The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute announced the top 20 teams advancing in the 2026 Tim Draper Utah Entrepreneur Challenge, where student startups statewide will compete for $75,000 in prizes.
Salt Lake City, Utah — March 5, 2026
The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah has announced the top 20 teams advancing in the 2026 Tim Draper Utah Entrepreneur Challenge, a statewide business-model competition for college students.
The finalist teams will compete for more than $75,000 in cash and prizes, including a $20,000 grand prize. Winners will be announced Saturday, March 28, during a public showcase and awards ceremony at the University of Utah.
“We have very impressive teams competing in the Tim Draper Utah Entrepreneur Challenge, and we look forward to seeing them compete at our final event later this month,” said Anne Bastien, program director at the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute.
“We invite everyone to get involved by voting for your favorite team online or attending our final showcase and awards ceremony.”
The competition is managed by the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, a top-10 ranked division of the David Eccles School of Business, and sponsored by venture capitalist Tim Draper.
The finalist teams represent universities across Utah and span industries ranging from healthcare and AI to manufacturing, fintech, and consumer products.
Public Voting and Final Showcase
The next stage of the competition is public video voting, open March 9–21.
The public is also invited to attend the Tim Draper Utah Entrepreneur Challenge Showcase & Awards Ceremony:
Saturday, March 28
3:30–5 p.m.
Lassonde Studios, University of Utah
Attendees can meet the finalist teams and network with members of Utah’s startup community.
Additional prizes include scholarships to the Master of Business Creation (MBC) program at the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business. The program provides founders with mentorship, applied curriculum, marketing support, access to grants, and startup-focused networking.
The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute also hosts a high school version of this competition called the Tim Draper High School Utah Entrepreneur Challenge. Those teams competed for $30,000 in cash and scholarships earlier this month. On February 28, 2026, MCAP, a startup team from Hillcrest High School took home top honors and $10,000 in prize money.
Top 20 Teams (2025–26)
The following teams advanced to the final round (listed alphabetically).
Airavata Bioengineering
University of Utah
Airavata Bioengineering develops crisis-zone healthcare technology. Its flagship product, FOCUS, improves field surgical sterilization using patent-pending UV-C geometry that autonomously sterilizes instruments using a fraction of the power, water, and cost of traditional autoclaves. The system has been evaluated by the U.S. Air Force and Special Operations Command for use in austere environments.
Alpha-RAG
Southern Utah University
Alpha-RAG is a B2B financial document intelligence platform that uses retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) to turn complex financial documents like 10-Ks into verified answers with precise page-level citations. The platform helps financial institutions reduce analysis time by more than 50% while maintaining auditability and compliance.
Altruvia
Brigham Young University
Altruvia is an AI-powered SaaS platform that helps nonprofits measure and communicate their impact. The company aims to fill a gap left by enterprise CRMs that often overlook smaller nonprofits. Since launching its beta in January 2026, the platform has signed paying customers and supports fundraising events with more than 700 attendees.
Apex Monitoring Systems
University of Utah
Apex Monitoring Systems is developing NeoPulse, a non-adhesive wearable cardiac monitoring system for neonatal and pediatric patients. The device enables comfortable extended EKG monitoring in hospitals or at home, using secure cloud connectivity and AI-enhanced screening to help clinicians detect arrhythmias in infants and children.
Clear Paycheck
Westminster University
Clear Paycheck translates complex paystubs into actionable financial insights. The platform helps employees understand deductions, optimize retirement contributions, and adjust tax withholding to maximize take-home income.
Controlled-Health
Weber State University
Controlled-Health is a tech-enabled practice platform that helps physicians transition from corporate healthcare systems to independent subscription-based practices. The company provides a “business-in-a-box” infrastructure with financial and operational tools typically reserved for large hospital systems.
Forge Metrics
University of Utah
Forge Metrics builds predictive-maintenance sensors for small CNC machine shops. Its magnetic-mount sensor monitors spindle vibration and temperature continuously, detecting mechanical issues weeks before failure. The system provides plain-language alerts through a cloud dashboard, helping shops avoid costly downtime.
KEVA
Utah State University
KEVA develops Wi-Fi-less smart locks that allow property managers to text digital keys to tenants and vendors. The system works even when property managers do not control building internet access and includes tools for scheduling showings, verifying lease documents, managing maintenance requests, and responding to tenant inquiries.
Minor Inconveniences
Salt Lake Community College
Minor Inconveniences is a card game about wishing your friends mildly bad luck. Created by Thaydon Block, who passed away in 2024, the game uses organic prompt-and-response mechanics designed to bring humor and connection to social gatherings.
Parlay
University of Utah
Parlay is an AI-powered sales performance platform that delivers coaching after every pitch. The system scores sales conversations against company playbooks and identifies specific areas for improvement, giving sales leaders real-time visibility into team performance.
Redwaste Solutions
Utah Valley University
Redwaste Solutions provides healthcare facilities with safer and more sustainable medical waste management through on-site waste remediation and environmentally friendly products.
ReVroom
Brigham Young University
ReVroom is a marketplace designed specifically for buying and selling rebuilt vehicles.
S.C.O.R.E. (Small Company Operations & Resource Engine)
Snow College
S.C.O.R.E. is a SaaS inventory-management platform built for small businesses in rural and underserved markets. The system provides real-time stock tracking, automated reorder alerts, and restocking reports, and can operate alongside existing point-of-sale systems.
Scry Technologies
University of Utah
Scry develops cybersecurity technology designed to prevent internal data leaks. Using behavior analysis and data science, the platform dynamically detects suspicious activity and helps stop insider threats before data loss occurs.
Shurugwi Premium Broilers
Ensign College
Shurugwi Premium Broilers is a poultry venture based in Shurugwi, Zimbabwe, addressing chicken shortages while creating local jobs. The company plans to scale production to 6,000 birds using solar power, gas brooders, rainwater harvesting, and strong biosecurity practices.
Signal Smith
Utah State University
Signal Smith has developed a contactless radar-camera fusion platform for monitoring vital signs such as heart rate and respiration. The system uses proprietary algorithms to cancel motion artifacts, allowing accurate monitoring even during movement. Initial markets include veterinary recovery monitoring.
Stormin
University of Utah
Stormin is building a sports-card platform that combines collection management, marketplace tools, and social features in one environment for collectors.
Thesis
Utah Tech University
Thesis is an AI-native research administration platform for universities managing federal grants. The system integrates pre-award proposal management, post-award financial monitoring, and compliance tools into a single platform designed for smaller research institutions.
Uinta Life
Ensign College
Uinta Life offers guided fly-fishing experiences in the Uinta Mountains. The company also provides an online community and masterclass so clients can continue learning before and after their trips, along with branded apparel sales.
XtractSol
University of Utah
XtractSol repurifies chemical waste generated by semiconductor manufacturers. Its on-site purification system allows facilities to maintain a reliable supply of high-purity chemicals while reducing supply-chain risk and waste.
About the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute
The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute is a nationally recognized hub for student entrepreneurship at the University of Utah and an interdisciplinary division of the David Eccles School of Business.
Founded in 2001 through the support of Pierre Lassonde, an Eccles School alumnus and mining entrepreneur, the institute now serves thousands of students each year. Programs include startup competitions, workshops, mentorship, scholarships, networking events, and startup support.
The institute also manages Lassonde Studios, a five-story innovation and residential space designed for student entrepreneurs.
Learn more at lassonde.utah.edu.