Congratulations, Illinois Institute of Technology, on winning the 2009 Chicago Innovation Chase!
The 2009 Chicago Innovation Chase was held on April 17, 2009. Eight teams of the best and brightest undergraduate entrepreneurs from DePaul University, Illinois Institute of Technology, Lawrence Technological University, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Ohio Northern University, Saint Louis University, University of Illinois at Chicago, and Valparaiso University competed for a top prize of $2500. Students started the day with a rousing kickoff event led by Dr. David Pistrui, Clark McCain, Program Manager, The Coleman Foundation, and Dr. Tim Kriewall, Program Director, the Kern Family Foundation.
At 10:00 AM, four members from each team went out into downtown Chicago to track down clues and attend multiple large events. The team leader stayed at headquarters to prepare his or her team’s opportunity assessment. He or she also assisted the other team members with answering clues.
This year, teams were challenged to design hospitality packs for Chicago's tourists and business travelers. Students met with influential business and social leaders from World Business Chicago, the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center, and the Coleman Foundation, then returned to the kickoff location to finalize their written opportunity assessments and create prototypes of their new devices. During this time, faculty advisors and guests from the Kern Family Foundation networked, met with students in our Kern Innovation and Entrepreneurship Academy, and attended a luncheon presentation by Thomas Stat, Associate Director, IDEO. At the end of the day, the judges tallied scores from the various segments of the competition and the winning teams were announced:
1st Place: Illinois Institute of Technology, $2500
2nd Place: Saint Louis University, $1250
3rd Place: University of Illinois at Chicago, $500
For more information about the Chicago Innovation Chase, please contact Jodi Houlihan by email (houlihan@iit.edu) or by phone (312.567.3924). Thanks again to all of this year's participants - we look forward to seeing you at the 2010 Chicago Innovation Chase!