CourtesyAn online resource guide for the health and wellness of military spouses was selected as the winner of the regional InnovateHer competition held by WSU Ventures recently.
Michelle Bradfield will submit her “Virtual Health and Wellness Resource Guide for Military Spouses” project to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for a chance to participate in the National InnovateHer 2016 semifinal round. The SBA will identify up to 10 finalists from all of the local competitions to travel to Washington in March 2016 to compete for up to $70,000 in prize money provided by Microsoft.
Bradfield created a social support network that assists military spouses in exploring local health and wellness options in an effort to make their assigned duty stations feel like home.
“I am extremely excited mostly for the opportunity, and I think it is going to help us put our best foot forward,” said Bradfield.
A military spouse, Bradfield started a nonprofit, www.in-dependent.org, two years ago in Germany to provide a network for other military spouses. The virtual resource guide helps connect spouses with industry experts, doctors, dentists, restaurants and other resources where they are stationed.
“[The competition] will help raise awareness for the need and generate funding for the platform,” Bradfield said.
She hopes to start the project in Fort Riley where she is stationed and eventually launch it nationally and internationally.
In addition to moving forward in the competition, Bradfield won a web analysis from The Social Analyst Sarah Stahl and a one-year membership to the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce.
Judges for the competition were Wayne Bell, SBA; Cindy Claycomb, WSU Ventures; Mark Torline, Center for Entrepreneurship; Trish Brasted, Wichita Technology Corp.; Becky Hundley, WSU Ventures; Karen Page, Kansas Global Trade Services.
“We were very impressed with the unique concepts presented at our first InnovateHER Challenge event,” said Wayne Bell, SBA Wichita district director. “We are also very grateful for the time and effort that WSU Ventures and panelists invested in making the Kansas InnovateHER a success.”
Other contestants that participated were:
- Gene Bown, Emergency Emitting Glare Gadget
- Linh Vu, Mobile HealthLink
- Ted Ferrier, Luminescent Water Glass and Coaster
- Merrie East, NozePax & NozAid