Koch Innovation Challenge 2026

The Koch Innovation Challenge, sponsored by Koch Industries, is an annual competition that supports the Wichita State College 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.  

5/1/26 - Video Elevator Pitch (entry into the competition, required for Engineering+ Credit/Applied Learning Experience Credit)

5/8/26 - Live Competition at Rhatigan Student Center Ballroom