That’s the question posed to inventors and entrepreneurs throughout West Michigan at the monthly 5×5 Night at Grand Valley State University’s Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center (MAREC). Five creators had the chance to present their ideas to a panel of five judges for the chance to win a $5,000 grant.

Sponsored by Emerge West Michigan, the goal of the competition is to move ideas forward and there are no restrictions on what product, idea, or business venture is presented.

The community votes on the ideas presented during the allotted 5×5 Night and the selected presenters will explain why they need the $5,000 to move their idea along and find other resources to turn their idea into a reality.

The most recent installment in the monthly series was at MAREC on Feb. 23 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.

Kevin Ricco, the director of MAREC, said that the products he saw on Tuesday, which ranged from the bed bud, an alarm clock designed to send vibration through a mattress until the user physically gets up to turn off the device, to a genetic identification device for testing water milfoil in the Great Lakes, were all interesting.

He also said that the winning idea, was a fishbowl program that looks at creating a special marketing vessel for the arts and entertainment industry on the lake shore to provide tours during the spring and summer months, and that the other ideas that judges saw on the 5×5 Night provide a better insight into how creative and innovative West Michigan can be.

“Some of the ideas and inventions are community-centric and they have the biggest picture in mind when creating something entrepreneur in design,” he said. “It really is all over the board as it is about finding, from time to time, what will provide and allow people to see that there is an opportunity in finding a missing piece with present inventions and in making lives or products a little safer.”

Silvia Diedrich, the administrative coordinator at MAREC, said that even if an idea doesn’t win, the presenter’s concept is still out in the public and they have the chance to meet and be involved with business incubators to provide funding or further their research.

“This is a great opportunity for anyone that has an idea and really want to take their ideas to next level and showcase their idea or product to gain some exposure,” she said. “Ultimately, it is kind of a win-win even if they win or not.”

The next 5×5 Night will be on March 23 at 5 p.m. in the L.V. Eberhard Center in Grand Rapids. Current ideas submitted for the 5×5 Night include Fire & Ice, a portable thermal ice maker, and FARMWORKERS.O.S, an app that will connect farmers to supportive services in and out of Michigan.

Ricco said that since the event is open to the public, it is the chance for GVSU students, faculty and staff to showcase their ideas and skills in their given fields.

“I think there is an opportunity here to better promote this to the student body at Grand Valley,” he said. “We have a huge student population, a lot of creativity, innovation, and if you have that connection, then you can see it as a community benefit or business venue and this is a great platform to use.”

For more information about submitting an idea, visit www.5x5night.com.