Surya Conversions wins Esprit Venture Challenge

BOULDER — A group of current and former University of Colorado students — collectively Surya Conversions — wowed the crowd at Wednesday night’s Esprit Venture Challenge by vowing to “give rickshaw drivers a fighting chance.”

The startup won the crowd voting to take home the $10,000 top prize.

The Esprit Venture Challenge is an event hosted by the Boulder Chamber that this year had a theme of social entrepreneurship. The event was held in the renovated Touchdown Club at CU’s Dal Ward Athletic Center.

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Surya Conversions makes hybrid conversion kits for auto rickshaws in India and other countries that aim to reduce emissions by up to 30 percent and save rickshaw drivers more than 30 percent in fuel costs.

The company beat out fellow finalists Aquatricity — which provides community-based solutions for the scarcity of both water and energy resources in developing countries — and Revel Gear — whose flagship Revel Light is a lightweight, waterproof solar-powered light aimed at a variety of outdoor activities.