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The Dog Has Its Day At The Hatching

EAST LANSING (WWJ) -- The room was packed at Beggar's Banquet in East Lansing Wednesday night as four ideas were pitched for the second round of funding for The Hatching. The winner of this month's event was The Basset Bowl by Joe Rabideau of Eaton Rapids.

The Basset Bowl is a clever solution to a common problem among long-eared dog owners. The innovative dog water bowl design allows for long-eared dogs to eat and drink without dipping their ears in their food and water -- which can result in ear infections.

Rabideau is working with staff of the Lansing Economic Area Partnership to prototype the bowl using a 3D printer. Already there have been over a dozen orders for the bowl once it starts production.

The Hatching, which is a partnership between LEAP, Michigan State University's Spartan Innovations and the Lansing business incubator Neo Center, allows entrepreneurs to pitch new ideas to judges and an audience of innovators in a spirited atmosphere. The winner receives $1,000 for startup costs as well as legal services to create the new business entity provided by Loomis, Ewert, Parsley, Davis & Gotting P.C. Monthly winners also advance to the next round of pitches that will take place at the Launched: Celebration of Entrepreneurship event in December for the chance to win $10,000.

People interested in participating and pitching in the upcoming events are asked to submit their ideas to www.thehatching.org. Submissions are being accepted through Friday, Aug. 23 for the next Hatching event, which will take place at Beggar's Banquet in East Lansing on Wednesday, Aug. 28. Events are held the last Wednesday of every month at 6 p.m.

"Not only is The Hatching the party of the month, but the competition is inspiring as we build our region into one of the nation's leading entrepreneurial and creative environments," said Ken Szymusiak, co-director for the New Economy Division at LEAP.

For more information about LEAP, visit www.purelansing.com.

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