Therapeutic sock company takes 1st prize in business-plan competition

SALT LAKE CITY — The maker of therapeutic socks took first place in the 2010-11 Opportunity Quest business plan competition for Westminster College's Institute for New Enterprise.

MBA student Jeff Bischoff won $5,000 for his business plan for Massox.

The socks, which are made with 95 percent bamboo fiber, have patent-pending therapeutic, acupressure massagers on the inside surface of the sock.

“I believe there is a huge market opportunity in the U.S. for my product,” Bischoff said in a press release. “After conducting market research, I believe that now is the right time to take advantage of the current trend in foot care products and sustainable materials.”

As Westminster’s first-place winner, Massox will automatically advance as a finalist in the Utah Entrepreneur Challenge, a statewide business-plan competition open to college students across the state. The first-place winner of the UEC will receive $40,000 to launch their company.