Business-plan winners announced at expo

PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island Business Plan Competition announced the winners of its 2012 competition last week at the Rhode Island Business Expo.

The three winners were picked from a group of seven finalists, who were chosen from 75 emerging and would-be entrepreneurs.

Winners and the other finalists will share prizes valued at more than $200,000.

Businesses submitted entries under one of two different tracks. The entrepreneur track was open to any entrepreneur or would-be entrepreneur and the student track was open to any student enrolled in and attending an accredited college or university.

Siren Marine Inc., a Connecticut-based company relocating to Providence, won the technology award. Siren Marine develops waterproof GSM/GPS systems controlled by cell phones.

JumpOffCampus, a free online service for colleges and universities to help their students find safe and affordable near-campus housing, won the entrepreneur track. The company was founded by Mark Abramowicz of Providence.

Overhead.fm, an application that will provide a customizable stream of music by licensing directly from artists and labels, won the student track. The company was co-founded by Stephen Hebson and Parker Wells, seniors at Brown University. •