Focused on igniting the entrepreneurial spirit of University of St. Thomas students across campus, the Fowler Business Concept Challenge requires participants to develop a concept with the potential to become a viable, high-growth business. Students from 34 academic programs are participating in this year’s event, making it a truly cross- campus competition. Today’s event highlights the top 32 teams in each track (business and social venture) competing in the semifinals, with four teams from each advancing to the finals in the afternoon, where they will compete for a total of $92,500 in scholarships. Each finalist wins a scholarship, with the top team in each track winning $15,000. Students who compete in the semifinals competition but do not advance to the finals competition will be awarded a scholarship of $1,000 per team, with the runner-up in each semifinals pitch room receiving $1,500. The 2024 edition of the Fowler Business Concept Challenge includes 118 students that submitted 85 new venture concepts. Sixty-five entrepreneurs and business leaders make up this year’s group of judges, including 33 that are St. Thomas alumni.
SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
The Fowler Business Concept Challenge is made possible through the generosity of Ron Fowler. This year, $92,500 in University of St. Thomas scholarships will be awarded across all teams, including three special awards and audience choice awards. Thank you to Ron Fowler and Alexis Fowler, Brian Mark, the Mary T. and James J. Hill Library Foundation, and US Bank for their generosity in making these scholarships possible.
Winner: $15,000 per team 2nd Place: $7,000 per team 3rd Place: $4,000 per team 4th Place: $2,000 per team
Best Use of Technology Award: $2,500 Health Equity Champion Award: $2,500 Kate Herzog Memorial Award: $2,500 Audience Choice: $500
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Reconnect A mental health platform designed to support teens of divorce by providing therapeutic resources, peer connections, and tools for healthier family communication. Nate Charles ‘25, Entrepreneurship & Accounting Leah Schuerkamp ‘24, Entrepreneurship PAVE: Political Access and Voices for Engagement An interactive political app that focuses on informing people in underserved and underrepresented communities about local politics aiming to increase voter turnout. Malak Ibrahim ‘27, Marketing Precious Obonyo ‘27, Computer Science Save it! An app connecting food businesses stakeholders such as bakeries, grocery stores, and restaurants with value-conscious consumers to reduce food waste by offering unsold items at discounted prices. Maureen Orihuel ‘27, MBA Sentinel A specialized software solution that empowers military and intelligence agencies by detecting and countering misinformation in real time. Gabriel Riegert ‘25, Marketing Smitten With Mittens Smitten with Mittens provides children with mitten designs that reflect their unique personalities and offers guardians an easily replaceable, quality product “One Mitten” at a time.
CarDad An innovative app that empowers car owners, particularly those with older vehicles, to manage their maintenance proactively through real-time diagnostics, maintenance alerts, and direct communication with mechanics. Nia Kumi Porter ‘25, Entrepreneurship and Marketing AeroSun Analytics Automated drones scheduled to periodically take visual and thermal images of solar panels to analyze their thermal performance, look for damage, estimate soilage, and identify underperforming solar modules. William Heuer ‘25, MS Electrical Engineering Abraham Stroschein ‘25, MS Electrical Engineering DHESS: Distributed Home Energy Storage Systems This product helps utilities manage fluctuating energy demand with a distributed battery storage system for homes, allowing stored energy to be released during peak periods. Bjorn Eggen ’26, MS Mechanical Engineering Aidan Willard ‘26, MS Mechanical Engineering Elevate AI A software solution designed to disrupt the insurance claims industry by automating roofing claims. Klever Puma ‘25, Accounting Encore Dancewear A sustainable solution for dance costumes, connecting dancers and dance studios to affordable, pre-loved options, reducing waste and making dance more accessible. Emma Franceschi ‘26, Marketing Groove Link A professional networking platform tailored for the music and entertainment industry, connecting musicians, creators, and industry professionals. Spencer Rhoten ‘25, Entrepreneurship and Music Business HempCraft A value-added processing and distribution business focused on industrial hemp for commercial plastic applications. Liam Honl-Toledo ‘27, Entrepreneurship & Real Estate Henry Pike ‘26, Finance HUDs An aftermarket automotive heads-up display designed specifically to teach/aid new drivers on the road. HUDs sits on the dashboard displaying arrows on the road showing which lanes to drive in, which lanes to turn into, when to brake, when to activate turn signals, and more. John Endris ‘24, MS Electrical Engineering
Keegan Kuhlman ‘25, Executive MBA Jeffrey Stocker ‘25, Executive MBA
The Meridian A golf ball company that allows users to track their golf balls at a distance using a Bluetooth chip that can be paired to the Find My app in the iPhone. Alex Frimanslund ‘25, Marketing Trilliance PowerXchange An integrated electric vehicle-to-grid charging system that will allow for electric vehicles owners to lease battery capacity to power utilities in exchange for energy credit. Soothe Stride Neuropathy socks designed to provide continuous relief and support for individuals suffering from nerve pain and poor circulation, combining targeted compression, cushioning, and antimicrobial properties to enhance comfort and foot health. Natalie Shapira ‘25, Entrepreneurship
Mountain Falls ‘25, MS Electrical Engineering Zachary Gould ‘25, MS Electrical Engineering
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Menya STEM STEM education to underserved Rwandan communities using engaging tools and curricula, directly contributing to workforce development. Mellissa Ingabire ‘25, Mechanical Engineering
Ador Hospitality A proactive start-up dedicated to addressing the pressing issue of isolation and loneliness among young adults aged 18 to 24 by creating intentional social gatherings that foster meaningful connections. Marquan Harper ‘24, Digital Media Arts & Communications Boundless Dental Bus The Boundless Dental Bus will serve Minnesota’s prison population by traveling to prisons to deliver the proper dental care that all incarcerated people are entitled to receive. Elayna Chambers ‘26, Juris Doctorate
NUSE An AI-driven, voice-activated platform designed to empower non-literate, rural women entrepreneurs in Togo by connecting them to microfinance, business insights, savings, and insurance—all accessible through spoken commands in local languages. Essivi Komlanvi ‘25, MS in Business Analytics PowerPath A social enterprise providing affordable, off-grid solar energy PowerPods to underserved, low-income U.S. households and small businesses, using a pay-as-you-go model. Natalie Larson ‘26, Financial Management & Economics Noah MacDonald ‘26, Financial Management, Accounting, Economics ShelterLive An innovative livestream platform designed to help animal shelters increase the visibility of animals awaiting adoption. Bao (Derek) Le ‘24, MS in Big Data & Software Engineering SheSanctuary A transformative social enterprise committed to empowering women and children in rural India by providing safe, clean, community toilets and free menstrual hygiene products. Jenny Behrens ‘25, MBA
Centra An all-inclusive gunpowder detection system to combat school shootings and loss of life in the United States.
Smriti Datta ‘27, Entrepreneurship & Marketing Alex Morgan ‘27, Entrepreneurship & Finance
Drip A nonprofit focused on collecting outdated reusable drinking vessels from community members for refurbishing by local artists and recycling of valuable materials. Sara Kangas ‘25, Business Management Future Forward Modular, affordable housing constructed from sustainable materials, prefabricated units provide a secure and cost-effective home designed to meet the essential needs of Minneapolis families experiencing housing insecurity. Brandon Gill ‘27, Marketing Healing Grounds Coffee A nonprofit coffee shop located in the Twin Cities with a mission built around providing support, resources, and community for
Typhi Guard A water bottle that contains water filtration and mosquito repellent features. Nadia Khumbah ‘27, Neuroscience
young adults struggling with mental illness. Evan Dimich ‘25, Entrepreneurship & Finance
Vigilance Safety A student-led nonprofit developing a technical solution to improve school safety and reduce school shootings. May Zeroni ‘28, Finance Voln A nonprofit software platform that partners with employers to enhance community engagement by connecting their employees with curated volunteer opportunities, fostering social connections while supporting employers’ corporate social responsibility efforts. Nour Issa ‘28, Entrepreneurship Georges Macheta ‘25, Entrepreneurship & Computer Science
Hobby Heroes Revolutionizing accessibility in hobbies for individuals with physical disabilities through customized, adaptive equipment solutions. Srajan Pillai ‘24, MS Mechanical Engineering Living Prideful An organization aiming to provide affirming temporary and long-term foster placement services for LGBTQ+ homeless youth in the Twin Cities by connecting them with trained and supportive foster families. Brennan Cashman ‘25, Entrepreneurship
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Winner ($15,000) and Audience Choice ($500) AeroSun Analytics: Automated drones scheduled to periodically take visual and thermal images of solar panels to analyze their thermal performance, look for damage, estimate soilage, and identify underperforming solar modules. William Heuer ‘25, MS Electrical Engineering and Abraham Stroschein ‘25, MS Electrical Engineering 2nd place ($7,000) Trilliance PowerXchange: An integrated electric vehicle-to-grid charging system that will allow for electric vehicles owners to lease battery capacity to power utilities in exchange for energy credit. Mountain Falls ‘25, MS Electrical Engineering and Zachary Gould ‘25, MS Electrical Engineering 3rd place ($4,000) Groove Link: A professional networking platform tailored for the music and entertainment industry, connecting musicians, creators, and industry professionals. Spencer Rhoten ‘25, Entrepreneurship and Music Business 4th place ($2,000) CarDad: An innovative app that empowers car owners, particularly those with older vehicles, to manage their maintenance proactively through real-time diagnostics, maintenance alerts, and direct communication with mechanics. Nia Kumi Porter ‘25, Entrepreneurship and Marketing
Winner ($15,000) Centra: An all-inclusive gunpowder detection system to combat school shootings and loss of life in the United States. Smriti Datta ‘27, Entrepreneurship & Marketing and Alex Morgan ‘27, Entrepreneurship & Finance 2nd place ($7,000) NUSE: An AI-driven, voice-activated platform designed to empower non-literate, rural women entrepreneurs in Togo by connecting them to microfinance, business insights, savings, and insurance—all accessible through spoken commands in local languages. Essivi Komlanvi ‘25, MS in Business Analytics 3rd place ($4,000) Boundless Dental Bus: The Boundless Dental Bus will serve Minnesota’s prison population by traveling to prisons to deliver the proper dental care that all incarcerated people are entitled to receive. Elayna Chambers ‘26, Juris Doctorate 4th place ($2,000) and Audience Choice ($500) Drip: A nonprofit focused on collecting outdated reusable drinking vessels from community members for refurbishing by local artists and recycling of valuable materials. Sara Kangas ‘25, Business Management
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2024 Fowler Business Concept Challenge Highlights Reel
Best Use of Technology ($2,500) The Best Use of Technology Award recognizes and celebrates an innovative concept that will effectively and ethically utilize emerging technology to solve a significant problem that has a substantial market opportunity. Winner: Centra An all-inclusive gunpowder detection system to combat school shootings and loss of life in the United States. Smriti Datta ‘27, Entrepreneurship & Marketing and Alex Morgan ‘27, Entrepreneurship & Finance Health Equity Champion ($2,500) The Health Equity Champion Award recognizes and celebrates an innovative concept that will advance health equity. This special award seeks to spotlight concepts that are making significant strides in addressing health disparities and ensuring equal access to healthcare solutions for all. Winner: Boundless Dental Bus The Boundless Dental Bus will serve Minnesota’s prison population by traveling to prisons to deliver the proper dental care that all incarcerated people are entitled to receive. Elayna Chambers ‘26, Juris Doctorate Kate Herzog Memorial Award ($2,500) Kate launched her social venture, House of Talents, to help artisans build the lives they envision for themselves. This award supports aspiring social entrepreneurs with a passion for poverty alleviation, serving under resourced communities and closing opportunity gaps. Winner: NUSE An AI-driven, voice-activated platform designed to empower non-literate, rural women entrepreneurs in Togo by connecting them to microfinance, business insights, savings, and insurance—all accessible through spoken commands in local languages. Essivi Komlanvi ‘25, MS in Business Analytics
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