Best Buy Announces Finalists For New 'College Innovator Fund'

Richfield-based Best Buy announced the 10 finalists for the —a national search to find, mentor and advance the next big ideas in the areas of technology, sustainability, education or a related field—Friday morning.

The top ten finalists that have made it into consumer voting include:

• Adaptive Device for the Blind: an electronic device designed to alert users to an object appearing to the left or right via voice message;
• Axio Focus Headband: a headband designed to link with software that will give people the ability to quantify their neural activity;
• Chillsounds Cooler: a cooler with audio components incorporated into it and internal lights allowing portable audio during events like tailgating, beach days, etc.;
• Typing Glove - Gauntlet Keyboard: a one-hand glove device that functions as a wireless keyboard;
• Iron Suit: a smart jacket that can generate electricity from the wearer's body heat and can be used to charge electrical devices;
• MarcanoFootwear LCD Concept: a sneaker with an LCD screen on each side that can change images, slideshows and video;
• SasaAfrica ecommerce. everywhere. for everyone.: a peer-to-peer e-commerce technology that connects offline artisans in the developing world;
• Smart Backpack: a backpack that has near field communication device built into it with a coordinating app used to find out what items the backpack contains and if you've forgotten anything;
• Spawnd: a rewards and charity system that allows user to accumulate points for playing video games;
• USB-Powered Laptop Replacement Screen: a secondary screen built in with an attachable clamp, powered by USB.

A panel of judges including Stephen Gillett, president of Best Buy Digital, Global Marketing and Strategy and Tim Westergren, founder and chief strategy officer for Pandora, has narrowed the search to 10 ideas and is now asking for American's help in choosing the "Fan Favorite."

Aug. 17 through Sept. 7, 2012 at midnight, consumers can visit the Best Buy Facebook page to vote on their favorite of the finalists to determine the Fan Favorite award winner.

The grand prize winner will receive $50,000 and a mentorship opportunity with Best Buy Exclusive Brands, while two runner ups will each receive a $20,000 cash prize. The Fan Favorite Award winner will receive $10,000. The four winners will be announced the week of Sept. 17.

Editor's note: All the above information was taken from a Best Buy press release.