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Innovation Challenge

Ready to make an impact and take your ideas to the next level? Participate in our Innovation Challenge Competition! Participating in innovation competitions cultivates creativity, fosters collaboration, and offers a platform to turn visionary concepts into tangible realities. You’ll gain hands-on experience in problem-solving, project development, and teamwork—all essential skills for future success.

Innovation to me, is doing something different. It’s looking at a problem and solving it with a different set of tools. That’s why it’s an interdisciplinary sport. You need programs like these to use different muscles.

David Slump, Chief Executive Officer Marelli, ’91 Iowa State Alum

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Innovation Challenge Competition

The Innovation Challenge Competition is your pathway into our Innovation Incubator program, which provides both seed funding and year-round support to develop your idea. Winning teams will be selected to join the incubator and receive up to a $5,000 share of $15,000 in available funding through two initiatives: the Student Innovation Fund Challenge (supported by David and Christine Slump) and the Energy Storage Solution Fund Challenge (supported by Charles Saleh). Team members also receive $500 scholarships ($250/semester) to support their participation in the program.

Who Can Apply?

  • Current Iowa State undergraduate students (full-time or part-time)
  • Teams of 2-5 members
  • Must include students from at least 2 different Iowa State colleges
  • At least one non-graduating member for project continuity

As part of the Innovation Incubator, your team will develop your idea from initial concept through to a minimum viable prototype (MVP/MVX) for your product, service, or program. You’ll get year-round access to Student Innovation Center resources and support as well as valuable connections with industry and university advisors who will guide your progress throughout the academic year.

Note: Graduate research work and existing start-ups are not eligible for this competition.

The Innovation Challenge invites you on a creative journey to create excellent solutions to interesting problems. The challenge includes a series of Innovation Workshops designed to spark your imagination, foster teamwork, and guide the development of compelling project proposals.

Following these workshops, teams will prepare Application Submissions including a project proposal and a 90-second video pitch. Upon review, finalist teams will be announced and proceed to refine their presentation skills through a dedicated workshop, leading up to their final presentations.

Your hard work culminates in the Finalist Presentations where finalist teams present their innovative solutions to a global panel of judges, with the victors celebrated at the IGNITE Awards Ceremony. Winning teams will be awarded admission to the Innovation Challenge Incubator and funding to continue working on their project.

Innovation Workshops (Multiple Sessions)

  • Series includes: Idea Jam, Start Something, Applied AI Challenge, Innovation Challenge Application Workshop
  • See Programs and Events calendar for specific dates

Application Deadline: Monday, April 6

  • Submit project proposal
  • 90-second video pitch
  • Optional pitch slideshow

Program Selection

  • Finalist Announcement: Monday, April 14
  • Finalist Workshop: April 21-25
  • Final Presentations: Wednesday, May 7
  • IGNITE Awards Ceremony: Thursday, May 8

Innovation Incubator Program (Next Academic Year)

  • Selected teams join the incubator program
  • Receive development funding
  • Work with mentors to develop and test solutions
  • Access to Student Innovation Center resources

The Innovation Challenge promotes early-stage innovation as opposed to a business start-up and commercialization. Ideally, funded projects will result in a “minimum viable prototype” (MVP/MVX) for a product, service, or program. Award winners will go on to demonstrate the feasibility of their potential solutions and have a full year to test and validate their potential solutions through their involvement in the Innovation Challenge Incubator.

As you prepare your submission, make sure to clearly cover these five key areas: problem, solution, social impact, development plan, and team. Our judges will assess these criteria to select Innovation Challenge finalists and competition winners. We’re excited to see how your project stands out and makes a difference!

  1. Problem: What problem are you solving, and how does it relate to the competition themes?
  2. Solution: How does your solution work? What makes it innovative?
  3. Social Impact: How will your solution make a meaningful, positive difference in the world?
  4. Development Plan: What are your next steps to develop your solution and create a minimum viable prototype or experience (MVP/MVX)?
  5. Team: What skills does your team have to make this project a success?

Fill out the following Submission form for the first round of judging. Applications will close Monday, April 6, 2025.

David Slump’s Insights on the Innovation Fund Challenge

Video Poster