Heat 2 Optimize (H2O), a team of Boise State University MBA students, bested teams from Germany, France and China to win the Benchmark Capital Challenge at the 2009 Global Moot Corp Business Plan Competition earlier this month in Austin, Texas. Boise State’s team was one of only 38 teams from around the world to compete.

The team, led by David Rush, worked with Boise inventor Dale Kramer to develop an innovative energy-saving electric water heater that allows utility companies to shift electricity consumption to off-peak periods.

H2O placed third in the preliminary round of the 2009 Global Moot Corp Business Plan Competition losing out to a team that went on to the final round. Rush’s team was honored with the Benchmark Capital Challenge award and $1,000 in prize money. Congratulations to all.