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Third-year biochemistry student Karoon Monfared presented the business plan for biotechnology com

From mold removal to the wants of teenage boys, this year’s Knapp Venture Competition covered a broad base of human interests.

The annual competition offers UCLA Anderson School of Management students a chance to present their business plan in front of a group of entrepreneurial judges. The groups compete for a total of $20,000.

The competition initially consisted of 48 teams but was narrowed down to six for last night’s finals. Each team received 15 minutes to explain their proposal, after which the judges grilled them on potential weaknesses of their plan.

This year’s first place prize was split between MessageRite, an e-mail and instant messaging support and storage system, and Krank, a hipster magazine directed at 12- to 17-year-old boys.

Three of the four honorable mentions at the competition were marketing a newly developed technology. They included RA Imaging, a biotechnology firm developing a technology that allows for easy detection of melanoma, Micropurity, which markets a new technology for mold removal, and Deeptek, which is developing a quality laser printer with low upkeep costs.

The additional honorable mention was Jet Fleet International, a company which links up pilots to allow them to buy in bulk for lower prices.

For Anni Layne Rodgers of Krank, winning first place in the competition was as much about personal gratification as the prize money.

Rodgers came to Anderson with the intention of starting her own publication, although she said she had no idea it would begin so soon. She is currently a 2004 MBA candidate.

“Having the business school validate my dream is very gratifying,” Rodgers said.

She said she is planning to use the money to develop a prototype of an issue to lure advertisers.

Rodgers has worked with other publications for years, and during this period she noticed a lack of publications directed at teenage boys. After conducting research, she said she found a huge demand for such a product.

Rodgers and her co-presenter Maggie Brenneke said they expect Krank will fill this void. The magazine will cover topics ranging from girls to skateboarding to cars.

Even though Elliott Parker of Micropurity, also a 2004 MBA candidate, did not place first in the competition, he said he had fun and learned in the process -- even though he had to wear a suit, which according to Parker true entrepreneurs do not wear.

“Just going through the process helps you think things out more clearly, it helps make sure you have your story straight,” Parker said.

His business partner, Keith Johnson, also a 2004 MBA candidate, agreed the response he received from the judges was helpful. He also suggested that it would be helpful for future competitions to give the presenters even more feedback by having the audience fill out questionnaires about each presenter’s business plan.

“To say that you’re a runner-up in the Knapp Competition is fine, but a large portion of the reason you’re here is for feedback,” Johnson said.

Parker said he got the idea for Micropurity after cleaning mold out of his kitchen. He said he thought it was going to be a timely, costly process, but then received a “care package” from his friends who work for a chemical company. After seeing how well the care package worked to remove his mold, Parker decided to market it.

In addition to feedback and prize money, presenters receive other benefits, most notably exposure, and in some cases, start-up funding.

Of the 300 or so attendees at the competition, a number were financial investors. In some cases these investors find a company so appealing they will approach the students afterwards with an investment offer.

Cleon “Bud” Knapp, a UCLA alumnus, and his wife Betsy finance the competition. The Price Center and Anderson’s Entrepreneur Association are organizers of the competition.

Betsy said the couple feel it is important to finance the event because of the end result.

“We have a great personal interest in business formation. We have a vested interest in helping businesses, as well as the community,” she said.

“Being able to promote their business plans helps the entrepreneurs to develop their businesses. And new businesses help the community,” she added.

Since only one member from each company needs to be an Anderson student, several of the companies included a wide range of individuals, from undergraduate biology students to seasoned professionals.

Additionally, the businesses were in a wide range of stages. Some already have customers while others have little more than an idea. Of the winners, Krank does not have a prototype, while one of the judges is a customer of MessageRite.

The judges picked the winners based on the quality and comprehensiveness of the business plan, the quality of the oral presentation and the viability of the business idea.

The Knapps, who are on the seven-member judge panel, said they were pleased with the diverse selection of business plans they received this year.

“The university as a whole is more represented this year, which is what it’s all about,” Bud said.