College of Engineering students who dream of starting a business or developing a product are getting more than just classes and encouragement when it comes to entrepreneurship, they’re earning cash to get their startups off the ground.
Innovation takes center stage as student-led startups go from idea to competition as students pitch their products to judges from companies like Olsson, HDR, Inc., and Monolith thanks to competitions sponsored by NUtech Ventures, the UNL College of Engineering, and the UNL Center for Entrepreneurship.
In 2025, funding was awarded to innovations such as Cattle Kettle, Flex Tech and PROTO and all received top prizes at the 2025 Engineering Pitch Competition in April. Cattle Kettle and Flex Tech tied for the $3,000 grand prize while PROTO received $1,000 in second place prize earnings. Cattle Kettle was created by mechanical engineering student Brooke Bode and actuarial science major Madelyn Craft to solve a major problem for farmers and ranchers to consistently monitor water levels in remote stock tanks.
"The cattle out in the feedlot really aren’t the problem," said Bode, who was also honored in 2025 with the Student Entrepreneur Award at an April 15 UNL entrepreneurship event at the Rococo Theatre. "The much bigger problem are the cattle out in the pasture."
Flex Tech, pitched by chemical and biomolecular engineering graduate student Alyssa Grube, introduced wearable, flexible electronics that integrate smart textiles and circuit boards to create next-generation wearable devices. Grube shared that her inspiration stemmed from a passion for wearable electronics and the growing need for adaptable smart tech.
PROTO (Promoting Robotics Opportunities Through Outreach) is a registered student organization focused on expanding STEM education. It was also awarded $7,500 following a fourth-place finish at the New Venture Pitch Competition and Entrepreneur Awards Celebration last April. PROTO’s Victor Chan, a mechanical engineering and electrical engineering double major, said PROTO kits come with tools that “teach a diverse variety of engineering initiatives, not just robotics.”
Judges Ashley Clark (Monolith), John Dineen (HDR Inc.), Neng Huynh (Olsson), and patent attorney and former technology manager at NUtech Ventures Arpi Siyahian (Bookoff McAndrews, PLLC), also judged presentations from Hiredhand’s Michael Endacott, Pairr’s Ayan Hussain, and Helios’ Shaswati Behera during the 90-minute engineering pitch competition at Kiewit Hall on April 1 sponsored by NUtech Ventures, the UNL College of Engineering, Olsson, HDR, Inc., and Monolith.
All prize money awarded must be used to support further development of the student business ventures, such as prototyping or travel