Two student teams tie for first in S&T’s Startup Challenge
Posted by Kaitlin Brothers
Two student teams tied for first at S&T’s Startup Challenge on Nov. 17. This first-place team’s business idea was called “Geo-Kinetic Solutions.” From left: Rachel Kohman, assistant dean of entrepreneurship education; Mohammed Sleiman a Ph.D. candidate in electrical engineering; Hussam Naif S. Altalhi, a Ph.D. candidate in mining engineering; and Annie Birt, senior experiential learning specialist of Career Opportunities and Employer Relations (COER).
For the first time, two student teams were the winners at Missouri S&T’s Startup Challenge on Nov. 17, splitting the scholarship prizes.
Sponsored by Kummer Student Programs and Career Opportunities and Employer Relations, this challenge gives students a chance to present a business concept to a panel of judges with entrepreneurial experience.
Winning teams
First place
Team “M” received first place and the $4,000 scholarship prize for their business idea called “MicroHues: Sustainable Micro Algae Water-based Paints,” which would turn microalgae and cyanobacteria into bright, natural pigments that could replace acrylic paints in a more sustainable way.
Team members are:
- Adrianna Sasser, a senior in biological sciences
- Karley Butts, a junior in biological sciences
First place
Team “Q” also received first place and the $4,000 scholarship prize for their business idea called “Geo-Kinetic Solutions,” which is a map that would convert mine liabilities into assets.
Team members are:
- Mohammed Sleiman, a Ph.D. candidate in electrical engineering and Kummer I&E Doctoral Fellow
- Hussam Naif S. Altalhi, a Ph.D. candidate in mining engineering
Third place
Team “N” took third place and the $1,000 scholarship prize with their business idea called “LiDNest, Your Baby’s Contactless Breathing Guardian.” The concept uses a 3D scanner and AI to monitor a baby’s chest movement and translate it into real-time breathing data without any physical contact.
Team members are:
- Omar Rinchi, a Ph.D. candidate in computer engineering
- Nawfal Guefrachi, a Ph.D. candidate in computer engineering
Thanks to our judges
Students worked closely with experienced judges as they prepared their pitches, including:
- Dr. Shenda Baker, principal at Inari Advisors LLC and CEO of Precision Carbon Technologies
- Dr. Christine Karslake, associate vice chancellor of innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialization at Missouri S&T
- Dr. Peter Hofherr, CEO of St. James Winery
- Paras Bhardwaj, owner of The UPS Store in Rolla
- Dr. Daniel Plate, professor of English and AI researcher at Lindenwood University.
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