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the 27th annual innovative idea competition

Thanks to all who attended this year's Innovative Idea Competition. To view a recording of the event, click here.

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!

2024 Winners

  • Grand Prize: AI-Aware Writing Environment (AAWE), an LMS/Canvas Plugin - Megan Kane, College of Liberal Arts '24 and Stephen Malkowicz, College of Science and Technology '13
  • First Prize Upper Track: AI-Aware Writing Environment (AAWE), an LMS/Canvas Plugin - Megan Kane, College of Liberal Arts '24 and Stephen Malkowicz, College of Science & Technology '13
  • Second Prize Upper Track: Retiremates - Tyler Collins, Fox School of Business '25
  • First Prize Undergraduate Track: Sputnik - Karem Tawfik, College of Engineering '26 and Ahela Elshrkawy, College of Science & Technology '24
  • Second Prize Undergraduate Track: Cycle Smart - Raphael Swingley, Tyler School of Art + Architecture '25
  • People's Choice: Kick Score - Daniel Vega, Fox School of Business '25
  • Global Innovation Award: Sputnik - Karem Tawfik, College of Engineering '26 and Ahela Elshrkawy, College of Science & Technology '24
  • Blackstone General: AI-Aware Writing Environment (AAWE), an LMS/Canvas Plugin - Megan Kane, College of Liberal Arts '24 and Stephen Malkowicz, College of Science and Technology '13
  • Blackstone Health & Life Sciences: The Dynamo Stabilizer - Ramdhan Russell, Fox School of Business '26
  • Blackstone Consumer Products and Services: Sputnik - Karem Tawfik, College of Engineering '26 and Ahela Elshrkawy, College of Science & Technology '24
  • Blackstone Social and Climate Impact: Keep It Classy Creations - Shadiqua Smith-Spann, College of Public Health '27

Upper Track Finalists

  • CUBBY CURTAINS - Lisa Carey, Fox School of Business and Management ‘24
  • LMS/CANVAS PLUGIN: AI-AWARE WRITING ENVIRONMENT (AAWE) - Megan Kane, College of Liberal Arts '24
  • RETIREMATES - Tyler Collins, Fox School of Business and Management ‘25
  • SELLBUYME - Will Fraser, Fox School of Business and Management ‘17
  • SQZ - Anjali Sachdeva, Fox School of Business and Management ‘20

Undergraduate Track Finalists

  • CYCLE SMART - Raphael Swingley, Tyler School of Art + Architecture ‘25
  • KICK SCORE - Daniel Vega, Fox School of Business and Management ‘25
  • SMALL SCALE WIND TURBINE - Hossam Khattab, College of Engineering ‘26
  • SPUTNIK - Karem Tawfik, College of Engineering ‘26 and Ahela Elshrkawy, College of Science & Technology ‘24
  • STRIDON SOLUTIONS - Ramdhan Russell, Fox School of Business and Management ‘26

Past Winners

Check out the amazing winners from years past!

The Winners

Watch

Watch last year's Innovative Idea Competition

Watch

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, 2024.    

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, 2024.

Eligibility Guidelines

For full eligibility guidelines and rules, click here.

Eligibility Guidelines

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.

Are there restrictions on how the award money from the Idea Competition has to be used?

No.

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.

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How to Get Involved

Become A Competition Sponsor

Donate to the IEI Competition Fund to support Temple Owlpreneurs!

Become A Competition Sponsor

Become A Reviewer or Mentor

Join the IEI as a competition reviewer or mentor to a budding entrepreneur!

Become A Reviewer or Mentor

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Previous Winners

2024
AWARDPRIZE AMOUNTWINNER
Grand Prize$1,500AI-Aware Writing Environment (AAWE)
1st Place – Undergraduate Track$1,000Sputnik
2nd Place – Undergraduate Track$500Cycle Smart
1st Place – Upper Track$1,000AI-Aware Writing Environment (AAWE)
2nd Place – Upper Track$500Retiremates
Crowd Favorite$500Kick Score
Global Innovation Award$500Sputnik
Digital Innovation Award$1000AI-Aware Writing Environment (AAWE)
BSL's Social & Climate Impact Award$1000Keep It Classy Creations
BSL's Health & Life Science Award$1000The Dynamo Stabilizer
BSL's Consumer Product & Service Award$1000Sputnik
BSL's General Award$1000AI-Aware Writing Environment (AAWE)
2023 IIC Event Graphic
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