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Arizona Inventor Wins 10 Million Yahoo! Ads

StairCycle Innovations selected as the winner of the "Think Big" contest by Sir Richard Branson and Yahoo! Search Marketing

On a Times Square sidewalk in front of the giant NASDAQ message board and a gathering of onlookers, Sir Richard Branson, Chairman and founder of the Virgin Group of companies, announced on June 23 that the grand prize winner of the Yahoo! Search Marketing "Think Big" contest was StairCycle™ Innovations of Phoenix, Arizona.

Nearly 8,000 companies had submitted their essay entries into the month-long contest, in hopes of winning the unprecedented prize of 10 million ads on the Yahoo! network. In the end, Branson, the official contest judge, tapped Staircycle and its co-founder Craig Ridenhour based on its innovative product, strong business plan and proven ability to "think big."

StairCycle offers a first-of-its kind cycle that combines the benefits of stair-step exercise systems and a recreational bicycle. "I was impressed by the entries we received, many describing truly innovative products and sound business practices," said Branson during the New York City announcement. "At the end of the day, it was StairCycle Innovations and Craig Ridenhour who caught my attention for their inventive product and entrepreneurial spirit. It's obvious that Craig has been thinking big for quite some time, and I am eager to watch StairCycle Innovations reach great success."

Staircycle Innovations' CEO Ridenhour, who is also a cardiovascular ultrasound specialist, spent the rest of his day in New York working out of a glass "office" in Times Square, complete with computer, Internet connection and working telephone. "I spent seven years developing the StairCycle to offer people a new and fun way to stay fit, but never had the resources to effectively market it," Ridenhour said during the day's events. "Having the support of Sir Richard Branson and Yahoo!'s team of experts is a dream come true for me. They've really helped me learn how to use online advertising and search marketing to take my business into the big time."

Ridenhour has also been granted his own Yahoo! Search Marketing advisory team, which is guiding him as he creates his specially customized, targeted online advertising campaigns. "We look forward to helping StairCycle Innovations build brand and category awareness by reaching a vast consumer audience with its story, all the while taking its sales to the next level," said Ted Meisel, president of Yahoo! Search Marketing.

The StairCycle
The StairCycle combines the benefits of advanced stair-step exercise systems and a recreational bicycle. With a patented design, the Staircycle comes in adult and children sizes, and can be used indoors or outdoors. The footboards (similar to pedals) move smoothly with complete independence, and each footboard can be pumped independently or depressed fully for comfortable coasting. Designed for anatomically correct exercise posture, the rider experiences no uncomfortable neck, back, wrist or pelvic pain that sometimes occurs with traditional bicycles. To learn more about this product, visit http://www.staircycle.com.