The Y-Prize Competition is a yearly competition that challenges students to create business plans based on new technologies invented by Penn researchers. The winning team receives $10,000, which they may use towards commercializing the Penn-owned technology on which their proposal is based.
About the Competition
The Y-Prize Competition is a yearly competition that challenges students to create business plans based on new technologies invented by Penn researchers. The winning team receives $10,000, which they may use towards commercializing the Penn-owned technology on which their proposal is based.
The competition kicks off early in the Fall semester with the announcement of that year’s featured technologies. Students work in teams to develop a novel application for one of the featured technologies, as well as a video pitch and a slide deck. A panel of expert judges selects the finalists, who are invited to give their final pitch at the Grand Finale early in the Spring semester.
The competition promotes cooperation and collaboration among students from different Penn schools and programs. Successful teams possess a diversity of skills in science, technology, and business.
Past Winner Spotlight: Avisi Technology
In a few short years, Avisi have transformed their 10-minute Y-Prize pitch into a successful biotech business. Using technology developed in Prof. Igor Bargatin‘s lab, their flagship product, VisiPlate, is a nanoscale glaucoma drainage implant designed to create a new outflow pathway for the eye’s fluid, reducing intraocular pressure and preventing damage to the optic nerve. VisiPlate is significantly thinner than existing implants, aiming to improve patient comfort and reduce complications associated with traditional treatments.
The company is headquartered close to campus in the Pennovation Works building. Avisi continues to grow and excel, garnering support from venture investors, industry groups, and academic institutions, including the National Science Foundation and the Johnson & Johnson JLABS incubator.
