Student's winnings total $93,000 from business competitions

Jordan Vanderham, a senior majoring in product design and manufacturing engineering, has earned cash winnings at five entrepreneurial competitions during the past nine months.

Vanderham is the founder of Orindi Ventures LLC. He created the Orindi Mask, an outdoor, low-profile mask that helps those working in the cold by warming and humidifying the air they breathe before it hits their lungs. This helps prevent frostbite, hypothermia and other health concerns. The mask also benefits asthmatics.

"The human-centered design will help prevent the pain and panic of an asthma attack when children play outdoors in cold weather," said Vanderham, who battled asthma as a child. 

In April alone, Vanderham won money from three competitions: $20,000 at the Texas Christian University Neeley School of Business Values & Ventures Competition, $3,000 at Saint Louis University’s Pitch & Catch Competition, and $20,000 at the Schulze Entrepreneurship Challenge in Minneapolis.

He also won $30,000 in March at the Outdoor Weber Competition in Utah and $20,000 last August at the Miller Lite #TrapTheFuture competition.

Vanderham said he will use the money to continue to develop and market the Orindi Mask; he said for every two masks sold for industrial use, one will be donated to the American Asthma Foundation.  

For more information, visit www.orindiventures.com.