The ZipTunes team. Image: Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corporation

Startup 48, a high-intensity weekend-long entrepreneurship competition, has produced its first winner. The three-member team behind ZipTunes – Matthew Seargent, Sean OBrian, and Justin Vajko – was chosen as the winner of a prize package worth $15,000 after the Oct. 14-16 event, which held at JAMF Software in Eau Claire. The winning idea, ZipTunes, is described as “a localized social platform where students can showcase their musical talents and even compete with other schools.” Startup 48, a program of the Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corp., is designed to bring software developers, designers, marketing professionals, and others together to fast-track their emerging business ideas. Eight of the 12 participants began the weekend by pitching their entrepreneurial ideas, and then the group voted on their favorite pitches. Competitors then formed teams and worked for 48 hours to flesh out those ideas. The winning team’s prize package includes office space at UW-Eau Claire, a website and a year of hosting from JB Systems, and more.