Here are the teams that will compete in the 2025 ACC InVenture Prize on April 2nd at the University of Notre Dame, listed alphabetically by University.
Clemson | Duke | FSU | Georgia Tech | SMU | Syracuse | Cal | Louisville | Miami | UNC | Notre Dame | Virginia | Virginia Tech
Clemson University Team - NephroGuard
People’s Choice voting text “Clemson”
NephroGuard is an autonomous medical device designed for continuous, real-time monitoring of urine NGAL levels, enabling early detection of post-operative Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) within hours rather than days.
Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is a significant complication following cardiac surgery, affecting 20-30% of patients. It significantly extends ICU stays, raises the risk of chronic kidney disease, and increases mortality rates over four times. AKI is characterized by a rapid decline in renal function within hours to days. Conventional diagnosis relies on serum creatinine levels, which is a delayed indicator, often only rising 2-3 days after injury onset. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) has emerged as a promising biomarker for early AKI detection, allowing diagnosis within hours rather than days.
To address the clinical need for timely AKI detection, we have developed NephroGuard, an autonomous medical device designed for continuous urine NGAL monitoring. NephroGuard integrates with a patient’s Foley catheter upstream of the urine collection bag, ensuring access to recent urine samples. A controlled valve and fluid level sensor regulate urine flow into the testing chamber, where an electrochemical biosensor quantifies NGAL concentrations with high sensitivity. The data is continuously uploaded to the patient's electronic health record, and the device triggers an auditory alarm upon detecting NGAL spikes indicative of AKI onset.
NephroGuard transforms postoperative care with real-time AKI detection, enabling early intervention to improve outcomes and reduce complications. Facilitating earlier diagnoses can lower healthcare costs by minimizing ICU stays and dialysis needs. With cardiac surgeries in the U.S. expected to rise from 900,000 to 1.3 million by 2029, early AKI detection is essential. NephroGuard offers a vital solution, improving patient care and reducing hospital costs.
Student Entrepreneurs
Calvin Chernyatinskiy - Bioengineering
Omar Aguilar - Bioengineering
Aaron Spearman - Bioengineering
Alex Bowie - Bioengineering
Duke University Team - Helian
People’s Choice voting text “Duke”
Helian is a trustworthy, efficiency-maximizing artificial intelligence research tool for the high-stakes life sciences industry.
Helian is an artificial intelligence research assistant built for life sciences professionals who require trust, accuracy, and efficiency. In an industry where research errors can have life or death consequences, most AI tools fall short, delivering unreliable results, hallucinated data, or citations from untrustworthy sources. Helian changes that. Developed alongside industry experts, Helian does not generate answers that appear from opaque, black-box models. Instead, Helian navigates through a user’s custom, real-time, and pre-vetted database of peer-reviewed journals and trusted publications, guiding users to precise quotations where their answer resides. This approach eliminates the risks of AI misinformation while dramatically accelerating research and cutting costs.
With Helian, life sciences organizations can move faster, uncover valuable insights, and drive innovation without compromising on accuracy or trust.
Student Entrepreneurs
John Buxton - Economics
Bill Ssewanyana - Biomedical Engineering
Aryan Mathur - Electrical + Computer Engineering
Florida State University Team - ATHENGUARD
People’s Choice voting text “FSU”
ATHENGUARD is redefining football protection with an innovative 3D-printed foam to absorb impact like never before to keep players safer on each play.
Every year, millions of sports-related concussions occur, with football accounting for the highest number among youth athletes. Alarmingly, nearly half of concussions go undiagnosed, with symptoms mistaken for minor injuries. Youth players are particularly vulnerable, as their developing brains are more susceptible to the long-term effects of repetitive impacts. Despite these risks, a majority of high schools in the United States lack a full-time athletic trainer, meaning that many concussions go unnoticed. This raises the question for parents: “Is my child truly protected on the field?”
ATHENGUARD is redefining helmet protection with an innovative 3D-printed helmet padding designed to enhance player safety by improving impact absorption. Most modern helmets contain internal padding that has remained unchanged for decades, relying on traditional elastic foams that harden over time and lose effectiveness. ATHENGUARD sets itself apart with its viscoelastic lattice structure engineered to dissipate forces more effectively and maintain its protective qualities longer. This unique feature enhances helmet performance and ensures consistent protection throughout each season. Designed to integrate seamlessly into existing helmets, ATHENGUARD offers a lighter, more durable, and more breathable padding system for helmets, ensuring players stay protected without compromising comfort or performance.
With growing awareness of concussion risks in youth football, parents and coaches are searching for proactive measures to safeguard youth athletes. ATHENGUARD delivers a scalable and accessible solution, giving players the confidence to compete while offering parents peace of mind because every child deserves the best protection possible on the field.
Student Entrepreneur
Saiabhinav Devulapalli - Biomedical Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology Team - PatchPals
People’s Choice voting text “GATech”
PatchPals is a streamlined, negative pressure wound therapy setup via wound image segmentation and computer numerical control.
Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) is applied to chronic or non-healing wounds through Vacuum Assisted Closure (VAC) devices. These devices work by manually cutting and fitting a piece of polyurethane foam inside the wound bed, and applying a seal for the vacuum. The foam is critical to distribute the pressure uniformly, but the foam-cutting process is performed on a trial-and-error basis, making it time consuming and tedious. Wound care nurses reported that the most time-limiting step of the wound dressing changes was the foam-cutting, causing the total time of a dressing change to take up to 90 minutes with foam cutting taking up to 30 minutes alone.
Based on MAUDE entries of wound VAC devices, there is a concern for foams getting stuck in the wound bed due to their open pore structure, which is designed to transfer the negative pressure uniformly. This causes secondary procedures to remove the stuck foam pieces, disrupting the wound’s healing process and emphasizing the need for a singular piece of foam.
With our baseline implementation, nurses simply take a photo of the wound, outline it, and pass the marked-up image through our software. The software scales the wound and generates cutting instructions for a CNC machine, which will cut the foam in the precise shape of the wound. This approach ensures one piece of foam consistently, effectively combating this problem and maximizing patient healing and safety. Further, it reduces the hands-on time to less than one minute, allowing us to improve hospital efficiency by 30% per patient.
Student Entrepreneurs
Aya Samadi - Biomedical Engineering
Deniz Onalir - Biomedical Engineering
Valeria Perez - Biomedical Engineering
Hayden Johnson - Biomedical Engineering
Southern Methodist University- TIMIO News
People’s Choice voting text “SMU”
TIMIO News is a set of AI tools that identify fake news and recommend articles with different viewpoints—available as a mobile app and Chrome Extension.
America is more divided than ever. The internet was supposed to democratize information, but today’s news feeds use algorithms to reinforce bias instead of challenging it. Tech giants and media corporations profit from division, they’ll show you anything if it means you’ll stay on their platform just a little longer—regardless of whether it's true. Getting a balanced perspective in America has become too time-consuming.
TIMIO tears through the narrative with AI. Our flagship AI model, Torch™ analyzes articles for bias, logic flaws, missing sources, and more in seconds; while our 2nd model, Pivot™ finds alternate views on the story you're reading. You can use our AI today on any website with the TIMIO Chrome Extension, or on our feed with the TIMIO app.
Unlike other platforms, the TIMIO app delivers the same feed to everyone—no algorithms. Instead of a “For You" page, we provide a balanced feed from America’s top publishers.
TIMIO is more than an app; we're creating a movement toward a more united America.
You can learn more about our mission at: timio.news.
Student Entrepreneurs
Josh Baier - Marketing; Psychology
Justus Woods - Marketing
Abbie Ellermeier - Marketing
Syracuse University Team - Scale Sense
People’s Choice voting text “Syracuse”
Scale Sense is a tactile safety device that helps firefighters performing search and rescue operations orient themselves quickly in high stress, zero visibility emergency situations.
Scale Sense is a series of scale-like components that attach to firefighter’s ropes and can indicate direction. When firefighters perform large area search and rescue they use a rope that is attached outside the building on one end and inside the building on the other as a guide. Because of the zero visibility and high stress situation that is working in an active fire, they can very easily get disoriented. This disorientation can make it so they don't know which way to follow the rope in order to leave the building or which way to follow it to go deeper into the building. This causes firefighters to have to spend extra time trying to find their way out of the building, increasing what is known as their ‘time of exposure’. A greater time of exposure leads to an increased risk of injury and death. Our solution gives firefighters’ ropes a sense of directionality in a tactile way that works alongside their current large-area search and rescue procedure instead of trying to change it. Scale Sense creates a surface that feels rougher when you rub it one way and smoother the other way, and this is how it indicates direction. Scale Sense would be placed every 5 feet or so along the rope so that no matter where the firefighters meet the rope, they can always use Scale Sense to help orient themselves.
Student Entrepreneurs
Oliver Raycroft - Environmental Engineering
Adya Parida - Computer Science
University of California, Berkeley Team - Code Blue AI
People’s Choice voting text “Cal”
Through any device with a camera and mic, Code Blue detects the signs of stroke on onset and gets people to specialized care before the damage becomes long-term or fatal.
1 in 4 people are expected to experience a stroke in their lifetimes, yet over 60% of people can't identify the major signs. Partnered with UCSF Health and backed by Big Ideas at Berkeley, UC LAUNCH, SkyDeck Pad-13, the Westly Foundation, and Berkeley Haas, our solution integrates into any device equipped with a microphone and camera, passively monitoring for signs of stroke. On detection, we automatically notify EMS to get people help before the damage becomes long-term or fatal.
Student Entrepreneur
Ashmita Kumar - Biomedical Engineering; Computer Science
University of Louisville Team - Due Gooder
People’s Choice voting text “Louisville”
Due Gooder is an AI-powered tool that automatically organizes your syllabus assignments into calendars and to-do lists.
Due Gooder solves the problem of student disorganization and missed deadlines by helping students, especially those with ADHD, keep track of their assignments effortlessly. Many students struggle to stay organized with multiple classes, leading to stress, missed deadlines, and poor academic performance. This challenge is particularly difficult for students with ADHD, who often face additional barriers in managing time and staying organized. Traditional methods like paper planners or manually entering assignments into calendars are time-consuming and often ineffective.
Due Gooder automates this process by allowing students to upload their syllabi, which are then scanned using advanced AI to extract assignment details and due dates. These assignments are automatically added to the student’s Google Calendar, ensuring they never miss a deadline. Additionally, Due Gooder suggests optimal days to start assignments, helping students better manage their workload.
This solution not only saves students time but also reduces stress, enabling them to focus more on learning and less on tracking due dates. With its easy-to-use interface and seamless integration with Google Calendar, Due Gooder empowers students, especially those with ADHD, to stay organized and succeed academically.
Student Entrepreneur
Nate Royal - Computer Science
University of Miami Team - SimuStride
People’s Choice voting text “Miami”
SimuStride is an augmented reality rehabilitation system that empowers above-knee amputees to control a virtual prosthesis using muscle activity, aiming to reduce phantom limb pain, preserve motor skills, and facilitate the transition to a real-world prosthesis.
There are over 700,000 people in the United States living with above-knee amputations. On average, the time between amputation and receiving a prosthesis is an overwhelming 10 months. This prolonged period results in many amputees suffering from severe phantom limb pain and a significant loss of motor function. While early prosthesis use can help combat these complications, it is not feasible because the body takes months to recover after amputation; during recovery, the residual limb undergoes significant changes, including swelling, shrinking, and healing from surgical trauma, which delays the fitting process and implementation of a prosthesis. Current treatments like mirror-box therapy and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation can be used to alleviate symptoms, but they do not address the root cause of these complications: delayed prosthesis use.
SimuStride is an augmented reality rehabilitation system that allows amputees to begin prosthesis training just days after surgery, bypassing the months-long waiting period. Unlike virtual reality, which isolates the user from the real world, augmented reality superimposes virtual elements into the user’s physical environment. When using SimuStride, users will see a virtual prosthesis attached to their residual limb. They can control the movement of their virtual leg based on real-time muscle activity captured by our electromyography sleeve. Combined with traditional non-weight-bearing exercises, SimuStride can offer a new level of both physical and neural therapy. With early, engaging, and immersive prosthesis visualization and training, we strive to empower amputees by giving them control and independence over their mobility, ultimately improving their quality of life.
Student Entrepreneurs
Ben Broyles -Biomedical Engineering
Aidan Scott-Van Deusen - Biomedical Engineering
Elissa Cimino - Biomedical Engineering
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Team - Scyntek
People’s Choice voting text “UNC”
Scyntek is creating a noninvasive device to enable rapid and accessible early screening for deep vein thrombosis (DVT), helping prevent life-threatening complications.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a life-threatening condition caused by blood clots forming in deep veins, often remaining undetected until they lead to severe complications such as pulmonary embolism. Current diagnostic methods, like ultrasound, are expensive, time-consuming, and require trained specialists, making routine screening inaccessible for many at-risk individuals. Without a practical and accessible screening tool, DVT is often only diagnosed after serious complications arise.
Scyntek is transforming post-surgical care with a noninvasive, portable device for rapid and accessible DVT screening. Our device utilizes photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor technology to detect subtle changes in superficial blood flow that may indicate a deep vein blockage. Unlike traditional diagnostics, Scyntek’s compact, user-friendly device is affordable, simple to operate, and designed for use in hospitals, surgical centers, and at-home recovery.
Scyntek’s solution is particularly valuable for patients recovering from lower limb surgeries, such as knee and hip replacements, where the risk of DVT is highest due to prolonged immobility and the physical trauma on the leg. Beyond surgical patients, Scyntek can also benefit other high-risk groups, including the elderly, frequent travelers, individuals with sedentary lifestyles, military personnel, and those with limited access to healthcare.
By enabling early detection and proactive intervention, Scyntek has the potential to reduce hospitalizations, lower healthcare costs, and improve recovery outcomes. As the need for better post-operative and preventive care grows, Scyntek is paving the way for a future where DVT screening is simple, effective, and widely accessible.
Student Entrepreneurs
Bryce Menichella - Biomedical Engineering
Vignesh Sriram - Biomedical Engineering
Karthik Ramakrishnan - Biomedical Engineering
Josh Henderson - Biomedical Engineering
University of Notre Dame Team - Èxodo
People’s Choice voting text “ND”
Èxodo is an AI-powered job placement software platform for migrants, blue-collar workers, and tradespeople.
Did you know that as of 2024, the U.S. Labor shortage sat at a staggering 70%? Specifically, employers of blue-collar workers are creating hundreds of thousands of jobs each month, and candidates are applying at record rates, but neither seems to be able to overcome the friction of candidate-job matching on their own.
For blue-collar employers, who lose more than $50 billion each month due to job vacancies, Èxodo provides an AI-powered candidate matcher that enables employers to source candidates quickly, affordably, and at large scales. We make money by charging a 10% commission fee on each placement, and we're currently running a paid pilot to validate our technology and business model.
Student Entrepreneur
Toni Akintola - Computer Science; Economics
University of Virginia Team - Métopi
People’s Choice voting text “ UVA”
Métopi is a wearable, multi-pack, prescriptible rescue inhalers designed to help the up to 87% of patients who have experienced a potentially life threatening respiratory flare-up without access to their rescue medication.
Globally, 545 million people suffer from respiratory diseases, and up to 474 million of them have experienced a life-threatening flare-up without access to their rescue inhaler. To reduce this risk, most users seek multiple inhalers to keep in different locations for safety. However, insurance policies typically cover only one per prescription, leaving many unable to afford additional units, which can cost up to $500 each out of pocket. Compounding these challenges, social stigma—especially among younger users—reduces adherence, and traditional inhalers contribute emissions equivalent to 400,000 American homes annually.
For 70 years, the rescue inhaler has remained virtually unchanged, despite these challenges. Métopi is changing this with the Portahaler, the world’s first wearable, multi-pack prescriptible rescue inhaler, designed to attach seamlessly to a phone, wrist, keychain, or any other everyday item, ensuring users always have access to their rescue medication without a second thought. Smaller than a handheld eraser, each unit contains ~40 doses, allowing prescriptions of up to five units. This approach enhances user safety by enabling rescue inhaler placement in multiple locations while saving up to $500 per unit compared to traditional options, leveling the playing field no matter one's financial situation. With first-of-its-kind tailored prescription options, the Portahaler helps prevent overuse, conserves medication, and significantly reduces emissions compared to traditional inhalers.
Student Entrepreneur
Miles Lanham - Biomedical Engineering
Virginia Tech Team - Mind
People’s Choice voting text “VATech”
Mind transforms traditional educational content into engaging, bite-sized micro-lectures.
Mind revolutionizes online learning by transforming traditional educational content into interactive, bite-sized micro-lectures that make knowledge discovery both engaging and accessible. Traditional e-learning platforms often overwhelm users with long, static videos and dense materials, leading to disengagement and high dropout rates. Mind addresses these challenges by providing a swipe-based interface where learners can quickly browse through an ever-evolving feed of micro-lectures, each enriched with interactive quizzes, animations, and text-to-speech narration for a hands-free experience.
At the core of Mind is a powerful automated content generation engine that converts existing materials—whether PDFs, slide decks, or videos—into interactive lessons. This not only simplifies content creation for educators but also ensures that learners receive dynamic, customized learning experiences. Educators can effortlessly upload their resources, and with a few clicks, transform them into engaging modules that capture essential concepts and promote active learning.
Additionally, Mind's intuitive recommendation system tailors content suggestions to individual interests and learning styles, reducing the friction and time wasted in searching for relevant material. With a lower commission structure, content creators are also incentivized to share high-quality material, thereby expanding the platform's library and fostering a vibrant community of learners and educators. In summary, Mind alleviates the traditional pitfalls of online education by streamlining content creation and enhancing learner engagement, paving the way for a more efficient and enjoyable learning journey.
Student Entrepreneurs
Rituraj Sharma - Computer Science
Mikhail Sannikov - Robotics Mechatronics Engineering
Noah Provenzano - Computer Science
Chloe Iannuzzi - Marketing Management
