Join us as Launch DePaul Finalists present their ventures to a distinguished panel of judges.  Meet the judges.
 
Launch DePaul (formerly known as the DePaul New Venture Challenge) is an annual entrepreneurial competition for the DePaul community in which teams led by DePaul students or recent alumni compete for a prize of $10,000 in cash and a package of professional services. There are two tracks to the competition: for-profit and non-profit/social ventures.  Read more about Launch DePaul.

2009 Launch DePaul Finalist Teams

Non-Profit/Social Venture Track

Las Caras Lindas
Helping girls to define themselves as women.
Team led by Monika Black (LA&S '10)

Las Caras Lindas (LCL) is a 6 month self-esteem program designed to help adolescent girls in the Humboldt Park community define themselves as women. Trained mentors facilitate LCL participants in exploring themselves as individuals, members of their communities and leaders in society. LCL participants also participate in volunteer activities and cultural excursions in communities throughout Chicago and across the nation.

GREENOLA
A social venture selling women's fair trade, sustainable clothing and accessories online.
Team led by Jennifer Moran (COM ’09)

GREENOLA is a private label boutique, selling online and wholesale. Product mix consists of: handmade Alpaca sweaters, scarves, gloves and hats; sustainable wooden earrings and buttons; organic screen-printed and aplique t-shirts. GREENOLA works directly with five worker-owned sewing cooperatives in Bolivia paying fair wages and supporting Fair Trade principles.  They also work with local US manufacturers whose missions are aligned with GREENOLA.

For-Profit Venture Track

CareerHook
Reel in the best IT candidates with CareerHook.
Team led by Ben Meader (MBA '09)

CareerHook is a one-stop shop for employment agencies to quickly post jobs and screen candidates. CareerHook dynamically tests applicants based on their ability to answer specific questions about the actual job they are applying for and ranks candidates based on the answers. The tests are based on the primary skills required for the job and can be customized to fit a recruiters specific needs.

ClassText4Less
Quickness and quality of local bookstores with the price of online sellers.
Team led by Ameet Mehta (COM '08)

ClassText4less will leverage the popularity of social networks to deliver discounted textbooks at the speed, quality and price students desire. A reliable and risk-free Facebook application will allow students to sell books within their school network at a minimal fee. The interface will allow buyers to search books by ISBN number, professor name and book name to quickly and easily find available books for their courses.

Local LLC
Local restaurants benefit growing urban neighborhoods and offer dining excitement, comfort food, local ingredients, clever cocktails and local beer.
Team led by Neil Feuling (MBA ‘09)

Local LLC serves creative cuisine within a retro, urban, upscale atmosphere. The ambiance can be described as "Urban Farmers Market Meets the Stockyards.” Local’s first operation in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood is a moderately priced 120 seat casual dining table service restaurant with a full liquor bar. Local will also have outdoor seating for 30, including both takeout and delivery.