Another “Shark” has joined the Innovation Incubator at the Global Gaming Expo.
Producers of next month’s trade show also announced Thursday the four finalists selected to compete for a $10,000 prize by pitching their business concepts in gaming and hospitality in a Shark Tank-like setting.
The American Gaming Association and Reed Exhibitions said Kevin O’Leary, chairman of O’Shares ETF Investments and star of ABC’s Shark Tank will join fellow Shark Tank costar FUBU CEO and Founder Daymond John, and The Pink Ceiling and Sprout CEO Cindy Eckert (Whitehead) to judge the four finalists.
The competition is part of the Innovation Incubator at G2E on Oct. 11 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center. The finalists will have five minutes to pitch their business concepts to a live audience and O’Leary, John and Eckert. The judges will question the participants and examine the potential business opportunity of each presentation.
The winning presentation, dubbed the Judges’ Choice, will be awarded a $10,000 prize as well as a complimentary booth at G2E 2019 to showcase their technology. The audience will vote for a second prize, the Customer’s Choice, which will also receive a complimentary booth at G2E 2019.
Innovation Incubator at G2E finalists include two student submissions and two startups:
- Inside Injuries (Startup): Inside Injuries combines sports medicine with statistical modeling to predict the impact of injuries on player performance, providing credible, easy to understand and actionable data to consumers, bookmakers, sports media and the gaming industry. Presenter: Tracy Hankin, CEO of Inside Injuries.
- Vegas Doorstop (Startup): The DoorPRO from Vegas Doorstop helps service industry professionals maintain dignity and professionalism with a hassle-free solution to prop open heavy doors. Presenter: Bill Hengler, Founder and CEO of DoorPRO Doorstop. Graduate of UNLV, Class of 1992.
- Shield Card Shoe (Student): Shield Card Shoe is a casino table game security device that serves as a patent-protected, cost-effective and simple solution to card marking and edge sorting. Presenter: Brittney Martino, UNLV’s Technology Liaison for the Office of Economic Development.
- Window Magic (Student): Window Magic™ integrates transparent Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) displays and other conventional displays to deliver a tailored experience for resort guests. Presenter: Wayman Wittman, UNLV student.
The finalists were selected by a panel of industry experts who rated submissions based upon innovation, operational efficiency, end-user value, operational adoption and integration, revenue potential and long-term use. In addition to the finalists, the industry experts panel selected six runner-up participants that earned dedicated presentation time at AGA’s Innovation Lab at G2E.
