WMU entreprenuers win $5,000 in GreenLight competition

The AutoMowticCo Team of WMU entreprenuers

A business based on an electric lawn mower designed to reduce lawn care costs and the carbon footprint of those cutting their lawn was a $5,000 winner at the recent GreenLight Michigan Business Model Competition.

Tyler Lemke, a Western Michigan University student, has been working with a team at the business accelerator Starting Gate to create the company. He gave the winning pitch for AutomowticCo. to judges at the competition, whcih drew entrepreneurs from around the state.

"My team's tremendous contributions, feedback from my peers and instructors, and the mentoring session with the judges prior to the competition really helped solidify my presentation for the competition," he says.

Eight finalists were invited to a mentoring session before pitching their companies during the final competition at East Lansing.

A second student-built company from WMU, Michigan Smart Lighting, also was a finalist in the competition. The company is developing smart-phone controlled light switches that use a mobile app that can schedule lights, deter theft, and monitor energy use.

The Whirlpool award-winner, AutoMowticCo., is a lawn care service business that uses multiple autonomous electric lawn mowers. The mowers do not have to be pushed, and they cut the lawn automatically under the supervision of a person on site.

This is the first year Whirlpool has given an award in the competition. Its $5,000 award was intended to promote innovation that helps keep homes running smoothly.

The top winner in the GreenLight Michigan Business Model Competition went home with $25,000.

Source: Western Michigan University

Photo: The AutoMowticCo team is, from left, Cody Loyer, Andrew Schram, Race Bedell, Conor Makowski, Tyer Lemke, Austin Scott. Not shown, Jamirah Terry.

WMU entreprenuers win $5,000 in GreenLight competition

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