Rensselaer Senior Takes Second in Business Plan Competition

04.18.11

Rensselaer senior, Brent Solina, a Bio-chemistry/Bio-physics major, was floating on air after hearing his company’s name called as second place winner at the Sixth Annual Loyola University Business Plan Competition Friday night.

MICROrganic Technologies, a venture Solina began as a sophomore, is developing a technology which converts the chemical energy present in wastewater to electricity.  The goal is to make wastewater a net zero energy process by meeting current treatment requirements through the conversion process to which microbial fuel cells are the key.

As CEO of MICROrganic Technologies, Sonlina’s achievements to date include the 2009 MIT Elevator Pitch Contest; 2009 Change the World Challenge recipient; 2010 Class of ’51 Finalist; 2010 Walmart Better Living Business Plan Challenge finalist; 2010 Tech Valley Business Plan Challenge; 2011 Walmart Better Living Business Plan Challenge and the 2011 McGinnis Venture Competition.

What’s next for MICROrganic? They will compete in the 2011 NYS Business Plan Challenge at the University of Albany on April 28.  This event is open to the public and the Rensselaer community is encouraged to attend and support the six Rensselaer student teams competing for prizes of more than $120,000.