Innovative ideas mark 2025's Badger Venture presentations

Five teams pitched creative ideas to a panel of judges Wednesday night at the annual Badger Venture business and prototype concept pitch event on the Klamath Community College campus.

The ideas ranged from a mobile beauty salon to an ultra-modern 7-string electric violin.

The first-place Prototype Concept with a $1,500 prize went to the Fire Stoppers team comprised of Melanie McClure, Niles Walter and Ashley Mayes. The team designed a fine mesh insert for homes that prevents wildfire ash from blowing through vent openings in the base or foundation of the home.

“Many homes catch fire during a wildfire because of embers in the air that are blown into the home,” said Walter. The team demonstrated how their easy-to-insert screen can stop embers dead. They poured glitter into the filter to show how the mesh prevents ash from moving through the screen. While there are other such filters on the market, the prototype is easy to assemble and install at a very low price of about $30 per set.

First place for the Business Development Concept with a $1,500 prize went to Jennifer and Chris Chandler for their mobile salon concept. They plan to customize a small van or RV with all the necessities of a hair salon so that cosmetologists can make house calls and reach rural communities.

“Many people — who may be in a wheelchair or just can’t move about easily — don’t want you to work on their hair in their homes, but are willing to come outside and sit in a mobile bus,” Jennifer Chandler, a cosmetology student, said. While the idea is not a new one, there are no such services in the Klamath Basin.  The Leap Into Style team was also awarded the Klamath IDEA’s Entrepreneur in Action award for $500.

Second place Prototype Concept for $750 was awarded to Project Reprint and its members, Cliff Foster, Alex Filmore and Thackery Moreland, all engineering students. Their idea is to create a small, plastic bottle recycling machine that pulverizes and melts plastic to produce a filament that can then be used in do-it-yourself 3D printing machines.

First place for the Business Development Concept with a $1,500 prize went to Jennifer and Chris Chandler for their mobile salon concept. They plan to customize a small van or RV with all the necessities of a hair salon so that cosmetologists can make house calls and reach rural communities.

“Many people — who may be in a wheelchair or just can’t move about easily — don’t want you to work on their hair in their homes, but are willing to come outside and sit in a mobile bus,” Jennifer Chandler, a cosmetology student, said. While the idea is not a new one, there are no such services in the Klamath Basin.  The Leap Into Style team was also awarded the Klamath IDEA’s Entrepreneur in Action award for $500.

Second place Prototype Concept for $750 was awarded to Project Reprint and its members, Cliff Foster, Alex Filmore and Thackery Moreland, all engineering students. Their idea is to create a small, plastic bottle recycling machine that pulverizes and melts plastic to produce a filament that can then be used in do-it-yourself 3D printing machines.

Judges for the event were Larry Maurer, Director of JELD-WEN Engineering, John Stanaland, Business Finance Officer of Business Oregon, and Todd Andres, Regional Business Manager for Pacific Power.

This event wouldn’t be possible without the support of sponsors: City of Klamath Falls, Klamath County Commissioners, Klamath IDEA, Business Oregon, EcoSolar & Electric, Klamath & Lake County Innovation Hub, Associated Students of KCC and InventOR.

Special thanks to those who contributed to the team coaching, KCC faculty: Linda Williamson, Stan Pence, Matt Walter and Stacy Peterson; SBDC staff: Estella Woodley, Wendi Lawson, Courtney Talbot and Danise Brakeman and the Klamath IDEA pitch coaches: Kat Rutledge, Larry Holzgang, Chad Elbert and Angie King.

To become a sponsor for the 2026 Badger Venture, call 541-205-5404.

For more information about KCC and its programs, visit www.klamathcc.edu.