UMass Amherst awards $65K to student ventures at Innovation Challenge finale

AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) - A kinetic energy startup and an AI-powered nutrition app were among five student ventures awarded a share of $65,000 during an entrepreneurial pitch competition at UMass.

"Innovation Challenge: The Final" is the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s premier entrepreneurial pitch competition hosted by the Berthiaume Center for Entrepreneurship.

The event, held April 24 at the university’s historic Old Chapel, marked the culmination of the academic year’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Community programming at the Isenberg School of Management.

Five finalist teams pitched their ventures before a live audience and a panel of accomplished alumni judges, including Norman “Bud” Robertson ’72, William “Bill” Firestone ’78, Chris Velis ’89, Amy Hudson and Myron Kassaraba.

$36,000 Grand Prize: Diel Technologies

Diel Technologies, a team developing cutting-edge kinetic energy-harvesting technology for the wearable tech market, earned the competition’s top prize. Judges praised the team’s forward-thinking approach and focus on sustainable energy solutions.

Team members:

• Ben Hyjek ’25, College of Engineering
• Flo Sabatini ’25, College of Engineering
• Rishi Nandurbarkar ’25, Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences
• Max Loper ’25, Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences

$16,000: PlateMate

PlateMate, an AI-driven mobile app that estimates calorie and nutrient content from photos of meals, secured second place. The app aims to empower users to make healthier dietary choices using computer vision and food databases.

Team member:

• Haamed Rahman ’27, Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences

$11,000: OffCampusSpaces.com

This fast-growing platform simplifies the student housing search nationwide, already serving more than 5,600 college campuses. OffCampusSpaces.com helps students find rentals, roommates and sublets with ease.

Team members:

• Samyak Choudhary ’25, Isenberg School of Management
• Arman Agarwal ’24, Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences

$1,000: X-Change Thrift

A local online marketplace that combines sustainable fashion, community service and e-commerce, X-Change Thrift earned recognition for its commitment to conscious consumerism and local partnerships.

Team members:

• Grant Cooney ’25, Isenberg School of Management
• Jack Mandy ’25, Isenberg School of Management
• Manny Baczewski ’27, Isenberg School of Management
• Mathew Cunningham ’25, Isenberg School of Management

$1,000: Supreme Microgreens

Blending hydroponic agriculture and small business innovation, Supreme Microgreens is bringing fresh produce and plant-based wellness products to regional markets while emphasizing sustainability.

Team member:

• Alexander Ayanian ’26, Isenberg School of Management, Stockbridge School of Agriculture, Graduate School

“The ingenuity and professionalism these students demonstrated, from hardware design to digital experiences, speak volumes about the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem at UMass Amherst,” said Gregory Thomas, executive director of the Berthiaume Center.

The Innovation Challenge: The Final is part of the Berthiaume Center’s larger mission to support entrepreneurial thinking on campus. In addition to pitch events, the center offers boot camps, access to incubators, and mentorship opportunities year-round to both current students and alumni up to 10 years post-graduation.