Georgia State Team is e-Fest 2019 Grand Prize Winner
To learn more about eFest, EIX's competition for undergraduate business ideas, click here.
MINNEAPOLIS, April 14, 2019 -- We are very pleased to announce the results of our 2019 Schulze Entrepreneurship Challenge:
#1 Team DelivHer (Georgia State University)
These team founders call their invention the "first significant innovation in feminine hygiene products in 80 years". They're bringing to market a patented product created by women for women. Their company is also launching a monthly subscription service of feminine products that can be customized for individual women's needs. Prize: $75,000
Team: Chante Knox, Dia Davis
Advisor: Isabelle Monlouis
#2 Team SMARTwheel (University of New Hampshire)
This team tackled the issue of distracted driving with a patented "smart" steering wheel. In addition to providing a warning when distracted driving is happening, a connected app helps drivers understand and improve driving habits and attention. Prize: $40,000
Team: TJ Evarts, Jaiden Evarts
Advisor: Ian Grant
#3 Team Vascugenix (University of Arkansas)
This team has collaborated with medical and health care experts to bring to market a patented and FDA-approved medical device that helps surgeons perform arterial catheterization with one hand instead of two hands. Having a free hand helps surgeons maneuver with greater speed and accuracy. Prize: $20,000
Team: Abigail Resendiz, Noah Asher, Zachary Cochran
Advisor: Martial Trigeaud
#4 Team SoulMuch (San Diego State University)
Food waste is a growing concern, and this team has created a process for reclaiming unused, cooked grains from restaurants and food service providers and turning it into flour for the "SoulMuch" line of cookies and baked goods. Prize: $15,000
Team: Reyanne Mustafa, Dakota Ruiz
Advisor: Corey Polant
#5 Team U-Wash (US Airforce Academy)
Some students don't have time (or interest!) in keeping up with laundry chores. This team created an app and service platform for saving time with laundry. Students can deposit laundry into a secured locker, and a network of people using the app can earn money doing batches of laundry. Prize: $10,000
Team: Ryan McKenna, Joseph Johnson, Jack Smith, Caleb Stuffle, Sean McGinty
Advisor: Robert Evert
In addition to our top five teams, eFest 2019 recognized two teams with outstanding potential for Social Impact and/or Global Impact.
Social Impact
Team Living Waters (Rutgers University)
The world's first personal and portable system for rainwater collection and redirection. Prize: $10,000
Team: Joshua Kao, Joseph Bajor
Advisor: Laura Fabris
Global Impact
Team Dr. Brinsley (Northeastern University)
A stylish, medically validated and high- quality constructed shoe for diabetics. Prize: $10,000
Team: Vidhan Bhaiya, Danny Jooyoung Kim
Advisor: Kimberly Eddleston
Pitch Slam!
#1 Team DelivHer (Georgia State University)
#2 Team SoulMuch (San Diego State University)
#3 Team Blexx (University of Wisconsin - Madison)
Finalist Place Winners
Group 1
#2 Team Plyo (University of Minnesota - Twin Cities)
#3 Team SnapDuct (University of Western Michigan)
Group 2
#2 Team Dr. Brinsley (Northeastern University)
#3 Team Living Waters Systems (Rutgers University)
Group 3
#2 Team Blexx Technology (University of Wisconsin - Madison)
#3 Team Lumastic (University of Virginia)
Group 4
#2 Team Crowd Play (Quinnipiac University)
#3 Team Iconic EDU (University of West Virginia)
Group 5
#2 Team Flashtract (Auburn University)
#3 Team Yad (Babson College)
Top 25 Finalists Announcement
MINNEAPOLIS, March 15, 2019 -- Nearly two dozen entrepreneurship judges had three weeks and a mission this year: Review over one hundred video pitch submissions and slide decks and determine the 25 teams to invite to the Schulze School of Entrepreneurship in Minneapolis for the April 11th-13th live competition finals and championship round of e-Fest 2019 and the Schulze Entrepreneurship Challenge.
The main goal of this elite entrepreneurship event, open to undergraduate students in North America and with $250,000 in cash prizes available, includes recognizing compelling student ideas for products, services, and ventures but moreso aims to encourage student learning and networking around using entrepreneurial thinking and methods to create, validate, and communicate about solutions to problems. As LinkedIn co-founder Konstantin Geuricke mentioned in his EIX.org article, ideas may come and go but the ability for entrepreneurs to form a team, build a plan together, and execute on it is a skill that "dramatically increases the odds of success in the long-term".
According to the judges, e-Fest this year saw a "very strong field" of entries and student entrepreneurs who really "put it out there". The e-Fest competition has nine judging criteria, which serve as a comprehensive measure or checklist for preparing to bring an idea to the market. One of the key questions about a new venture is, who will the customers be and how/why will they pay for your offering? A vast majority of the teams performed well in several of the criteria, while teams that achieved consistent high scores across all the criteria were more likely to receive the Top 25 Finalist invitation. All teams receive analytics about their performance, so as to keep improving on their entrepreneurial journeys.
Recognizing Social & Global Impact
In addition to crowning a new e-Fest champion in 2019, special recognition will be given to two teams with outstanding potential for Social Impact and/or Global Impact. $10,000 will be awarded to one team in each category:
Social Impact Award Candidates: DelivHer, Dr. Brinsley, Iconic EDU, Invictis Technologies, LiveGreen, LivingWaters Systems, Lumastic, Plyo, SOULMUCH, The Dot, Yad, YouBelong
Global Impact Award Candidates: DelivHer, Dr. Brinsley, Invictis Technologies, LiveGreen, LivingWaters Systems, Scrap-It!, SOULMUCH, YouBelong
2019 e-Fest Finalist Teams
NOTE: More videos are coming online soon, please revisit as we update this page!
Inquiries: [email protected]
(Teams appear in alphabetical order. There may be some team member / advisor substitutions.)
Accugentix | Florida Gulf Coast University
A safer and more accurate way to measure and dispense small-dose MC oil medications for oral ingestion.
Team: Alainah Hacker, Alex Popoff
Advisor: Sandra Kauanui
Blexx Technology | University of Wisconsin - Madison
A safer and more effective way to manage and dispose of discarded hypodermic needles.
Team: Erin Tenderholt, Jessica Reigh
Advisor: Dan Olszewski
CrowdPlay | Quinnipiac University
A mobile application centered on increasing fan engagement at stadiums during live events.
Team: Andrew Pizzi, Dan Picone
Advisor: Dale Jasinski
DelivHer | Georgia State University
A proprietary absorbent product and monthly subscription service for women's hygiene needs.
Team: Chante Knox, Tatiana Harrison
Advisor: Isabelle Monlouis
Dr. Brinsley | Northeastern University
A stylish, medically validated and high quality-constructed shoe for diabetics.
Team: Vidhan Bhaiya, Jooyoung Kim
Advisor: Kimberly Eddleston
Flashtract | Auburn University
An online business solution for managing invoicing and payment management for construction.
Team: Garrett Raab, Terran Ray , Ben Conry
Advisor: Lakami Baker
Hich, Inc. | James Madison University
A ride sharing app and platform targeted at students and getting around their campuses and communities.
Team: Zach Casey, Trey Rustand, Austin Dickerson, Josiah McClements, Justin Bayless
Advisor: Patrick McQuown
Iconic EDU | West Virginia University
An education technology company that brings modern technologies to classrooms across the country for no cost.
Team: James Carnes, Kyle Gillis, Robert Simmons, Coleton Tasker
Advisor: Daniel Germain
Invictis Technologies | Princeton University
An automatic intravenous injection device for medications that replaces manual needle injections.
Team: Miles Cole, Xerxes Libsch
Advisor: Craig Arnold
LiveGreen | University of Florida
A personal carbon emission tracker and offsetting app that also contributes to reforestation projects.
Team: Pablo Garces, Brian De Souza
Advisor: Nola Miyasaki
LivingWaters Systems | Rutgers University
World's first personal and portable system for rainwater collection and redirection.
Team: Joshua Kao, Joseph Bajor
Advisor: Laura Fabris
Lumastic | University of Virginia
An open platform connecting online content creators with knowledge-seekers.
Team: Drew Lytle, Michelle Lovering
Advisor: Alex Zorychta
Plyo | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
A loyalty app and platform that rewards students for exercising on campus by offering deals on their favorite things.
Team: Peter Schultze, Tiegen Brickson
Advisor: John Stavig
QuickTech Medical | Virginia Tech
A digital, 3D sensor solution (goniometer) for measuring joint movement in therapy centers.
Team: Glenn Feit, Gregory Grande, Jacob Merizian
Advisor: David Townsend
Scrap-It! | Farmingdale State College
An app and network for requesting pickup and hauling of junk and recyclables.
Team: Orville Davis, Cynthia Sainteus-Davis, Shamika Earle, Shannon Williams
Advisor: Jing Betty Feng
SMARTwheel Inc. | University of New Hampshire
The first intelligent steering wheel that helps prevent distracted driving.
Team: TJ Evarts, Jaiden Evarts
Advisor: Ian Grant
SnapDuct | Western Michigan University
An innovative connector and solution for ductwork in residential and commercial construction.
Team: Brennan Vaughn, Danny Rogers
Advisor: Lara Hobson
SOULMUCH | San Diego State University
A process for recollecting unused grains from restaurants and food service and turning it into quality food products.
Team: Reyanne Mustafa, Kristian Krugman, Dakota Ruiz, Lexi Oplinger, Jordan Lee
Advisor: Alex DeNoble
Swatched | Western Kentucky University
A small, portable kit containing one full use of a day's worth of makeup.
Team: Allie McCreery, Kyla Ball
Advisor: Pedro Tonhozi de Oliveira
The Dot | Susquehanna University
An e-commerce brand and customizable subscription for feminine-hygiene products with a buy-one-give-one model.
Team: Courtney Young, Hannah Witt, Tara Montis , Ali Hordeski
Advisor: Emma Fleck
U-TREKS | Seton Hill University
A dependable safety tool that enhances the traction of footware on inconsistent and dangerous terrain.
Team: Rachael Bowers, Taryn Six, Randi Selbekk, Elizabeth Engel
Advisor: Lyzona Marshall
U-Wash | US Airforce Academy
An app and platform for saving time with laundry chores and making money doing people's laundry.
Team: Ryan McKenna, Joseph Johnson, Jack Smith, Caleb Stuffle, Sean McGinty
Advisor: Robert Evert
Vascugenix | University of Arkansas - Little Rock
A patented medical device helping surgeons perform arterial catheterization with one hand and greater speed and accuracy.
Team: Abigail Resendiz, Noah Asher, Zachary Cochran, Anna Helm
Advisor: Martial Trigeaud
Yad | Babson College
A platform for people with intellectual disabilities to discover and share their artistic talents.
Team: Deborah Cohen, Taylor Leng
Advisor:Debra Thompson
youBelong | Florida Gulf Coast University
A safe and positive social network for people with special needs and their families.
Team: John Ciocca, Jonathan Schaffer
Advisor: Sandra Kauanui
Additional Search Terms: e-Fest, student innovation, business plan competition, student inventors
