Interdisciplinary teams will be tasked with developing a project, start up, idea/concept, product, or service throughout the academic year. No formal presentation or pitch materials are required to participate. All ideas or concepts for products, apps, or services are welcome including those for social ventures and non-profits.

On Wednesday, Nov. 1, students are invited to participate in the Idea Pitch Launch Event, where they will have the opportunity to pitch their ideas or concepts for the Elon Innovation Challenge, form teams and support one another in the spirit of innovation. Attendees interested in joining a team will collaborate to bring the proposed ventures to life throughout the spring semester and will prepare for a final pitch competition in April.

Creating an interdisciplinary experience is a key component of this year’s Elon Innovation Challenge. Students, mentors, and administrators will represent diverse expertise across campus. This integrative approach will promote unique collaborations across campus, and enhance the development of final products.

A diverse cohort of faculty and staff will partner with students to provide mentorship and guidance throughout the process. Mentors represent a range of academic schools, including departments such as engineering, chemistry, computer science, physical therapy, arts administration, communications, and business. Mentors and student teams will meet monthly to help refine concepts and prepare for the final competition in the spring.

By April, each team will present their final projects to a panel of judges in a “Shark Tank”-style competition.  

Karl Sienerth, chair of the Department of Chemistry and Alyssa Martina, director of the Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, will serve as the committee co-chairs for this year’s Innovation Challenge.

Please join in the Elon Innovation Challenge’s Idea Pitch Launch Event on Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. in Lakeside Hall. Free food will be served.

Register to Participate or Attend:

If you would like to be a part of the Innovation Challenge, please .  While walk-ins are welcome, we encourage everyone who is planning on attending the event to register in advance.

For more information, please visit the Elon Innovation Challenge Website, or contact staff at the Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at (336) 278-5992

On Oct. 24 at 4:30 p.m. in the LaRose Digital Theatre, Dubitsky will present “Challenging the Status Quo to Disrupt Markets, Questioning How Things are Done.” Hosted by the Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the presentation is open to all students, faculty, staff and Elon community members.

“We are excited to have Craig visit Elon,” said Alyssa Martina, director of the Doherty Center. “His presentation will be of interest to anyone passionate about innovation, product design, marketing, communications and industry disruption.”

On a mission to make things people regularly use better and more beautiful, Dubitsky has dedicated himself to transforming everyday products.

Through expert marketing and an eye for design, Dubitsky has drastically disrupted the market time and time again. Most notably, he was the co-founder of eos products, popular for its transformational spherical lip balm.

Dubitsky served on the founding board of method products Inc. and was the marketing advisor for Seventh Generation, as well as the chief marketing officer of Popcorn, Indiana.

Presently, Dubitsky is the founder of his most recent venture, hello products, a “seriously friendly oral care brand.”

The C. Ashton Newhall Endowed Lecture Series, named for 51±¬ÁÏÍø trustee C. Ashton Newhall ’98, brings successful entrepreneurs to campus to share their knowledge and experience managing the risks and rewards of entrepreneurial endeavors.