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: e-fest@eix.org

(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