David Shukhin ’27 (green and white shirt), of Tailored, and Aayush Gupta ’25 (white shirt), of Saved congratulate each other after Gupta’s company won the David and Robyn Quattrone Tech Track.
In addition to the Quattrone Tech Track, this year’s tracks and top winners were:
Dare to Dream, founded by Takiyah Roberts ’25, won the $15,000 prize in the Main Street Track, for small businesses with revenue and initial customers that aren’t necessarily focused on scale. The nonprofit is dedicated to empowering young people in marginalized communities through entrepreneurship, with initiatives like after-school programs, mentorship and an international project in Ecuador.
Plan Forward, founded by Anne Spear ’19, won the $20,000 prize in the Alumni Tech Track, for tech and software ventures with traction in the form of early customers and/or a testing prototype, with less than $100,000 in annual recurring revenue. The platform for K-12 administrators transforms raw data into insights by leveraging educational frameworks and AI models, helping schools and districts make informed decisions and tell stories behind the data.
3708 Spirits, whose founders include Tony Ajayi ’10, won the $15,000 prize in the Alumni Main Street Track, for non-tech small businesses that have revenue and initial customers and have generated at least $1,000 in lifetime revenue and less than $100,000 in annual recurring revenue. The company centers on an upscale, locally Black-owned agave spirit brand.
Spotter, founded by Kevin Kyle ’27, won the $4,500 prize for the Joan and Chester Luby Idea Track, for early ventures and/or ideas to change the world. The company’s AI-powered mobile app analyzes and provides real-time feedback for gym workouts.
The contest featured dozens of judges comprising company founders, investors and entrepreneurs, most of whom are UMD alums.
Following is the complete list of winners.
Track 1: David and Robyn Quattrone Tech Track
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Grand Prize ($25,000): Saved
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2nd Place ($10,000): Tailored
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3rd Place ($5,000): BetterU
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Audience Choice ($1,000): Saved
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Tom’s Industrious Entrepreneur Award ($1,000): Saved
Track 2: Main Street Track
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Grand Prize ($15,000): Dare to Dream
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2nd Place ($8,000): Energy by Evelyn
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3rd Place ($5,000): Papa Suya
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Audience Choice ($1,000): Dare to Dream
Track 3: Joan and Chester Luby Idea Track
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Best in Show ($4,500): Spotter
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Best in Customer Discovery ($3,000): Alcclear
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Best in Product-Solution Fit ($3,000): Podfolio
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Best in Go-To-Market Strategy ($3,000): Educate
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Best in Innovative Solution ($3,000): Dancify
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Best in Sustainability ($3,000): Bluuzone Bottles
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Best in Social Impact ($3,000): Breaking The Ice
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Elevate! ($3,000): AkereRose Glove
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Elevate! ($3,000): Sit’n Sweet
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Terp Town Audience Choice ($1,000): Alcclear
Track 4: Alumni Tech Track
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Grand Prize ($20,000): Plan Forward
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2nd Place ($15,000): Cursive
Track 5: Alumni Main Street Track
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Grand Prize ($15,000): 3708 Spirits
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2nd Place ($10,000): Green Mechanics Benefit
Alumni Audience Choice ($1,000): 3708 Spirits
Terp Town Audience Choice ($1,000): M’Elyon Organics
Each semifinalist won a $500 prize. See list here.
