IdeaStorm Winners

IdeaStorm Spring 2021 Winners 

IdeaStorm is an entry level pitch competition across the University of Iowa’s campus that encourages students to share their innovative ideas with others, all while familiarizing themselves with the pitching process. Students submitted a 1-2 video describing the problem they see and how they plan to solve it.  A panel of judges reviewed these videos and selected the winners for each category.  Find the winners for each category below.

In addition to cash prizes awarded by the judges, the top ideas are eligible to win a People's Choice award. Take a look at the winners' videos below and vote for your favorite by clicking the link under each category! You may only vote once per category.

Health Initiatives Winners

Competition focuses on new solutions to healthcare problems. Ideas may focus on a variety of aspects of healthcare, including mental health, dentistry, pharmacy, patient experiences, health outcomes, medical devices, public health and more. Congratulations to the finalists!

1st Place, $500 | Smriti Barla (Business Analytics & Information Systems) | Watch Pitch 
Ride share for semi-emergent medical cases
2nd Place, $400 | Brandon Frey (Biomedical Engineering) | Watch Pitch 
Discreet patient waste draining solution
3rd Place, $350 | Erika Petersen (Music Therapy) | Watch Pitch 
Interactive website for student musicians to use as a resource to learn about their specific risks for hearing loss and preventative measures
4th Place, $250 | Lucinda Williamson (Biomedical Engineering) | Watch Pitch 
Adjustable fenders for children's wheelchairs
People's Choice | Brandon Frey (Biomedical Engineering)
Discreet patient waste draining solution

Creative Concepts Winners

Competition focuses on sharing new ideas within the world of art. Ideas may focus on a variety of creative mediums such as fine arts, fashion, music, history, literature and more. 

1st Place, $500 | Michael Noble (Graduate student, Intermedia & Sculpture) | Watch Pitch 
Modular organizer that fits on top of art carts
2nd Place, $400 | Aluna Olaniyi (Environmental Science) | Watch Pitch 
Recycling system for art materials
3rd Place, $350 | Katherine Westbrook (Communication Sciences and Disorders) | Watch Pitch 
Programmable wallpaper
4th Place, $250 | Michael Dankanich (BBA Economics) | Watch Pitch 
Platform that facilitates the generation, transfer, and management of audio NFT tokens and files for artists
People's Choice | Katherine Westbook (Communication Sciences and Disorders)
Programmable wallpaper

Common Good Winners

Competition focuses on making the world a better and more sustainable place. Ideas maybe connected to eco-friendly, sustainability, social justice, crisis management, natural disaster solutions, and much more.

1st Place (tie), $450 | Holli Farnum (Graphic Design) | Watch Pitch 
An app that translates sign language
1st Place (tie), $450 | Kristoff Poole | Watch Pitch 
Sign language app
2nd Place, $350 | Anika Dean (Graphic Design) | Watch Pitch 
Social justice fashion show
3rd Place, $250 | Kate Doolittle (Art and Informatics) | Watch Pitch 
Collect textile waste from around the community and turn into sustainable stuffing
People's Choice | Anika Dean (Graphic Design)
Social justice fashion show

Consumer Solutions Winners

Competition focuses on innovative solutions to everyday problems. The range for this competition is wide, and covers food products, household goods, living essentials, travel, technology and much more.

1st Place, $500 | Jennifer Mount (Biomedical Engineering) | Watch Pitch 
Standing spatula
2nd Place (tie), $350 | Mitch Baumgartner (Informatics) | Watch Pitch 
Ladder sling
2nd Place (tie), $350 | Paige Terronez (Art) | Watch Pitch 
Windshield scraper with built in heating pad
3rd Place, $300 | Josette VenHorst (Enterprise Leadership) | Watch Pitch 
Animal food vending machine
People's Choice | Jennifer Mount (Biomedical Engineering)
Standing spatula