CORRECTION: Due to a reporting error, this story incorrectly stated that Reed Street Productions runs an adventure park. The business actually hosts obstacle races at various locations.

It started with two childhood friends coming together last year to start a business devoted to zombie-inspired entertainment.

And Friday, Gov. Martin O’Malley was present to watch a team of 16 students and alumni win a total of $17,500 for their zombie-themed business at the business school’s annual Cupid’s Cup competition.

Five finalists took the stage at the Hoff Theater to showcase their business ideas and compete for a $15,000 grand prize and other cash prizes to invest in their innovations. These projects included 3D technology software; an affordable clothing line for college students; software to streamline the shipping process for companies; and online courses developed for food service professionals.

The business school’s Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship launched the Cupid’s Cup six years ago, naming the competition in honor of the Cupid’s Valentine – a Valentine’s Day flower sale founded by Under Armour founder and CEO Kevin Plank as one of his earliest business ventures. Plank, a university alumnus, serves as the event’s sponsor each year.

As the event’s keynote speaker, O’Malley emphasized the need for new student-driven innovations to improve the state’s struggling economy.

“We need to commercialize ideas at our colleges and research labs,” O’Malley said. “We should encourage more research, education and entrepreneurship. … We want to create jobs, we need to create jobs and we need to get number one [in the nation].”

Reed Street Productions, which hosts zombie-themed races in various locations and is based in Baltimore, won the grand prize at the competition along with an additional $2,500 through the contest’s “People’s Choice” Award.

“It is outrageous and overwhelmingly great to win this award, which will help us become better, better and better over the years to come,” company co-founder Derrick Smith said. “We are looking forward to invest in expanding our resources and team to better serve people.”

Junior business major Ryan Hogan, the company’s co-founder and managing member, said Reed Street Productions made almost $15,000 in their first year of business. The company hosts zombie-themed parties and events at their Baltimore base or at other venues, and their most popular attraction, Hogan said, is “Run for Your Lives” – a mud-filled adventure race that ends with an “Apocalypse Party” hosted by the safe zone at the finish line.

Hogan and Smith said they plan to use their winnings to expand their marketing and hire more employees to expand their business.

“Our plan is to just keep going, keep going and keep going,” Hogan said.

The Food Safety Administration also won $7,500 to develop online courses, but even teams who did not win any prizes still appreciated the experience they gained through the competition.

“It was an honor to be up there on the stage and part of a great day,” said graduate business student Geoff Milsom, the president of 10G Systems, which develops software for shipping companies. “Winning would have been great, but being there was a tremendous honor. They gave me a shot, and that’s all I can ask.”

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