Copyright © 2014, The Oklahoma Publishing Company
An Oklahoma City-based developer of software that alerts wireless operators of intruders on their Wi-Fi network claimed the $5,000 top prize Monday night in the Buffalo Lounge elevator pitch competition featuring Oklahoma startups.
Who’s On My WiFi? co-founder John Kerber delivered the winning elevator pitch to a panel of judges and an audience at the Avenue on Congress restaurant and bar in downtown Austin, Texas.
Ten finalists competed in the pitch competition, which was conducted as part of the Oklahoma Buffalo Lounge, a series of Oklahoma interactive, film and music events at the South By Southwest Festival.
The Who’s On My WiFi? concept has been under development for four years, Kerber said.
Kerber, 34, described the Buffalo Lounge competition as a great experience that any entrepreneur should consider.
“There is so much to learn and see from all the entrepreneurs who are there with you,” he said. “The competition has forced us to work on our message.”
Kerber plans to expand Who’s On My WiFi? into small and medium business markets and create more awareness of the product, he said.
Elevator Pitch competition runners-up were iDefi Group, of Tulsa, and InspireVive from Bixby. Each runner-up earned $2,500.
iDefi has developed a Web-based concept for song writers and musicians that uses social media to connect them with major brands and advertisers.
InspireVive has developed a concept that uses social media to inspire volunteerism among young people while raising awareness for nonprofits.
The Buffalo Lounge is a collaborative effort to spotlight Oklahoma companies and innovators at the South By Southwest Conference, which annually attracts more than 50,000 visitors in the areas of film, music and interactive. Several successful companies such as Twitter, Foursquare, Phonebooth and Highlight were either introduced or spotlighted at SXSW.
The Buffalo Lounge began in 2010 when the Oklahoma Film & Music Office, the Idea Collective and the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber led an effort to create a collaborative initiative to increase Oklahoma’s presence at SXSW.
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