Winners will be announced at Missouri Entrepreneur Celebration October 13, 2011.

The Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) at the University of Missouri Kansas City has announced 15 finalists for its Excellence in Innovation Awards. The finalists will be honored on Oct. 13 at the third annual Missouri Entrepreneur Celebration, where one winner in each of three categories will be announced.

“The SBTDC knows the depth of Kansas City entrepreneurial talent better than anyone,” said Carmen DeHart, director of UMKC’s SBTDC. “We’re really at the pulse of entrepreneurship because we help entrepreneurs with the analysis, consultation and training support they need to grow and develop.”

The UMKC SBTDC itself recently received recognition in the entrepreneurial community, winning the Small Business Administration’s 2011 Excellence and Innovation Award. DeHart said it was that recognition that prompted them to pay the kudos forward and raise the profile for the SBTDC’s innovative clients in technology, business and the arts.

The 15 finalists are:

Technology:

AndroJek, Independence
Craig Safety, Kansas City, Mo.
EV Instruments, Kansas City, Mo.
Innovaprep, Drexel, Mo.
WideBand, St. Gallatin, Mo.
Business:

Flava Cap, Lee’s Summit
Luminopolis, Kansas City, Mo.
Matrix Medical, Kansas City, Mo.
Old World Spices, Overland Park
Shamerrific, Kansas City, Mo.
Arts:

BREAD! KC, Kansas City, Mo.
Chris Dahlquist Fine Art, Kansas City, Mo.
Jane Gotch Dance, Kansas City, Mo.
Lala Studio, Kansas City, Mo.
PLUG Projects, Kansas City, Mo.

The winners of the Excellence in Innovation Awards announced on Oct. 13 will be featured in a national marketing video and on the UMKC and Missouri SBTDC websites. They also will receive the SBTDC’s Entrepreneur Training Package at no cost.

“All of these entrepreneurs are helping support and sustain Kansas City’s entrepreneurial vibrancy. They are carrying KC’s entrepreneurial legacy forward,” DeHart said.