After reviewing 7,000 applicants from around the world, the 43North business competition found its winner in the Town of Tonawanda.The announcement was made Thursday night at Shea's.
The CEO of the winner ASi started out with another high-tech local company, Greatbatch.
Glenn Thomas says his company has figured out a new way to make metal parts which makes them stronger and lighter. The goal, he says, is to make the parts in the United States. His company took home the $1 million first prize and the chance to get incubator space and get mentoring from business experts.
"We're not creating new parts for them. It's the same parts they are having. We're just going to make them cheaper for them," Thomas explained.
"That's what they're really interested in. So, like their new engine developments, we've been in contact with the Big Three. And, their chief powertrain engineers tell us...we can make the whole valve train lighter. We could save fuel, probably a mile per gallon."
Thomas says his company will use local workers as it expands, using the traditional local strong work ethic.
The runner up was Eulysis from Edinburgh, Scotland, with founder and president Ross Tsakas saying he's never seen anything like this competition and he already has a local apartment for when he moves the company here in January to use the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus business incubator.
