PROVIDENCE – A backpack lock for urban travelers earned top marks at the Rhode Island Business Plan Competition’s seventh annual Elevator Pitch Contest Dec. 5. more

Eleven local businesses have been nominated by the New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce and BankFive for the Greater New Bedford 2012 Small Business of the Year Award. more

The Rhode Island Business Plan Competition has chosen six finalists for its 2013 competition, the organization announced Thursday. more

The NanoSteel Co., a non-structured steel materials designer, has tapped Craig Parsons as its new president of the automotive business, the company announced Wednesday. more

Providence-based VCharge Inc. coined the term “transactive load” to describe a concept company founders believe will change the world. It’s the idea that end users of electricity can save money by determining when they buy power, taking advantage of the pre-dawn hours when demand is low and generators are pumping out far more energy than needed. To take advantage of this concept, VCharge is developing smart-grid applications, such as its Smartbricks for electric thermal-storage systems, that could potentially balance supply and demand on the electric grid and pave the way for alternative energy. Jessica Millar is VCharge’s founder and chief security officer. more

Supporting Rhode Island’s creative economy has long been an important part of the state’s self-image – the creation of arts districts in 1998 is only the most obvious example. more

Fifteen startups from around the United States and the world will participate in the sixth session at Betaspring, the startup accelerator announced Thursday. more

Innovation is one of today’s most popular business buzzwords. Most small and growing businesses – and especially startups – say they want to innovate. But most never get there because they are focused only on cost and efficiency, and not creativity, leaving little room for fresh ideas. In fact, many businesses today are actually anti-innovation without even knowing it, says Ed Hess, a business professor at University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business. more

She is an inspiration to many colleagues who say she climbed the corporate ladder with modesty and humility. Shanna Marzilli of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, has spent 18 years holding positions with increasing levels of responsibility at the state’s leading health insurer, which covers more than 600,000 members. more

As part of the “Healthy Rhode Island” initiative, Lt. Gov. Elizabeth H. Roberts, chair of the R.I. Healthcare Reform Commission, announced Tuesday that the state has partnered with The Advisory Board Co. to focus on health care innovation. more