A standing-room only crowd last night cheered and applauded dozens of aspiring entrepreneurs who presented their business ideas at the sixth annual statewide Elevator Pitch Contest before a panel of judges, who awarded top honors for an ambulance-based, emergency cooling system that will help improve the chance of survival for heart attack and stroke victims.

The event, sponsored by the Rhode Island Business Plan Competition, held at the Rhode Island Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, fielded 48 presenters, people who have never created a company as well as experienced entrepreneurs.