A student from the Georgia Institute of Technology on Tuesday took home a $15,000 prize and first-place honors as the inaugural winner of the University System of Georgia’s (USG) Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition. The student, Akos Vida, pitched AdaptaPlay, a modular gaming controller add-on for people with disabilities.

Second place and $7,500 were awarded to SueAnn Hollowell, a student from Kennesaw State University, for their idea for a patented commercial body art printer that allows fans to print custom sports designs on their skin in seconds. Danielle Gibson of Gordon State College earned third place and $2,500 for an idea to develop accessible kits that allow farriers to electroplate horseshoes with copper to protect against bacterial invasion and prevent degradation of the hoof capsule.

A panel of judges honored three runners-up for their innovative ideas: Georgia Southwestern State University, Georgia Southern University and Georgia College & State University.

“Innovation isn’t just a concept, it’s part of our responsibility,” USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. “As one of this nation’s top public university systems, our job is to prepare students not just for today’s careers, but for future prosperity. This competition showcases the incredible talent across our campuses and the bold thinking that keeps the state moving forward. Our graduates don’t just fill jobs. We graduate great employers who build companies and drive growth right here in Georgia.”

All 25 USG institutions were represented at the two-day event at Kennesaw State’s Marietta campus. The first statewide competition of its kind in Georgia, the event is part of a systemwide initiative to make innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities accessible to all students and faculty, promoting prosperity within the state and local communities. The prize money is an investment in further developing the winning teams’ ideas.

Intended to encourage a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship while expanding opportunities for students across the system, the competition consisted of preliminary and final rounds in which student teams pitched their innovation or business ideas to a panel of three judges. During each round, students had three minutes to pitch their idea and seven minutes for a Q&A with the judges. 

In all, 51 students on 25 individual teams participated in the event:

Over the two days of the competition, students presented their best ideas, from projects that tackle college students’ mental health challenges and assist with job applications to technology that powers fertilizer drones and de-orbits space debris. Other pitches included medical and dental devices, 3D-designed handbags and a cooling device for wheelchair users. The teams were evaluated in five areas: innovation, market connection, possible solutions, next steps and presentation.

The event’s 15 guest judges included Regent Cade Joiner, representatives from the system office and the governor’s office, local business leaders, entrepreneurs and investors. 

In addition to the competition, the students had the opportunity to attend an innovation and entrepreneurship panel featuring Georgia entrepreneurs who discussed the realities of launching and scaling ventures and highlighted the entrepreneurial mindset required to sustain innovation.

USG’s Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurial Strategies organized this event as part of the systemwide initiative to cultivate a culture of innovation, strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems and expand opportunities across all public colleges and universities.