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2018 CHALLENGE

2018 BREAKTHROUGH INNOVATION CHALLENGE

A UNIQUELY-DESIGNED GAIT TRAINER WINS FIRST PLACE IN THE 2018 UH BREAKTHROUGH INNOVATION CHALLENGE

WINNERS
From left to right: Lee Ann Young, Asuka Suzuki and Lauren Tamamoto with Okaraust; Nic Ulm and Bradley Beeksma with Dive Buddy; and Austin Yoshino with G-Trainer

A UNIQUELY-DESIGNED GAIT TRAINER WINS FIRST PLACE IN THE 2018 UH BREAKTHROUGH INNOVATION CHALLENGE

(Honolulu, HI) – On Thursday, November 15, the Shidler College of Business’ Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship (PACE) conducted the final round and announced the winners of the 2018 University of Hawaii (UH) Breakthrough Innovation Challenge. Inspired by his brother who lives with cerebral palsy, Mechanical Engineering student, Austin Yoshino, designed a customizable gait trainer that incorporates gyroscopic technology in the wheels. This improved design will assist users to walk for longer periods of time, increasing the possibility of walking independently in the future. Austin and his idea called “G-Trainer” captured the top prize of $2,000.

This year’s challenge was sponsored by one of the State’s largest CPA firms, Accuity LLP. Nearly 80 people from the UH and the community attended the event, which was held at the Waialae Country Club.

Prior to the final event, contestants, who are UH students, submitted a 2-minute video in which they detailed their breakthrough idea and its market potential. A preliminary judging panel selected five finalists. PACE then matched the finalists with coaches from the local business community to help the teams further identify commercial opportunities for the idea and develop a five-minute presentation.

Five Finalists:

  • Dive Buddy – a self-driving boat drone that flags and follows scuba divers

  • G-Trainer – a device for people who need assistance with walking

  • Heaterator – a portable lunch box system that keeps food cold or hot

  • Okaraust – a gluten-free pizza dough using okara, a tofu byproduct

  • Vert – a system that enables the growth of plants on an inclined vertical surface

Dive Buddy took home the 2nd prize of $1,000. Okaraust captured the $1,000 Audience Choice award that was determined by audience votes.

The finalists presented their ideas to a judging panel comprised of Dana Cotter, Director of Portfolio for Elemental Excelerator; Julia Okinaka, President of Accuity Consulting Services; Tarik Sultan, Managing Partner of Sultan Ventures; and Susan Yamada, Director of UH Ventures for the UH System. The panel was tasked with determining a first and second place winner.

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PARTNERS
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Now in its 9th year, the UH Breakthrough Innovation Challenge is an entrepreneurial competition that exposes UH students in all disciplines to entrepreneurial and innovative ways of thinking; provides a platform for participants to showcase their ingenious ideas to offer more efficient, stronger, better, and novel products or services; and brings recognition and attention to outstanding entrepreneurs at UH.
The Challenge matches competitors with business mentors and teaches students to research market opportunities, seek customer validation, and determine the commercial potential of their idea. The Challenge is sponsored by Accuity LLP and organized by the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship in partnership with the UH College of Engineering, the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, the William S. Richardson School of Law, and the UH Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation. For more information, visit pace.shidler.hawaii.edu/bic
Founded in 2000 at the Shidler College of Business, the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship (PACE) is the home for a set of experiential entrepreneurship programs at the University of Hawaii (UH). The Center’s 20+ programs offer mentorship, training and resources to all UH students and faculty, and are designed to encourage entrepreneurial thinking across disciplines and inspire entrepreneurs to move their ideas from conceptualization to commercialization. For more information, visit pace.shidler.hawaii.edu.
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email: pace@hawaii.edu
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email: pace@hawaii.edu
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University of Hawaiʻi
An Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Institution.
© 2020 Shidler College of Business. All rights reserved.
2404 Maile Way, Room E-402, Honolulu, HI 96822
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uhm logo@2x
University of Hawaiʻi
An Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Institution.
© 2020 Shidler College of Business. All rights reserved.
Website by Blue Logic Labs
2404 Maile Way, Room E-402, Honolulu, HI 96822
Intranet • Credits