UIC entreprenurial community shines in second annual Demo Day
Twenty seven teams and nearly 70 UIC students participated in the 2024 Demo Day.
In a vibrant display of innovation and ambition, nearly 70 students across 27 teams participated in the second annual Demo Day. This hallmark event showcases the entrepreneurial spirit thriving within its student community. On Thursday night in SCE 301, budding entrepreneurs presented their groundbreaking ideas and ventures to an audience of peers, faculty, and industry mentors. This year's Demo Day not only provided a platform for students to receive invaluable feedback and coaching but also offered the chance to win cash prizes, making it a pivotal moment for many aspiring entrepreneurs.
This year's program represents the culmination of a semester's worth of workshops, programming, and, for some teams, related coursework. Most of the fall programming leading up to the Demo Day was a part of Entrepreneurial Pathways, UIC's investment in students' entrepreneurial journey, geared towards helping students ideate, iterate, and innovate. Program partners include the College of Business Administration and UIC's chapter of Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization (CEO).
Elaine Harvey, Associate Director of Innovation, and Dan Hogan, Director of Undergraduate Studies - Entrepreneurship, underscored that events like Demo Day highlight the university's commitment to empowering students to turn their innovative concepts into reality. They both see this program as an important part of fostering an inclusive and supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“This event is to help you understand that feedback is a gift,” said Harvey in opening remarks. “Iterative ideation means that this idea or venture you're pitching tonight may not be the one that you see go to market, but the important thing is that you're here investing in your entrepreneurial journey."
As voted by attendees, four teams took home top prizes, with a tie for the third place spot:
First Place - $1,000 prize | SAFAIR: An AI-powered platform providing premium airport assistance to all travelers. The air travel accommodation software, staffing solution, and expedited security screening process utilize the power of artificial intelligence to streamline accommodation requests, educate and provide airlines with trained staff, ensure wheelchairs and assistive devices arrive intact upon arrival, and offer people with disabilities an expedited security screening to ensure a safe and dignified travel experience.
Second Place $750 prize | AKKNOLEDGE: An online platform meant for students to create study groups seamlessly. Students can now skip the hassle of planning out a study group, and with the platform being tailored to the University, creating a study group has never been easier.
Third Place $500 prize | EYDENTIFY: An AI-powered, voice-interactive app designed to empower blind and visually impaired individuals by enabling them to ask specific questions about their surroundings. Rather than passively receiving general descriptions, users can obtain precise answers, offering greater independence and more effective control over their environment.
Third Place $500 prize | HEATFLOW APPAREL: Lightweight, weatherproof, durable winter coats with customizable heated zones, an integrated heated hood, and gloves. Designed for cold-weather commuters, it offers app-controlled warmth via Bluetooth, addressing the common struggles of layering and inadequate warmth during daily commutes.
Crowd Favorite $350 prize | HEATFLOW APPAREL: Lightweight, weatherproof, durable winter coats with customizable heated zones, an integrated heated hood, and gloves. Designed for cold-weather commuters, it offers app-controlled warmth via Bluetooth, addressing the common struggles of layering and inadequate warmth during daily commutes.
