the Network of Entrepreneurial Women; and the Cardinal Venture Club.  More information about Venture Sharks and the Nurse Shark sponsors can be found at: www.venturesharks.org.