By Ashley Reyes

Justin Bradshaw	Khanjan Desai	Roland Hence
Matt Rafeld	Eric Rivera

After a public online vote, five young business owners and executives have been selected to compete in the final stage of the 2020 SEMA Launch Pad competition. They will now pitch their products and ideas to a panel of industry experts, who will select and announce a winner in SEMA360, Monday, November 2, at 5:00 p.m. (PST).

Available to business owners, executives and entrepreneurs under the age of 40 who are launching new automotive products, the SEMA Launch Pad supports young innovators and encourages future industry growth. This year’s finalists will pitch products that improve a vehicle owner’s safety, convenience and overall driving experience.

“We are excited to support to our young industry innovators by providing a platform to showcase their new ideas and products,” said Nathan Ridnouer, SEMA vice president of councils and membership. “This year’s finalists represent a diverse group of products. We continue to be amazed and inspired by the ingenuity, talent and skills that the younger generation possesses.”

The finalists who will compete and pitch their ideas to a panel of industry experts and leaders on Monday, November 2, in SEMA360 include:

• Justin Bradshaw, Director of REVER
  Product: Mobile App
  REVER is a mobile app and website for powersports enthusiasts to discover, track and share routes. The company has thousands of recommended roads for sports cars and off-highway users, as well as offline maps, turn-by-turn directions, friend tracker to view other people in your group in real-time, weather alerts and the first CarPlay compatible app of its kind for this specific audience.
• Khanjan Desai, Director of Alchemy
  Product: ExoShield
  ExoShield is a thin, transparent film that stops rock chips by increasing the impact resistance of the windshield by six. The advanced safety features in most modern cars use sensors that sit behind the windshield, which has driven up windshield replacement costs by three to five times, even for mid-level vehicles. ExoShield is powered by Alchemy’s proprietary nanocoatings, which allows it to be both impact and scratch resistant and prevents expensive windshield replacements for vehicle owners.
• Roland Hence, Director of FrontLane Inc.
  Product: Impulse – Emergency Brake Light
  The Impulse is a wireless, battery-powered emergency brake light that reduces rear-end collisions by pulsing eight ultra-bright LEDs under extreme braking situations to alert the following driver up to 50% quicker. Impulse can be installed on any passenger vehicle with a standard back windshield in seconds and has a four-year battery life.
• Matt Rafeld, Director of Beachcomber Offroad
  Product: Stowaway Door
  The Stowaway Door is designed for Jeep owners to enjoy door-free days without worrying about rain, cold or a little mud on the seats. When not in use, the soft-door folds to fit under the rear seat or anywhere you could store a small tent.
• Eric Rivera, Director of Dirt Dynamix
  Product: Truck Accessories
  Established August 2019, Dirt Dynamix designed and brought to market its Universal Truck Bed Mount—a simple and cost-effective way to offer shade via umbrella and/or mount any flag pole in the bed of any truck. Work, race or play—utilize your truck bed in any truck manner and one could benefit from this mount.

Industry professionals can watch as the five finalists compete on Monday, November 2, at 5:00 pm (PST) by registering for SEMA360. Taking place 100% online, SEMA360 is the industry’s new event that was created to fill the void of the in-person SEMA Show not happening this year in Las Vegas.

To learn more about the competition and finalists, visit www.sema.org/launchpad. To register for SEMA360 and watch the finalists compete, apply at www.sema360.com.

By Ashley Reyes

Justin Bradshaw	Khanjan Desai	Roland Hence
Matt Rafeld	Eric Rivera

After a public online vote, five young business owners and executives have been selected to compete in the final stage of the 2020 SEMA Launch Pad competition. They will now pitch their products and ideas to a panel of industry experts, who will select and announce a winner in SEMA360, Monday, November 2, at 5:00 p.m. (PST).

Available to business owners, executives and entrepreneurs under the age of 40 who are launching new automotive products, the SEMA Launch Pad supports young innovators and encourages future industry growth. This year’s finalists will pitch products that improve a vehicle owner’s safety, convenience and overall driving experience.

“We are excited to support to our young industry innovators by providing a platform to showcase their new ideas and products,” said Nathan Ridnouer, SEMA vice president of councils and membership. “This year’s finalists represent a diverse group of products. We continue to be amazed and inspired by the ingenuity, talent and skills that the younger generation possesses.”

The finalists who will compete and pitch their ideas to a panel of industry experts and leaders on Monday, November 2, in SEMA360 include:

• Justin Bradshaw, Director of REVER
  Product: Mobile App
  REVER is a mobile app and website for powersports enthusiasts to discover, track and share routes. The company has thousands of recommended roads for sports cars and off-highway users, as well as offline maps, turn-by-turn directions, friend tracker to view other people in your group in real-time, weather alerts and the first CarPlay compatible app of its kind for this specific audience.
• Khanjan Desai, Director of Alchemy
  Product: ExoShield
  ExoShield is a thin, transparent film that stops rock chips by increasing the impact resistance of the windshield by six. The advanced safety features in most modern cars use sensors that sit behind the windshield, which has driven up windshield replacement costs by three to five times, even for mid-level vehicles. ExoShield is powered by Alchemy’s proprietary nanocoatings, which allows it to be both impact and scratch resistant and prevents expensive windshield replacements for vehicle owners.
• Roland Hence, Director of FrontLane Inc.
  Product: Impulse – Emergency Brake Light
  The Impulse is a wireless, battery-powered emergency brake light that reduces rear-end collisions by pulsing eight ultra-bright LEDs under extreme braking situations to alert the following driver up to 50% quicker. Impulse can be installed on any passenger vehicle with a standard back windshield in seconds and has a four-year battery life.
• Matt Rafeld, Director of Beachcomber Offroad
  Product: Stowaway Door
  The Stowaway Door is designed for Jeep owners to enjoy door-free days without worrying about rain, cold or a little mud on the seats. When not in use, the soft-door folds to fit under the rear seat or anywhere you could store a small tent.
• Eric Rivera, Director of Dirt Dynamix
  Product: Truck Accessories
  Established August 2019, Dirt Dynamix designed and brought to market its Universal Truck Bed Mount—a simple and cost-effective way to offer shade via umbrella and/or mount any flag pole in the bed of any truck. Work, race or play—utilize your truck bed in any truck manner and one could benefit from this mount.

Industry professionals can watch as the five finalists compete on Monday, November 2, at 5:00 pm (PST) by registering for SEMA360. Taking place 100% online, SEMA360 is the industry’s new event that was created to fill the void of the in-person SEMA Show not happening this year in Las Vegas.

To learn more about the competition and finalists, visit www.sema.org/launchpad. To register for SEMA360 and watch the finalists compete, apply at www.sema360.com.

This is a prototype for the upcoming rugged Ford Explorer variant, the FX4.

The Explorer FX4 will follow in the footsteps of the Expedition FX4. The prototype sports camo on the front and rear fascias, though there are a few characteristics that are clearly visible. This includes a set of aggressive rubber with black wheels. Additionally, it would appear that the front and rear bumpers have better approach and departure angles. Meanwhile, plastic fender flares and lower bodyside molding offer some protection when the crossover hits the trails.

Expect an official debut by the first quarter of 2021.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

This is a prototype for the upcoming rugged Ford Explorer variant, the FX4.

The Explorer FX4 will follow in the footsteps of the Expedition FX4. The prototype sports camo on the front and rear fascias, though there are a few characteristics that are clearly visible. This includes a set of aggressive rubber with black wheels. Additionally, it would appear that the front and rear bumpers have better approach and departure angles. Meanwhile, plastic fender flares and lower bodyside molding offer some protection when the crossover hits the trails.

Expect an official debut by the first quarter of 2021.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

This is a prototype for the upcoming rugged Ford Explorer variant, the FX4.

The Explorer FX4 will follow in the footsteps of the Expedition FX4. The prototype sports camo on the front and rear fascias, though there are a few characteristics that are clearly visible. This includes a set of aggressive rubber with black wheels. Additionally, it would appear that the front and rear bumpers have better approach and departure angles. Meanwhile, plastic fender flares and lower bodyside molding offer some protection when the crossover hits the trails.

Expect an official debut by the first quarter of 2021.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

This is a prototype for the upcoming rugged Ford Explorer variant, the FX4.

The Explorer FX4 will follow in the footsteps of the Expedition FX4. The prototype sports camo on the front and rear fascias, though there are a few characteristics that are clearly visible. This includes a set of aggressive rubber with black wheels. Additionally, it would appear that the front and rear bumpers have better approach and departure angles. Meanwhile, plastic fender flares and lower bodyside molding offer some protection when the crossover hits the trails.

Expect an official debut by the first quarter of 2021.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

This is a prototype for the upcoming rugged Ford Explorer variant, the FX4.

The Explorer FX4 will follow in the footsteps of the Expedition FX4. The prototype sports camo on the front and rear fascias, though there are a few characteristics that are clearly visible. This includes a set of aggressive rubber with black wheels. Additionally, it would appear that the front and rear bumpers have better approach and departure angles. Meanwhile, plastic fender flares and lower bodyside molding offer some protection when the crossover hits the trails.

Expect an official debut by the first quarter of 2021.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Held as a virtual event, this meeting is the ideal opportunity for YEN members to network and make new connections with other young professionals in the industry at a time when travel and physical interactions may be limited. Attendees will learn new information about this year’s Launch Pad program and meet the top 5 finalists, as well as have an opportunity to participate in career development programs.  

Held as a virtual event, this meeting is the ideal opportunity for YEN members to network and make new connections with other young professionals in the industry at a time when travel and physical interactions may be limited. Attendees will learn new information about this year’s Launch Pad program and meet the top 5 finalists, as well as have an opportunity to participate in career development programs.  

By SEMA Editors

The Jessi Combs Foundation (JCF) plans to issue scholarships annually to women who want to pursue their dreams of a career in the trades, with the first round to be awarded later this year. Additionally, JCF will leverage its extensive network of industry contacts to help applicants and program graduates with the introductions designed to kick-start their first opportunity in the trades industry.

Just over a year ago, SEMA veteran and industry pioneer Jessi Combs established the new land-speed record as the World’s Fastest Woman, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, and passed into legend. Since that time, The Jessi Combs Foundation was formed and the board of directors have launched The Jessi Combs Foundation Scholarship program in her honor.

“From her early start at WYOTech to setting the record as the World’s Fastest Woman, Jessi accomplished so much and has been an inspiration to women (and men) around the world, including me.” said Adel Adams, board member for the Jessi Combs Foundation and events marketing manager at Warn Industries Inc.

The mission of The Jessi Combs Foundation is to “Educate, Inspire and Empower” the next generation of trailblazing and stereotype-breaking women. A guiding principle to this mission is a simple question “What Would Jessi Do?” The long-term vision for the Jessi Combs Foundation is to execute this mission via three pillars:

• Educate: Trades were important to Combs—the very vehicle that provided so many opportunities to her. JCF will distribute individual scholarships and in-kind partner donations to educational institutions and learning centers to continually be a driving force behind the next generation of women in trades. Additionally, JCF plans to support live event workshops that keep alive the one-on-one interactions that Combs loved so much.
• Inspire: This will come to life via in-house projects as the foundation looks to continually set new bars and use its voice to shine light and recognition on those whose achievements, talents and accomplishments inspire others.
• Empower: Grants and sponsorships will be the primary tools to support those women with a dream of achieving their own level of greatness, and that aligns with the barrier-smashing attitude Combs embodied.  

Those interested in applying for the Jessi Combs Foundation Scholarship Program can download the application form at www.thejessicombsfoundation.com. Women are encouraged to apply by September 30. Those interested in supporting the foundation or becoming a partner are encouraged to reach out via the contact section on the website. All donations raised will go to The Jessi Combs Foundation and will be used in compliance with the official purpose of the organization.