The Innovative Idea Competition encourages the generation of innovative new products, services, and technologies from all 17 schools and colleges within Temple University which can become the foundation for new businesses. This event is powered by the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute and is open to all Temple University students, alumni, faculty, and staff and offers $10,000+ in cash prize packages!
Submission Resources
26th Annual Innovative Idea Competition Submission Guidelines: there are six primary sections you must include in your submission, in addition to some general information on your venture and team. The reviewers and final judges will look to see how well you have addressed the sub-questions included for each section.
Eligibility & Rubric
The Innovative Idea is open to Temple University undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, faculty, and staff from all 17 schools and colleges within the University.
Participants are encouraged to work in teams but may also enter as a solopreneur. The designated team leader must be a Temple University degree candidate (undergraduate or graduate), alumni, faculty, or staff, and the designated team leader must be part of the founding team.
Submissions may include a new or an existing idea/business, but companies submitting to the Innovative Idea Competition must be less than two years old as of September 1, 2023.
Existing businesses must be less than two years old; have gross sales less than $25,000; and have raised less than $5,000, including institutional funding from any accelerator programs, angel investors, venture groups, VCs, pitch competitions, foundations, or grants, as of September 1, 2023.
What do I need to do?
Review the submission questions and explain your idea and elevator pitch using the StartupTree submission portal.
Who is eligible to compete?
Undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, and faculty/staff* Temple University’s 17 schools and colleges are all eligible and strongly encouraged to participate.
*Faculty/staff who advise student ideas are ineligible to compete. The selection committee reserves the right to determine when a conflict of interest exists.
Can non-profit company ideas participate in the Innovative Idea Competition?
For the Innovative Idea Competition, non-profit ideas are eligible; however, for the Be Your Own Boss Bowl® in the spring, non-profit companies are not eligible to participate.
Are there additional eligibility requirements?
Yes! Your idea must have earned less than $5,000 in competitions or raised less than $25,000 in capital.
What mentoring benefits are available?
The Innovative Idea Competition is filled with mentorship opportunities - meet with our Entrepreneurial Student Association (ESA) for peer mentoring sessions or find specialized mentors by signing up for StartupTree, to meet with the dozens of mentors from various industries and fields. To find a mentor, discover our list of mentors by clicking HERE!
How can I be assured that my idea is safe?
The Innovative Idea Competition honors the confidentiality of all participants’ concepts. Submissions will not be released or copied for any purposes other than use in the Innovative Idea Competition. The judges also recognize the sensitivity of the materials being presented. Moreover, all participants, reviewers, judges, and committee members are informed that the following is prohibited: Utilizing for commercial gain any material provided to Temple University specifically and restrictively for educational purposes without prior permission of the provider. As members of the Innovative Idea Competition, all participants, judges, and committee members should consider themselves bound by this code.
Any data or information discussed or divulged in public sessions by entrants should be considered information that could possibly enter the public realm, and entrants should not assume any right of confidentiality in any data or information discussed, divulged, or presented in these sessions.
Events & Workshops
The Innovative Idea Competition encourages the generation of innovative new products, services, and technologies from all 17 schools and colleges within Temple University which can become the foundation for new businesses. This event is powered by the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute and the Blackstone Launchpad - and is open to all Temple University students, alumni, faculty, and staff and offers $10,000+ in prizes and awards for the top finalists!
No previous entrepreneurial experience is necessary to attend the workshops —just come with a desire to learn and a passion for creativity and innovative thinking! You do not have to enter the competitions hosted by the IEI+ Blackstone to participate in any of the workshops or events hosted by the IEI+ Blackstone!
Thank you to our current sponsors of the 26th annual Innovative Idea Competition!
$1,000 Digital Innovation Award – Sponsored by the Digital Innovation Foundry at Temple University.
- Digital – The idea must apply technology in an interesting and/or novel manner
- Problem – The idea must solve a real business or societal problem.
- Practical –The idea must be practically doable given current technology, context, and resources.
$500 Global Innovation Award – presented by the Temple University Center for International Business Education and Research
- Global – world-wide reach with their product or service and make a global impact
- Innovation – new product or service with plans for exporting out of or importing into the U.S.
$500 People’s Choice Award – Presented by the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute and voted on by the live-viewing audience!
Previous Winners
2022
| AWARD | PRIZE AMOUNT | WINNER |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Prize | $1,500 | Accessum LLC Aroonsiri Howell, FOX ’25 |
| 1st Place – Undergraduate Track | $1,000 | VRCoach James Owen, TYL ’23 |
| 2nd Place – Undergraduate Track | $500 | Career Experience Whitney Constable, STH ’24 |
| 1st Place – Upper Track | $1,000 | Kuaay Yousif Memon, CST ’17 |
| 2nd Place – Upper Track | $500 | Flare Afua Mensah, FOX ’18 |
| Global Innovation | $500 | Flare Afua Mensah, FOX ’18 |
| Digital Innovation | $1,000 | Career Experience Whitney Constable, STH ’24 |
| Crowd Favorite | $500 | VRCoach James Owen, TYL ’23 |
2021
| AWARD | PRIZE AMOUNT | WINNER |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Prize | $1,500 | Ethan Berg Fox School of Business ‘20 |
| 1st Place – Undergraduate Track | $1,000 | Moo Solutions Noah Montierth College of Engineering ‘22 |
| 2nd Place – Undergraduate Track | $500 | Avi I.T. Avi Knotts College of Science & Technology ‘25 |
| 1st Place – Upper Track | $1,000 | Rally Max Reiff Beasley School of Law ‘21 |
| 2nd Place – Upper Track | $500 | Ace Club Opeyemi Oyekanmi Fox School of Business ‘04 |
| Global Innovation | $500 | Moo Solutions Rally |
| Digital Innovation | $1,000 | Agora World LogicCxt |
| Crowd Favorite | $500 | PetBox Ghena Alkhalaf Fox School of Business ’22 |
2020
GRAND PRIZE
Healthy RFP
Eric Friedman – College of Science and Technology
Jon Vogel – Drexel University
Garrett Gillin – Drexel University
Colin Sholes – Beloit College
Upper Track
First Place: ArtFlip
Jona Shreeves-Taylor – Fox School of Business
Second Place: My Relief Wear, LLC
Mary McElya – School of Theater, Film, and Media Arts
Undergraduate Track
First Place
Indicative Absorbing Bandaid (IAB)
Angeli Sen – College of Engineering
Vendant Patel – College of Engineering
Marko Stankovic – College of Engineering
Michael Kyae Appiagyei – College of Engineering
Second Place
Koi Charging LLC
Daniel Cantando – Fox School of Business
Eric Yu – Fox School of Business
Crowd Favorite Award
Sanitime
Chloe Gehret – College of Science and Technology
Allyson Yu – College of Science and Technology, Tyler School of Art + Architecture
Global Innovation Prize
My Relief Wear, LLC
Mary McElya – School of Theater, Film, and Media Arts
2019
GRAND PRIZE
The Vegan Leather Co.
Zimri Hinshaw – College of Liberal Arts ’21
Upper Track
First Place: NeckUp
Nikita Patel – Fox School of Business ’20
Second Place: VacayAbility
Natasha Graves – Fox School of Business ’18
Undergraduate Track
First Place: Recibo
Elliott Fix – College of Engineering ‘20
Second Place: Gively
Adam Gasiewski – College of Science and Technology ‘21
2019 Global Innovation Winner
Versa
Gabriel Marte – College of Public Health ‘19
People’s Choice Winner
First Place: Dr. Pod
Kavya Sreeram – College of Engineering ‘20
Second Place: Gively
Adam Gasiewski – College of Science and Technology ‘21
2018
Grand Prize
PureTrip by Salman Alotaibi, College of Engineering ‘19
Global Innovation Prize
Athlete Crush by Thilo Kunkel, School of Sport, Tourism, & Hospitality Management
Upper Track:
1st Place:Invest Out by Tyrone Glover, Fox School of Business & Management ‘96
2nd Place: Miranda by Nikolas Revmatas, Fox School of Business & Management ‘19
Undergraduate Track
1st Place: Mouse Motel by Paul Gehret, College of Engineering ‘19
2nd Place: Mailroom by Rahul Nimmagadda, Fox School of Business & Management ‘19
Crowd Favorite
1st Place: PureTrip by Salman Alotaibi, College of Engineering ‘19
2nd Place: Mailroom by Rahul Nimmagadda, Fox School of Business & Management ‘19
2017
GRAND PRIZE WINNER
Biomaterix, Emily Kight, College of Engineering ’18
Global Innovation Prize
Biomaterix, Emily Kight, College of Engineering ’18
Undergraduate Track
1st Place: C.A.L.M., Daniel Couser, Fox School of Business and Management ’18
2nd Place: VibraSoft, Kyle Jezler, College of Engineering ’19
Upper Track
1st Place: Immersive Therapy, Keith Regan, Fox School of Business and Management Alumni
2nd Place: QuickReCon, Alexander Garaschenko, Fox School of Business and Management Alumni
Crowd Favorite
1st Place: My Student Quarters, Jessica Rehrig, College of Liberal Arts Alumni
2nd Place: The Atheroprobe, Laura Navarro, College of Science and Technology ’21
2016
Grand Prize $2,500
Pinpointer, Nigel Satenstein
1st Place Graduate, Faculty, Staff or Alumni $1,000
SensiFoam, Conor Vickers
2nd Place Graduate, Faculty, Staff or Alumni $500
Wearable Balance Device, Peter Agada
1st Place Undergraduate $1,000
Regenerative Suspension System. Christopher Ricci
2nd Place Undergraduate $500
Prohibere, Emily Kight
1st Place People’s Choice – Crowd Voted $1,000
Pinpointer, Nigel Satenstein
2nd Place People’s Choice – Crowd Voted $500
Oscar the Grouch Matt McCormick
Global Innovation Prize $500
Pinpointer, Nigel Satenstein
2015
Grand Prize Award
Quick Stabilizing Carbon Stephen Peduto
Global Award
Pound Cake Camille Bell
1st Place, Undergraduate
Seed Dyes Tyler Stoltzfus
1st Place People’s Choice Award
1st Place, Graduate Ka Bom Designs Olawunmi Thomas-Quarcoo
2nd Place, Graduate
Myjé Severine Bandou
2nd Place People’s Choice Award 2nd Place, Undergraduate
Self-Stabilizing Gloves Sabrina Zouaghi
2014
Anne Nelson Grand Prize
Lia-Pregnancy Test Redesign Bethany Edwards, School of Media and Communications, 2006
1st Place, Graduate Faculty, Staff or Alumni
Roar for Good Yasmine Mustafa, Fox School of Business, 2006
2nd Place, Graduate Faculty, Staff or Alumni
Heart Upbeat! Cecilia Scimia, School of Medicine, Faculty
1st Place, UndergraduateSnow Dissolving Light Post Bradley Blosser, Fox School of Business
2nd Place ,Undergraduate
Bouyant Pile Sean Webster, College of Engineering
1st Place, People’s Choice Award
Roar for Good Yasmine Mustafa, Fox School of Business, 2006
2nd Place, People’s Choice Award
Lia-Pregnancy Test Redesign Bethany Edwards, School of Media and Communications, 2006
2013
Futura mHealth Award
GrassRoots Nicholas Horn, Fox School of Business
Retail & People’s Choice Award
Hook Kahn (Karen) Louise Miller, CHPSW
MADV Grand Prize Award
Genie Player Zhewei Zhang, Fox School of Business
PAC Strapping Award
Screw Up Michael Haley, Fox School of Business
ED Kane Award
City Brella Meng Hsuan Tsai, Fox School of Business
Joseph Weiss Award
WebTV Joe Doyle, Fox School of Business
Nancy & Bill Baxter Award
Greener Greens Michael Ward, Science & Technology
