Contests, Awards & Prizes
The annual Draper Competition is designed to hone the skills that undergraduate women need to advance from idea to venture creation. Through three rounds of competition, students demonstrate an understanding of a problem, why the problem requires a new venture to address it, how their idea presents the best solution to the problem, and what resources, partnerships and activities it takes to successfully launch the venture.
2018 Judging Panel (l to r): Dawanna Williams '90, Mona Sinha '88, Kathleen Curley '72, Dr. Alan Robinson, Debby Farrington '72, Tim Draper and Melissa Parker Draper '77
SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT - The 2018 Draper Competition was held on a snowy Friday, April 6. The competing teams so impressed this year's judges that the competition sponsors -- Melissa and Tim Draper -- announced that the prize money awarded to the top 3 teams would be DOUBLED! In addition, all of the finalist teams were awarded $3,000 scholarships to Draper University.
Thank you to all of the members of the 2018 Selection Committee, faculty, staff and alumnae mentors at Smith College, faculty and staff mentors to all visiting teams, 2018 Draper Competition Planning Committee, CiEC Interns, and all the members of the Smith Community who made this year's event possible!
Of course, congratulations and good luck to all the student founders as they continue to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.
See you in April 2019!
2018 DRAPER COMPETITION WINNERS
First Place - $20,000 + $10,000 scholarship to Draper University
Busy Beauty
Jamie Steenbakkers '18 and Michael Leahy '18 (not pictured), Babson College
Second Place - $15,000 + scholarship to Draper University
The Forever Shower
Maria Horta Vorse '18, Alex Boatman '19 (not pictured) and Edward Hall '19 (not pictured), University of Idaho
Third Place - $10,000 + scholarship to Draper University
ReBike
Anmei Zhi '20, Nouhaila Norredine '20 and Elaona Lemoto '20, Smith College
2018 Finalists - $500
Alz You Need, Leda Rosenthal '18 (Colgate University)
Fida, Zoleka Mosiah '19 (Smith College)
HF Magnet, Samatha Farley '18 (West Virginia University)
Spin, Oumayma Koulouh '19 (Smith College)
Survival of the Fitted, Rachel Laflamme '20 (Smith College)
Therapalz, Fiona Kalensky '18 (University of Illinois)
Zapp Technology, Giovanna Jimenez '18 (University of Houston)
SPECIAL PRIZE WINNERS
Fan Favorite - $1,000
The Lunch Buddy
Hannah Kelsey '20, Vivian Nelson '20, Haley Markos '20 and Frances Duncan '20, Smith College
Best App - $1,000
Hurdit
Brianna Moore '18 and Leigh Miller '18 (not pictured), Smith College
Conway Center Five-College Prizes
First Place - $1,000
Duo Display - Kate Meacham '20 (Mount Holyoke College), Alessandra Massa '19 (Mount Holyoke College, not pictured) and Bryce Paquette '18 (Western New England University)
Second Place - $750
Anchor - Romina Gupta '20 (Mount Holyoke College) and Abhinav Karthikeyan '20 (Boston College, not pictured)
Third Place - $500
Painter Printer - Darleane Torres '21 (Hampshire College) and Joseph Mendoza '21 (Clarkson University)
Elevator Pitch Contest
90 SECONDS—is all the time students have to present business, product or service ideas to their peers, local entrepreneurs and a panel of judges. Contestants may use one 3x5 index card; no props allowed.
The 18th annual Elevator Pitch Contest, held on November 18, 2019, featured promising Smith students vying for the opportunity to represent Smith at the regional collegiate competition in April. The following 4 ideas were awarded monetary prizes:
Top Pitch ($400):
Claire Rand '20, audiolearning.com
Runners Up ($200 each):
Eseza Kironde '20, KISA and Kelly Pien '20, Eliza
Grinspoon Prize ($200):
Elise Snoey '20 and Tani Somolu '20, Walkshare
Elise and Tani will represent Smith at the regional collegiate pitch competition sponsored by the Grinspoon Foundation in April 2020.
The 17th annual Elevator Pitch Contest, held on November 26, 2018, featured 13 brave students vying for the opportunity to represent Smith at the regional collegiate competition in April. The following 5 ideas were awarded monetary prizes:
-
Best Ask - $100
Isabelle Hodge '20 (Sociology), MarketSpace
(judges - l to r: Deborah Wijnhoven, Lazarus Center for Career Development; Susannah Howe, Engineering Design Clinic Director; and Rick Plaut, CIEC Entrepreneur-in-Residence)
- Best "Green World" Ideas - $150 (each)
Madeline Turner '21, Sprout
Phoebe Little '20 (Government), Ugly Smoothies
- Biggest Impact Idea - $200
Zoleka Mosiah '20 (Engineering), Afrobotics
- Best Pitch - $400
Kelly Pien '20 (Economics), Safety Sister
Kelly will represent Smith at the regional collegiate pitch competition sponsored by the Grinspoon Foundation in April.
The 16th annual Elevator Pitch Contest, held in November 2017, featured Smith students vying for the opportunity to represent Smith at the regional collegiate competition in April. Three prizes were awarded:
Most Viable Venture Prize: $500
Katharina Geppert '19 and Rachel LaFlamme '20, Survival of the Fitted
Grinspoon Pitch Prize Prize: $300 + Representing Smith at Regional Competition
Jacqui Ritchie-Dunham '18, FitYes
Professional Pitch Awards
Anmei Zhi '20 and Nouhaila Norredine '20, Rebike
Elizabeth Boahen '20, SchedulRing
Grinspoon Entrepreneurial Spirit Awards
The Grinspoon Entrepreneurship Initiative (EI) recognizes collegians who demonstrate what philanthropist and successful entrepreneur Harold Grinspoon refers to as "the entrepreneurial spirit." The Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation supports the EI by fostering entrepreneurship education among participating colleges and universities in the region. Each year the Foundation provides participating schools with a pool of funds to distribute amongst students who demonstrate an entrepreneurial passion.
Spring 2021: Grinspoon Spirit Awards
Students may self-nominate to receive an award in recognition of their entrepreneurial spirit. Awards are given to students at both the idea and revenue-generating phases.
2021 SELF-NOMINATION FORM (not yet available)
Shark Tank
Smith teams who have been selected to move on to the second round of the Draper Competition have an opportunity to perfect their pitches. Each team leader has 90 seconds to pitch to a room of mentors. Teams then receive feedback on ways to improve the content and quality of their presentation from the mentors.
Smith Prize in Entrepreneurship
The Conway Center sponsors monetary prizes in entrepreneurship open only to currently enrolled Smith students. Students are judged on the viability of the venture and the quality of their presentations. Winners are determined by combining scores from a written application and pitch to local business owners and investors.
Prize List
- Best Overall Venture: $2,500
- Best S.T.E.A.M. Venture: $1,500
- Best Sustainability Venture: $1,500
- Best Social Venture: $1,500
- Best Trade Show Exhibit: $1,000
- The Atrevida* Prize for Best Pitch: $1,000
- Brodsky Prize for Engineering Entrepreneurship: $1,000
* Atrevida means "bold or fierce."
Note: Judges for the Smith Prize in Entrepreneurship are not affiliated with the Draper Competition. Winning a Smith Prize in Entrepreneurship has no bearing on a Smith team’s status in the Draper Competition.
Western Mass Innovation Jam
The Western Mass Innovation Jam will let you put your design thinking strategies to use in developing innovative ideas for a product/service/experience. Not familiar with design thinking? Join us anyway and we'll introduce you to the first step in generating an idea, determining your idea's potential value, and get you started on your journey to turning your idea into reality.