[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/tiequest.jpg” caption=”Nimesh Bahl, Adrian Kitai and Cristian Nunez at the TiEQuest 2008 Business Venture Competition. Photo by Manpreet Sokhi.”]It is a $1-million ray of hope for a business venture being pursued through the Xerox Centre for Engineering Entrepreneurship and Innovation at McMaster University.

Liquid Fiber Display took first at the annual TiEQuest 2008 Business Venture Competition last weekend in Toronto. In addition to winning $50,000 in cash and in-kind services as well as the Ontario Entrepreneurship Trophy, they have the opportunity to receive a $1-million investment from sponsoring funds.

Nimesh Bahl and Cristian Nunez, Master's of Engineering Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MEEI) graduate students, formed Liquid Fiber Display with Adrian Kitai, professor of engineering physics and materials science and engineering.

The company is commercializing a technology developed by Kitai that combines a uniquely woven optical fiber array with current LCD (liquid crystal display) and LED (light-emitting diode) display sign technology.

The team competed against more than 200 entrepreneurs pitching 90 different business ventures to a panel of judges comprised of successful entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, fund managers and business leaders.

A prototype display sign developed using technology from Liquid Fiber Display is being tested in the McMaster University Student Centre. The technology provides a high-resolution, high-brightness light module with excellent colour reproduction capability but with lower power consumption. The technology can increase display resolution and reliability compared to LED displays, and at lower cost. The company is receiving funding support from the Ontario Centres of Excellence and Bell Canada.

TiEQuest is an annual business venture competition held in Toronto to encourage entrepreneurship, engage emerging entrepreneurial talent and to create an ecosystem of entrepreneurship. The mission of TiEQuest is to connect entrepreneurs and business enthusiasts with the private equity and venture capital industry.

“This has been a great month for McMaster business ventures,” said Rafik Loutfy, director of the Xerox Centre for Engineering Entrepreneurship and Innovation. “Last week, the CPRGlove and Digital Dash took first and third respectively at the Wes Nichol LaunchPad $50K competition. This week, another team won first prize at TiEQuest.”