UNMC group scores at UNO business plan competition

A group from UNMC finished in second place at the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s seventh annual Maverick Business Plan competition last week at Mammel Hall.

The group, primarily made up of current and former graduate students at UNMC, took home the runner-up prize of $2,000.

“It will definitely help having that money,” said Will Payne, a UNMC doctoral candidate and co-founder of Orca Analytics. “We’re going to take that money and do exactly what we need.”

Most of the cash will be used for various legal fees as Orca Analytics prepares for a product launch, Payne said.

Orca Analytics is a venture that plans to use data and predictive analytics to guide collegiate advisers and their students to the most efficient career path. Founders expect their tool will enhance student satisfaction and engagement while boosting college retention rates.

“I wish this was something that was available to us when I was a student,” Payne said.

Orca Analytics was one of just six finalists that presented during the final round of competition and was the first UNMC team to place.

“This is the best group of finalists we’ve had in seven years,” said Dale Eesley, the event coordinator and director of UNO’s Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Franchising, which hosted the event. “This one was really close. They were all so good, so well-thought out and so well-presented.”

The top prize of $3,000 went to a UNO-based team of entrepreneurs who founded an online clothing boutique, Mauve.

“I was actually encouraged to see this kind of quality and talent in Omaha,” said Tim Bielecki, an Orca co-founder and UNMC doctoral candidate.

Remaining members of the Orca team are Tyler Scherr, Ph.D., a recent UNMC graduate, and Ben Jones, co-founder of the graphic design firm, Lab Rat Design.