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2023-2024 COMPETITION WINNERS

First Place : Spot Parking

-Revolutionizing the parking enforcement industry using machine learning and security cameras

Second Place: Salt Block Inoculum

-A solution to help farmers who struggle with salinity

Third Place: Stratus

-Automated front desk tasks for healthcare using

Crowd Favorite: MelBas Cancer Therapeutics

-A biotechnical solution that can successfully target and kill lung cancer cells

Showcase Results
Finalists
Honorable Mentions
Remaining Top 20
Crowd Favorite

These are the teams that will be presenting on Feb. 29. Each team is awarded $4,000 for making it to Finals. First place will get a total of $12,000, 2nd place $10,000, 3rd place $8,000, and Finals Crowd Favorite will get another $2,000.

  • LesionInsight

    - A software tool to aid in diagnosis and treatment of patients with brain lesions

  • MelBas Cancer Therapeutics

    - A biotechnical solution that can successfully target and kill lung cancer cells

  • BIOME

    - A novel approach to quantify human gut microbial imbalances

  • Quick Stick

    - Rapid asphalt repair

  • Salt Block Inoculum

    - A solution to help farmers who struggle with salinity

  • Spot Parking

    - Revolutionizing the parking enforcement industry using machine learning and security cameras

  • Stratus

    - Automated front desk tasks for healthcare using AI

Each of these teams is awarded $500 and is eligible to enter next year's competition with the same project.

  • CyberJousting

    - A cybersecurity sandbox environment where students can get real-world hands-on experience on industry systems

  • Qwell

    - A headband to help people with ADHD regain their attention

  • Tennis Drills

    - Low cost, smart assistant for improving tennis technique with small form factor and companion app

  • UsedGPU

    - A marketplace to fix the scams, short supply and high prices

Each of these teams is still eligible to enter next year's competition with the same project, as are all the teams that weren't selected as finalists.

  • 1STEP

    - An online learning platform for learning collaboration and community onboarding

  • Assist Pro

    - Gloves featuring magnetic pieces within an ergonomic hand strap, enabling dentists to securely hold dental tools

  • Better Boot

    - Links patients and doctors; provides users with a safer, more comfortable experience

  • BOLT

    - An RCS text messaging platform enabling businesses to send interactive texts to their customers at scale

  • GOAT Notes

    - A web platform of the best note-taking and studying tools utilizing AI for academic success

  • MagPocket

    - Pants that secure your phone with magnets and keep it charged while pocketed

  • Periscope Systems

    - A system of AI-powered IoT cameras for detecting when trash needs to be collected

  • Showerscape

    - An automated system to deliver personal products in the shower for the home and hotels

  • Ultimate Analytics

    - An inexpensive AI tool to extract analytics for Frisbee and other emerging sports

More than 900 attendees voted, and this team came out on top, winning $500.

  • Unzipper

    - An autonomous system that can return a trolley to the top of a zipline after a rider dismounts

SIOY_Logo_Wordmark_Blue.jpg

The BYU College of Engineering hosts this student competition each year in partnership with the BYU Rollins Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology. The annual Student Innovator of the Year (SIOY) competition has kickstarted now-successful companies Owlet, Khione, Myostorm and more across its 13-year history. Competitors are in the running for part of the total $50K in prize money.

Student teams sharpen their innovations throughout the year through activities like the IP Info Session and Speed Mentoring, making their presentations to the public and judges at a showcase on February 13. Finalists are selected to present their ideas on stage in a final event on February 29. Winners and audience favorites receive thousands of dollars of prize money to help make their ideas a reality.

Kickstart Your Idea

The annual SIOY competition has kickstarted now-successful companies Khione, MyoStorm and more across its 13-year history.

Ready to get started?

Will you be the next Student Innovator of the Year?

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student innovator of the year competition byu

SIOY JUDGING RUBRIC & RULES

Student innovations will be judged according to three categories.

Complete Judging Rubric
Rules
forty-five-percent-icon

Engineering

  • Prototypes
  • Testing
  • Engineering Design/Refinement
thirty-five percent icon

Innovation

  • Problem Definition
  • Newness/Uniqueness
  • Visibility
twenty percent

Impact

  • Size of the Market
  • Value

SIOY UPCOMING events and deadlines

Check this page for new information regarding the 2023-2024 SIOY Competition.
Date / Time Title Location Info
Q&A / Mentoring Schedule mentoring by emailing SIOY@BYU.EDU
Tuesday, September 12
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
SIOY Kickoff EB Event Space Kick-off your Student Innovator of the Year competition experience. Learn how to receive up to $400 to prototype your idea and how to join the process that will increase your technical and professional development and give you a chance to win part of 50k in total prize money. Network with fellow innovators.
Thursday, October 26
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
SIOY Intellectual Property Info Session EB Event Space Learn from an IP pro the basics of protecting your innovative ideas and the resources available on campus to help you.
Wednesday, November 01
11:59 PM
SIOY Application & Funding Deadline Applications currently open— apply now! Your team can receive up to $400 in funding to prototype your project. To request funding, follow directions on the SIOY application. Questions? Email sioy@byu.edu. Submitted applications are reviewed weekly until the application deadline.
Thursday, November 30
1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
SIOY Speed Mentoring (Mentor Alliance) Clyde Building (CB) Step-down Lounge Be mentored by BYU College of Engineering alumni and other industry professionals. Deliver your idea or product pitch, answer questions, and receive high-quality feedback from the mentors. You may just find a mentor for your team for the duration of SIOY and beyond. 
Tuesday, February 13
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
SIOY Showcase EB Event Space and CB step-down lounge NEW TIME! Showcase is the heart of the Student Innovator of the Year (SIOY) competition where students from across campus share their innovations and receive valuable feedback from the public and industry professionals. This event also serves as the preliminary judging competition to determine the seven teams that will advance to the SIOY Finals competition. You are invited to attend this fair-style event, vote for the Crowd Favorite, and enter to win Apple AirPods Pro!
Thursday, February 29
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
SIOY Final Competition EB Event Space The seven finalist teams will give their presentation to judges in front of a large crowd.  Each finalist team will receive $4,000 just for competing in the final event. Finals competition winners will receive additional cash awards of 1st place- $8,000, 2nd place - $6,000, 3rd place - $4,000, and Crowd Favorite - $2,000.  Those that attend will get free pizza and have a chance to win awesome prizes!
Student Resources
Equipment
Labs
Other

Checkout Equipment

ME Checkout Room

154 CB

Services include: free rental of hardware or equipment like electronics, motors, sensors, and gauges. Also offers workspace rentals, project consultation, and access to certain testing equipment (tensile testers, wind and water tunnels, heat treating ovens, digital microscopes, etc.). Students are trained according to the equipment they want to use and their prior experience.

HOURS OF OPERATION:

Mon. - Fri. 8am - 5pm

For questions, contact Kevin Cole:
Email: cole@byu.edu
Phone: (801) 422-7446

ECEn Checkout Room/Shop

416 CB

https://ece.byu.edu/shop
A one-stop location for all electronic needs: rent or purchase many types of chips, sensors, and equipment. Services include laser cutting, PCB milling, and 3D printing.

HOURS OF OPERATION:

Mon. - Fri.: 8am-5pm

CONDITION OF USE:

Students cannot take anything off campus. All students must complete safety training through ytrain.byu.edu (search college and then find ECEn checkout room). For purchasing and loan policies, see: https://ece.byu.edu/shop/policies.

Labs

MFGEN 101 Lab

101 CTB

https://mfgen.byu.edu/labs
The MFGN 101 Lab is mostly a machine lab that offers metal aids, metal mills, and CNCA equipment. It also has a metal shearing machine.
The MFGEN 101 Lab is only open to students who are in or have taken MFGEN 220 or ME EN 382.

HOURS:

Mon. - Fri. 8am - 5pm

Email to reserve. For available times, click here.

MFGEN Weld Lab

140 CTB

https://mfgen.byu.edu/labs
The MFGEN Weld Lab includes stick welding, wire and feed welding, and tig welding.

CONTACT:

Students must go to the lab to schedule or talk with a lab assistant. Hours are posted on the door with contact information as well.

CONDITION OF USE:

Students have to have taken a manufacturing welding calss or have proof of past welding experience .

MFGEN 3D Printing Lab

155 CTB

https://mfgen.byu.edu/labs
The MFGEN 3D Printing Lab has several kinds of plastic machines for 3D printing and a metal 3D printer.

CONTACT:

Students must go to the lab to schedule or talk with a lab assistant. Hours are posted on the door with contact information as well.

CONDITION OF USE:

Students pay to have lab assistants complete their project.

MFGEN Waterjet

101 CTB

https://mfgen.byu.edu/labs
The MFGEN Waterjet uses GibbsCam to generate code and a modified Fanuc controller to operate the waterjet.

HOURS OF OPERATION:

Mon. - Fri.: 8am - 5pm

CONDITION OF USE:

Only lab supervisors are allowed to operate the machinery but any student can request something to be made on the machines.

Email to reserve.

Foundry

140 CTB

The Foundry consists of

metal welding, casting, brazing, and soldering lab.

CONTACT:

Dr. Miles, in charge of lab:
Email: mmiles@byu.edu
Phone: (801) 422-1858

TA: Juston Goldade
Email: justonjgoldade@gmail.com

BYU Cleanroom

487 CB

https://cleanroom.byu.edu/
A class 10 cleanroom used for research in solid state, optoelectronics, photonics, nanotechnology, micro-fabrication, MEMS, micro-fluids, etc.

Contact Jim Fraserhere for use of the BYU Cleanroom.

HOURS OF OPERATION:

Mon. - Fri.: 7am-5pm
If students are part of the ECE dept. or have a professor who is, they have 24/7 access.

CONDITION OF USE:

Complete training tutorialshere. Attend a 3hr in-lab training, it occurs every 2nd and 4th Thursday from 1-4pm. Contact Jim Fraser and let him know you are attending.

Prototyping Lab

EB 117

The Prototyping Lab has 3D printers, waterjet, laser cutting, CNC machines, mills, woodshop, welding equipment, lathes, and hand tools.
Click here to book.

OFFICE PHONE:

(801)422-6297

HOURS OF OPERATION:

Mon. - Fri.: 8am - 5pm

CONDITION OF USE:

Any student can access the lab but they must follow strict safety standards:
- Students must wear close-toed shoes, long pants, and bring their own safety googles
- Regardless of machine experience, students must always ask for lab assistant help when running a machine

Plastics & Composites Lab


115 SNLB

The plastics and composites lab offers casting, thermoforming, injection molding, extrusion, compression molding, roto-molding, and most composites processing methods. Sells some limited in-house stock materials for those processes. Does NOT offer part design, material procurement, or mold creation. (Prototyping lab can help with molds!)

HOURS OF OPERATION:

Varies each semester according to TA schedules, contact lab to get schedule.

CONDITION OF USE:

Available to all students but they must learn about the materials and processes before using the lab. TA's can help but students should come well-informed. Students are welcome to contact Dr. George and his TA's to ask about which materials or processes to research for a given product. (Some equipment requires specific training. When applicable, TA's will indicate and aid in the training process.)

CONTACT:

Contact Dr. George for any questions:
Email: andy_george@byu.edu
Phone: (801) 422-7878

Presentation

Kickoff

View the presentation slides from the kickoff event to get an overview of SIOY.

Fast Pitch

Learn to present your idea in a concise, informative and engaging way through these resources

Brigham Young University Resources

BYU Technology Transfer Office: Intellectual Property

3760 HBLL

http://techtransfer.byu.edu
Get answers about the protection of your intellectual property.

CONTACT:

Phone: (801)422-6266

Cougar Creations

1010 WSC

Cougar Creations offers black & white and color copying/printing (self-service available), posters & oversized printing, coil binding, vinyl covers, cutting, 2- & 3-hole drilling, laminating, transparency printing, and pick-up/delivery services.

HOURS OF OPERATION:

Fall/Winter Hours:
Mon. - Fri.: 8am - 7pm
Doors close at 6:45 pm
Sat.: 11am - 4pm
Spring/Summer Hours:
Mon. - Fri.: 8am - 6pm
Sat.: 11am - 4pm

CONTACT:

Customer Support: (801) 422-1469
printandmail-support@byu.edu

Office phone: (801) 422-2786
Color Center: (801) 422-3794

Click here to visit their website

CougarTech

3rd floor of WSC

CougarTech offers operating system installs, virus removal, software installs, hardware diagnostics, hardware upgrades, hardware repairs, data backup, data recovery, data migration. Students must pay for services.

HOURS OF OPERATION:

Mon. - Fri. 7:45am - 6pm; Sat. 10am - 6pm
Closed for Campus Devotionals - Tues. 10:45am - 11:45am

CONTACT:

Phone: 1(800) 253-2578 (ask for CougarTech), byustore.com@byu.edu

Equipment & Tech Services

Level 2 of HBLL

Equipment and Tech Services offers laser cutters, microform, VR, experiential lab, computer accessories, computers and tables, GIS and mapping, instruments, multimedia production equipment, multimedia viewing, printing and copying, and studying tools. See website for entire list of services and products.

HOURS OF OPERATION:

Mon.: 8am – 9pm
Tues.: 8am – 9pm
Wed.: 8am – 9pm
Thurs.: 8am – 9pm
Fri.: 8am – 6pm
Sat.: 10am – 6pm

CONTACT:

Email: science_reference@byu.edu
Phone: (801) 422-2987. Can also live chat on website here.

Engineering Building Hardware Proving Grounds

1st floor EB

The Engineering Building Hardware Proving Grounds is a project work area with storage cabinets for engineering students only available by reservation.

RESERVATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Engineering students may use their CAEDM password to log-in on the college reservation website. Near the top of the page, click on arrow to the right of "College Resources" Select "Hardware Proving Grounds," click on desired cabinet, and input the information for approval.

Click here to make a reservation.

VMWare Academic Program

Software for running virtual machines on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Click here to download software for free.

Need help with funding?

Check out our funding guidelines below.

SIOY In The News

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BYU SIOY: Students across campus vie for big money to get innovative ideas off the ground

From products for ‘plant parents’ to AI-powered learning platforms for teachers, this year’s Student Innovator of the Year Competition covered a lot of ground. Held every year at BYU, SIOY showcases student innovators vying for bragging rights and cash to get their ideas off the ground.
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Past SIOY contestant James Orgill creates successful YouTube channel

May 17, 2023 01:12 PM
James Orgill wanted to use his chemical engineering degree to help others learn about science, but he never imagined that he would become a popular YouTuber.
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First All-Female Team at SIOY Finals Invents Dating Safety App

August 11, 2022 12:29 PM
The BYU Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering continually encourages females to participate in their programs and events. As one of the largest competitions in the college, SIOY holds many opportunities for competitors, but few females have made it to the finals. This year, that changed, and SIOY had its first female team compete at finals.
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Diagnosing Alzheimer's disease and taking eyecare to third-world countries: BYU student innovators deliver again

Every year innovative students at BYU give their best shot at developing new technologies that can make the world a better place. With $50,000 in prize money on the line, the 2022 Student Innovator of the Year Competition once again delivered potentially life-changing results.
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Female Engineers Represented and Empowered in LaparoVision SIOY Win

July 28, 2021 03:41 PM
Across the nation, female engineering students face the daunting issue of being in the minority. However, at BYU, mechanical engineering student Amanda Lytle Bartschi produces inspiring results for other women in engineering as she defeats the odds and wins awards for her work.
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BYU competition fosters ingenuity and impactful products

Each year, the competition’s contestants never cease to amaze, inspire and motivate with their innovative ideas. This year was no different.

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10th annual SIOY tackles roofing, insulin, satellites, and more

March 01, 2020 05:40 PM
Former Shark Tank competitors awarded $50,000 in prizes throughout 2020 Student Innovator of the Year competition
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2019 Student Innovator of the Year launches business plan into space

March 28, 2019 10:00 AM
Known for launching BYU students’ great ideas into real businesses, this year’s Student Innovator of the Year Competition launched its winner’s idea even further--into space, that is.
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BYU Engineering student entrepreneur becomes CEO of multi-million dollar company Owlet

January 02, 2019 10:00 AM
BYU Chemical Engineering graduate Kurt Workman went from BYU student entrepreneur to multi-million dollar CEO in just a few years.
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BYU Mechanical Engineering alum takes Shark Tank by storm

The BYU alum was a guest judge for the SIOY Final Competition in 2020
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Contact SIOY

Have questions? Don't hesitate to contact us! We genuinely want to help students get involved with this unique and valuable opportunity to be fostered into the next innovator.