Connect Challenge
Thirteen finalists across three categories delivered pitches ‘Shark Tank-style’ in the Connect Challenge at the seventh annual College of Arts + Sciences Connect Conference on Friday, February 23 at the Indiana Memorial Union.
Entrepreneurial-minded IU students are invited to participate in the competition to develop and share their innovative ideas, as well as hone their public speaking, presentation and networking skills. The challenge is made possible by financial and professional support from The Dimension Mill, IU Ventures, IU Shoemaker Center, IU Innovates, and IU Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation.
The Walter Center for Career Achievement is pleased to announce the 2024 winners, who were awarded a prize package, which includes up to $2,000 in scholarship money and a part-time membership to The Dimension Mill.
Creative Endeavors
Winner: The Toy Box — A Trauma-Informed Young Adult Fantasy Novel
This project asks a vital question: how can childhood trauma impact the imagination, especially when children are at play?’ and draws on innovations in narrative therapy to consider how the reading of young adult fantasy novel might promotion the same type of reflection. The proposed novel explores the decaying Toy Box of a single child who, as the daughter of a puppeteer, brings her own marionette shows to life within her imagination.
Grace Estes is a student in the College of Arts and Sciences studying Creative Writing in the English department.
Runner Up: Mother Load Bingo
Meet Mother Load BINGO – the game-changing, fridge-adorned grid of household chores! Unleash the power of Mother Load Bingo, making every mom, caregiver, and household hero aware of their greatness by helping them visualize the work they do, and not fixate on the to do’s.
Molly Radecki is a Ph.D. student in the Media School, studying Media Arts and Sciences.
Non-Profit & Social Good
Winner: Future Black Leaders Inc.
Future Black Leaders Inc. Is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering leadership, promoting racial equity, and empowering Black leaders. Born from the initiative of a single high school Black Student Union, the organization has evolved to encompass college ambassadors from either different campuees across the Midwest.
The team for Black Leaders Inc. Includes: Chase Iseghohi (College), A.B Sako (Luddy), Wodsander Maxime (Luddy), Jaden Edmonds (LAMP), and Talayeh Marshall (O’Neill).
Runner Up: BloomSwap
BloomSwap is a mobile clothes swap app exclusively designed for students at Indiana University. Bloom Swap provides a centralized platform for students to find desired clothes and mutually agree to the swap, including methods of physically trading items and deciding whether to return the swapped items.
Carina Wang is receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in the Comprehensive Design in the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture and Design.
Startups and Technology
Winner: Lovin’ Your Creative
A lack of community is the reason why many musicians quit; there is no easy way to find community as a musician. Introducing Lovin’ Your Creative: an online website that allows musicians to connect through intentional online video calls. This platform stands out because of its unique ability to pair musicians based on their intentions and interests.
The Lovin Your Creative team is Rahul Guhan and Rohan Ayyar, both studying in the Kelley School of Business.
Runner Up: Natural Power LLC
Natural Power is a better-for-you energy drink that uses a combination of high-quality ingredients and electrolytes to give our consumers the energy they need for the day in a healthier way. Natural Power uses natural stevia as a sweetener and a non-jittery energy blend made of natural ingredients.
Brian Rosen is studying Entrepreneurship & Corporate Innovation, Finance and International Business in the Kelley School of Business.