Koch Innovation Challenge 2025
Wichita, Kansas
- Business application deadline
- —
- Judge sign-up deadline
- —
- Entry fee
- Free
Description
The Koch Innovation Challenge, sponsored by Koch Industries, is an annual competition that supports the Wichita StatCollege of Engineering in fostering a culture of creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship, and teamwork among students.
Multidisciplinary teams of students who participated in the Shocker Design Experience program work to identify a problem in the community that can be solved using technology. In a fall first-year seminar course, teams begin the design thinking method by interviewing customers to build empathy and understand their customer's need, they define their customer's challenge, and then ideate possible solutions by researching the market. In a spring applied course, teams build and test a working prototype, create a business model canvas, and then pitch their idea to a panel of judges at this Koch Innovation Challenge competition.
This competition is the WSU version of the hit television show Shark Tank, where judges are looking to "invest" in great ideas that have the potential for commercialization.
Awards will be given for Best Prototype, Best Business Model Canvas, and Best Live Elevator Pitch. The overall winning team will advance to a national elevator pitch competition.
This event is free and open to the public.
Multidisciplinary teams of students who participated in the Shocker Design Experience program work to identify a problem in the community that can be solved using technology. In a fall first-year seminar course, teams begin the design thinking method by interviewing customers to build empathy and understand their customer's need, they define their customer's challenge, and then ideate possible solutions by researching the market. In a spring applied course, teams build and test a working prototype, create a business model canvas, and then pitch their idea to a panel of judges at this Koch Innovation Challenge competition.
This competition is the WSU version of the hit television show Shark Tank, where judges are looking to "invest" in great ideas that have the potential for commercialization.
Awards will be given for Best Prototype, Best Business Model Canvas, and Best Live Elevator Pitch. The overall winning team will advance to a national elevator pitch competition.
This event is free and open to the public.
Schedule and key dates
5/2/25 - Video Elevator Pitch (entry into the competition, required for Engineering+ Credit/Applied Learning Experience Credit)
5/9/25 - Live Competition at Woolsey Hall
5/9/25 - Live Competition at Woolsey Hall
- 12:30-2 PM - Preliminary Round in Woolsey Hall Classrooms
- 2-2:40 PM - Final Round Woolsey Hall Auditorium
- 2:45-3 PM - Awards Ceremony
Organized by
Samantha CorcoranDate & time
Address and location
1845 N FairmountWichita, Kansas 67260
Components
Business Model Canvas
Judges will be looking for a detailed business model canvas that explains what i...
Weight: 25%
Edit Business Model Canvas
Prototype Video
Judges will evaluate your team's prototype as seen in the video elevator pitch....
Weight: 25%
Edit Prototype Video
Animated GIF to show on screen behind your team
We specifically want you to use this space to upload a graphic of your prototype...
Weight: 0%
Edit Animated GIF to show on screen behind your team
Preliminary Live Elevator Pitch on 5/9/25
The preliminary round will take place in-person from 12:30-2 PM. This will deter...
Weight: 25%
Edit Preliminary Live Elevator Pitch on 5/9/25
Finals Live Elevator Pitch on 5/9/25
This is the finals round, where the top teams will be scored to determine the to...
Weight: 25%
Edit Finals Live Elevator Pitch on 5/9/25