UIC entrepreneurial spirit inspires at third annual Blaze Venture Challenge

Judges test student venture viability at Blaze finals

The 2025 Blaze Venture Challenge at UIC, presented by Comcast, marked the third year of this dynamic competition, serving as the capstone event of UIC Innovation’s entrepreneurial programming. The annual pitch challenge showcases the innovative spirit of UIC students, providing a platform for individuals and teams to present their business ideas to a panel of experienced judges from the Chicago entrepreneurial ecosystem. The event not only celebrates creativity and entrepreneurship but also offers participants valuable opportunities for mentorship, networking, and real-world pitching experience, reinforcing UIC’s commitment to fostering future change-makers.

This year’s competition, held on April 16, continued to build on its reputation as a premier student entrepreneurial event. Leading up to the finals, students engaged in workshops designed to generate ideas, research customer needs, and hone their pitches. From an initial pool of 76 students representing 30 teams, nine finalists were selected to compete in the pitch challenge event, where they delivered compelling presentations to a panel of judges.

The competition awarded a total of $13,000 in prizes, generously sponsored by Comcast, with awards for first, second, and third places, as well as crowd favorite and the Comcast Community Health Impact Award, which recognizes ventures that significantly impact community health and well-being.

First Place ($5,000): Akknowledge
Micheal Charles
Albert Huynh
Fawwaz Abayomi
Shpetim Useini
Second Place ($3,500): HireIQ
Aden Joe
Nathan Thokkudubiyyapu
Third Place ($1,500): Safair
Adero Knott
Comcast Community Health Impact Award ($2,000) : Curmed
Jenny Huang
Crowd Favorite: KineticZero
Yatharth Ankur Patel

As the third iteration of the Blaze Venture Challenge, this event continues to serve as a vital component of UIC’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. It underscores the university’s dedication to nurturing innovative ideas and supporting student entrepreneurs through structured programming and community engagement. The event’s culmination will feature the announcement of the award winners, including the first, second, and third-place recipients, the crowd favorite, and the recipient of the prestigious Comcast Community Health Impact Award. This year’s challenge exemplifies UIC’s ongoing commitment to empowering students to turn their ideas into impactful ventures that can shape the future of Chicago and beyond.