Put your creativeness to the test in this accessible-to-all innovation contest. Create and pitch a valuable, innovative or socially beneficial product or service using materials you can find in your room, home or apartment. Think like an entrepreneur and keep in mind the three elements of entrepreneurship: having an idea, taking action and creating value. To succeed in this challenge, you should test assumptions, seize opportunities and be creative. The contest is administered by the StartUp Learning Community at UW-Madison and is open to all currently enrolled UW-Madison students.
Sponsors: StartUp Learning Community, Wisconsin School of Business, and Innovate Network.
If you have any questions at any point, contact sari.judge@housing.wisc.edu.
2025 Winners
Most Potential Social Value
Most Potential Revenue Value
Most Creative
Past Winners
2024
- Most Potential Social Value: Loo-Minary
- Most Potential Revenue Value: Insta-Desk
- Most Creative: Strappy
2021
- Most Potential Social Value: Sleep Helmet
- Most Potential Revenue Value: Cleaner Enclosure
- Most Creative: Infrared Sticky Band
2018
- Most Potential Revenue Value: Smokelet
- Most Potential Social Value: Port Spring
- Most Creative: Talk to Me Teddy
2023
- Most Potential Social Value: UniReuse
- Most Potential Revenue Value: Gunk Guard
- Most Creative: Sip Count
2020
- Most Potential Social Value: Black Out Buddy
- Most Potential Revenue Value: Safety Water Bottle
- Most Creative: Party Piñata
2017
- Most Potential Revenue Value: Safe Bracelet
- Most Potential Social Value: Portable Refugee Tent
- Most Creative: The Hot Seat
2022
- Most Potential Social Value: Space HX
- Most Potential Revenue Value: Learning Box
- Most Creative: WorkBuddy
2019
- Most Potential Revenue Value: HydroSpine
- Most Potential Social Value: Sustainable Parking Garage
- Most Creative: Solar Buzz Pop Socket