The Student Innovation program in the Office of Experiential and Engaged Learning at Georgia Tech empowers undergraduate students with the skills and experiences needed to thrive as inventors and entrepreneurs. One of the highlights of this program is the InVenture Prize, a prestigious, faculty-led competition that operates in a dynamic, Shark Tank-style format.

Now in its seventeenth year and as an Emmy Award-winning event, the InVenture Prize provides a platform for students and recent alumni to showcase their creativity and ingenuity. This rigorous competition has garnered national recognition, allowing finalists to present their inventions on stage before the judges, a live audience, with broadcasts available on television and online with viewers in the U.S and abroad.

Past finalists have achieved remarkable success, with several appearing on ABC’s Shark Tank and even having their inventions tested by former President Barack Obama. The competition offers significant rewards, including $35,000 in cash prizes, assistance for U.S. patent applications valued at $20,000 for the top two teams, and automatic acceptance into CREATE-X’s Startup Launch program for the winning team.

The InVenture Prize has sparked the creation of innovative startups such as SlateSafety (FireHUD), which develops safety devices for firefighters; ULTRAVIEW Archery, known for premium archery gear; and TAP’N, a company producing eco-friendly event badges. These success stories exemplify the program’s mission to help students invent their futures.

Throughout the fall semester, the Student Innovation program has collaborated with various campus partners, including CREATE-X, Design Bloc, and the Innovation Enterprise Institute, to offer workshops that equip students with essential entrepreneurial skills. Topics covered include problem-solving, networking, design thinking, startup funding, and developing feasible business models. Students also had the chance to connect with local entrepreneurs through the Startup Stories series, gaining insights into the vibrant metro-Atlanta startup ecosystem.

Registration for the 2025 InVenture Prize opens on November 15 and will remain available until January 10, 2025. Preliminary rounds will be held on January 21, followed by semifinals on February 12, with the final round taking place on March 12, 2025, at the Ferst Center for the Arts.

Students with questions or needing assistance can visit the Clough Helpdesk on Monday, November 18, from 10 AM to noon, or reach out via email at inventureprize@gatech.edu.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to unleash your creativity and entrepreneurial spirit! Be sure to sign up for our mailing list and follow our Instagram account for the latest updates and information. Join us in shaping the future of innovation at Georgia Tech!