What participants say …

Hoopla Rack,
third place and $4,000,
2008 Schoofs Prize for Creativity;
third place and $700,
Tong Prototype Prize;
and Younkle Best Presentation Award

“Through the whole process, I actually began to see my design turn into a prototype, and now my prototype might actually become a patented reality. By the end, I was so happy that I had chosen to take a chance on myself and do something that brought my engineering and hooping life together.”

—Danielle McIntosh

Pen Smart,
$1,000 Judges’ Award for Special Merit,
2008 Schoofs Prize for Creativity

“I thought of this product two years ago—I wrote it down and kind of forgot about it for awhile. And I realized that if I didn’t do it, I’d always regret it, so I just decided to pursue it. The competition is a great outlet for anyone interested in innovation and development. The experience gives you the tools to develop the idea and the confidence to continue.”

—Daniel Gartenberg

Innovators in the news …
articles about past competitors

Freebind

Freebind: A binding system for snowboarders allowing for more freedom in positioning.

Freebind (large image)

"Building a prototype is a much different experience than say, working in a CAD program. For example, we realized that if we put rivets in places we had planned, we would not be able to rotate a certain part. We had a lot of trouble with the rivets. It is really rewarding to see that something you thought of is really possible to make. It made us realize that you can't just dream of something, you also have to know that it is possible to manufacture."
Jenny Mason

Innovators: Tom Bartlett, Tim Bartelt, Jenny Mason and Alex Salter