The 2025 Transcend Madison Innovation Competition marked a significant milestone as we celebrate our 10th anniversary, showcasing the entrepreneurial spirit of University of Wisconsin–Madison students. Held on April 10–11, 2025 at the DeLuca Forum in the Discovery Building, the event featured a dynamic array of student-led ventures competing for over $40,000 in equity-free prizes.
Celebrating a Decade of Innovation
Since its inception in 2015, Transcend UW has evolved into one of the nation’s largest student-run innovation competitions. The 2025 edition continued this tradition, providing a platform for students to present groundbreaking ideas across various industries including health tech, social impact, and digital platforms.
Competition Highlights
The two-day event kicked off with teams showcasing their ventures through poster sessions and initial pitches. Based on these presentations, judges selected standout teams to move forward in one of three tracks: General, Advanced, or the highly competitive Top 5 Finalists. The final day featured another round of live pitches, culminating in an awards ceremony that celebrated the most innovative student ventures. This year’s competition was especially momentous as it marked Transcend UW’s 10th anniversary.
Top Three Winners
Alira
RedElevenLabs
BoxMate
Remaining Top Finishers
Patch – Fourth Place – $2,500
RELA – Fifth Place – $2,500
Advanced Track Awards
- Alumni Award: Quicko
- Best Prototype: SMARTmigrate
- Best Pitch: ImpactChain
- Future Prospect: EmpOUR
General Track Awards
- Alumni Award: FrameChat
- Best Visual: Endless
- Best Pitch: Nomad
- On the Horizon: Jolly
The success of the competition was made possible by the dedication of the Transcend UW executive team, mentors, judges, and sponsors. Their collective efforts fostered an environment where student entrepreneurs could thrive and bring their visions to life.
As Transcend UW looks to the future, it remains committed to empowering students to pursue innovation and entrepreneurship. The organization continues to provide resources, mentorship, and opportunities for students to develop and launch their ventures.
Looking forward to our 2026 competition!
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