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

The Duo Winds

The Duo Winds: A multi-featured designer desk fan with built-in lamp and stationery holder.

DuoWinds (large image)

"Prototyping conveys a much clearer view of your intentions. First I had drawings and it didn't convey the design view that I had. It doesn't mean much until you build it and can touch it. I made a lot of modifications to the fan. There are a lot of things that seem easy at first but when you actually come to build it, it is a lot harder. My idea comes from living in a dorm. I can't take the cold weather and my roommate can. My bed is by the window and his is on the other side of the room. When I close the window, he will try to open it. So it occurred to me to create a fan that would customize my environment." — Ling Jun Wong

Innovator: Ling Jun Wong