CyBIZ Lab Harvesting Innovation Case Competition Produces Winning Strategies for ISU Patented Technologies

Ames, IA – The first-ever CyBIZ Lab Harvesting Innovation Case Competition, sponsored by the Office of Economic Development and Industry Relations (EDIR) and the Office of Innovation Commercialization (OIC), concluded generating numerous innovative ideas and fostering strong partnerships across campus. This unique three-day competition brought together 19 CyBIZ Lab student team members, challenging them to create commercialization strategies for Iowa State University’s cutting-edge patented technologies provided by the OIC.

The competition featured four ISU patents from the fields of Physical and Chemical Engineering, including:

• Use of Flexible Capacitive Strain Gauges in Tires
• Method to Create Ultra-flat Metal Surfaces and Lubricated Mechanical Nanopolishing and Motor Oil for Self-Healing Metals and Ceramics
• Pyrolysis of Extracted Lignin in a Continuous Reactor
• Autonomously Self-healing and Self-strengthening Polymer-Metal Composites

Divided into teams, the students conducted in-depth technology analyses, market assessments, and developed strategic plans for bringing these innovations to market. Each team had the opportunity to interact with technology experts, gaining insights and asking questions that informed their commercialization strategies.

“This competition is an excellent collaboration between OIC and CyBIZ Lab. Students get the chance to win prize money and bolster their resumes while providing OIC with creative insights into potential market opportunities for these patents,” said Alex Andrade, CyBIZ Lab Director.

Blake McClure, CyBIZ Lab Program Manager, praised the students’ efforts, stating, “I’ve been impressed with how quickly the students grasped complex technologies and immediately began identifying potential applications. This competition not only enhances their skills but also contributes back to the university in a unique way.”

O’Neal Daniels, a senior in supply chain management, reflected on the experience, “The most challenging part was diving into industries we had no prior knowledge of. We had to do extensive background research before even starting the case. It taught me how to deliver quality work under pressure.”

The competition culminated in presentations to a panel of judges on Friday, with $2,000 in awards sponsored by EDIR. The winners were:

• 1st Place ($1,000) – Team Strategy Stars: Andrew Holtz, Clare Tjaden, Kailee Shroyer, and Samantha Shephard
• 2nd Place ($500) – Team Venture Visionaries: Erica Becker, Isabel Wolf, O’Neal Daniels, and Sai Jeshwanth Goud
• Best Presenter ($250) – Andrew Holtz
• Best Q&A ($250) – Isabel Holzschuh

With its successful debut, the CyBIZ Lab Harvesting Innovation Case Competition is set to become another format for students to engage with the real world, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among ISU students.