Metrix, a patent-pending software program designed to link musicians, received two of the top cash awards handed out at the annual Lulu eGames on Monday.

The eGames, a business development contest sponsored by Raleigh-based web publishing site Lulu, is part of N.C. State’s Entrepreneurship Initiative.

Metrix took first place and $4,750 in the Arts Feasibility Challenge and third place and $1,500 in the Design and Prototype category.

Winners ranged from facial analysis of an animal’s “innate personality” to an easier way to get condiments from a jar to do-it-yourself lawn fertilizer kits.

The top three finishers in each category with descriptions of the winning entries provided by NCSU:

Design and Prototype

  • 1st Place $4750: Facial Inference Technology

A new computationally based methodology that leverages biological mechanisms to draw objective inferences about an animal’s innate personality. This system can essentially be broken down into two parts. The first is a novel approach to comparative image analysis that bypasses the subjectivity of the human eye. The second is the subsequent statistical analysis of the facial measures generated from the image analysis process to identify correlations between certain features and the response variables of interest.

  • 2nd Place $3250: Jar with a Twist

Peanut butter, mayonnaise, jelly, salsa, and many other condiments have used the same method of delivery to the consumer for over a century: the jar. Jar-with-a-Twist aims to replace this delivery method by allowing consumers to maneuver their condiment upward such that each use will be like the first scoop, spread, or dip out of the jar.

  • 3rd Place $1500: Metrix

Metrix’s patent-pending software platform (designed for both web and mobile use) serves as a communicative tool for musicians to share feedback and collaborate on musical ideas. A proprietary method of collecting and quantifying subjective listener opinion empowers musicians to move through the phases of songwriting with greater efficiency and cost effectiveness.

Arts Feasibility Challenge

  • 1st Place $4750: Metrix

Metrix’s patent-pending software platform (designed for both web and mobile use) serves as a communicative tool for musicians to share feedback and collaborate on musical ideas. A proprietary method of collecting and quantifying subjective listener opinion empowers musicians to move through the phases of songwriting with greater efficiency and cost effectiveness.

  • 2nd Place $3250: 18 Wheels of Production

18 Wheels Production provides a mobile studio serving artist with disabilities that prohibit them from visiting a production studio. An 18-wheeler or trailer fitted with all the equipment to house a quality production studio will allow rising and potential artists to showcase their talent in a professionally set up environment and possibly market their music/product more efficiently.

  • 3rd Place $1500:  MusiiCal

With the plethora of music venues in Raleigh, North Carolina, attending concerts is a popular activity, yet it yields an interesting challenge: it is hard to keep track with all of the events. Simply put, there is no single online solution to access all the music event calendars in Raleigh. MusiiCal brings an entirely new event awareness experience for Raleigh concert connoisseurs – from Progress Energy Center events to Lincoln Theatre’s rock concerts.

New Venture Challenge

  • 1st Place $6500: GroPRO Lawn

GroPRO Lawn is an innovative and affordable solution to lawn care, delivering lawn care products so that anyone can grow the perfect lawn. GroPRO’s do-it-yourself fertilization kits are delivered to the customer’s home and backed by professional customer support throughout the year.

  • 2nd Place $5000: AccuFlow

Until now, accurate blood flow measurement and imaging to assist with and facilitate surgery has been elusive. Specifically, accurate blood flow measurement and imaging in the heart has been near impossible to achieve due to the heart’s rapid movement, high blood flow rates, and the general structure of the heart. In an effort to better meet the needs of these surgeries, we have developed a prototype device, called AccuFlow, based on a disruptive technology that allows surgeons to quickly, accurately, and reliably image, measure, and analyze blood flow in the heart.

  • 3rd Place $3500: Wolf Reflex

Wolf Reflex is dedicated to improving the safety and reducing the loss of life through the development and implementation of a Blind Spot Detection System (BSDS) for motorcycles as an aftermarket and original equipment option. The main design consideration of the Wolf Reflex Blind Spot Detection System is to be extremely accurate and robust allowing us to provide the most dependable blind spot detection system on the market.