Pank prize a tidy earner
by Vincent Ciccarello
The 2006 Pank Prize for Entrepreneurial Activity has been awarded to Bachelor of Engineering student Gregory Linke for his Garage Tidy™ business plan.
Linke’s patented Garage Tidy™ system is a low cost, yet effective storage solution that installs in seconds to both steel and timber construction garages.
The judging panel members, who were very impressed with Linke’s product and business plan, earmarked the $10,000 prize money to enhance aspects of the business plan such as accounting, marketing, manufacturing and intellectual property with paid expert advice.
"I originally invented the product for personal use, frustrated by the lack of an existing solution in the market," Linke said. "But through UniSA, the invention became a business idea and now, thanks to the Pank Prize and many hours of development, it has matured into a business opportunity.
The Pank Prize is open to all current UniSA students and all alumni who have graduated in the past five years with a business idea and detailed business plan.
The prize has been made available through the generosity of the Pank Family Trust. Dr David Pank, an honorary doctor of UniSA, was an optometrist who later became director, managing director and chairman at Laubman and Pank.
"Thanks to the generosity of the Pank family and support of UniSA, the Garage Tidy™ range now looks set to become a business reality," Linke said.
For further details, contact Jennie Connor at jennie.connor@unisa.edu.au or telephone (08) 8302 0508.