East Texas High School Idea Challenge

2023 Competition Results

Winner

2023 East Texas High School Idea Challenger winners Rebekah Daniel and Bliss Joseph
UT Tyler University Academy in Tyler
Apollo Care (healthcare app)

Runner-up

2023 East Texas High School Idea Challenger runner-up Hayden Burns, Giovanni Pinedo, Tristan O'Sullivan
UT Tyler University Academy in Tyler
EcoStep (multi-use, self charging utility tool)

Vicarescue (Gavin Green, Levi Sharp), University Academy - Tyler
Knitted Kindness (Kiley Salser), Pine Tree
T.T. Case (Jeremiah Humphries, Asher Douglas, Elysia Halberstadt), University Academy - Tyler
EZ Fishing & Tackle (Oseas Medina, Nathan Culajay), Pine Tree

2024 Competition Dates

Sep 1	Elevator Pitch Submission Opens
Nov 26	Deadline to Submit Elevator Pitch Video
Dec 15	Announcement of Invitees to Compete
Apr 5	Competition at UT Tyler

Attend the Competition

Teachers or administrators, attending the event is a great opportunity to introduce your students to the world of entrepreneurship and network with other entrepreneurs. If you would like to arrange for a group of students to attend the event, please fill out the following form.

About

The East Texas High School Idea Challenge is the largest innovation competition in East Texas for high school students. The Idea Challenge is designed to encourage, support, and inspire the next generation of inventors, innovators and entrepreneurs with the goal of growing East Texas’ knowledge and economy.

All East Texas high schools are invited to submit teams of 1-3 students to participate in the Challenge. The winning students will receive a $5,000 scholarship and the runners-up will receive a $2,500 scholarship to study at The University of Texas at Tyler.

How does it work?

The challenge will be conducted in two competitive rounds.

Round 1 will require all interested teams to submit a video of their elevator pitch. Judges will evaluate the entries and select the top pitches. The selected teams will be invited to present their idea based around the Business Model Canvas

Round 2 will be held on The University of Texas at Tyler campus. Teams will present their Business Model Canvas to our panel of judges. Judges will select the winner(s) from this round to receive their repsective scholarships.

Who is Eligible?

The challenge is open to all high schools (grades 9-12) in the following counties: Anderson, Angelina, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Delta, Fannin, Franklin, Gregg, Hardin, Harrison, Henderson, Hopkins, Houston, Hunt, Jasper, Jefferson, Kaufman, Lamar, Liberty, Marion, Morris, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Panola, Polk, Rains, Red River, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Smith, Titus, Trinity, Tyler, Upsher, Van Zandt, Wood.

Idea Challenge

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