2025 UW Science & Technology Showcase Delivers Commercial Potential for Student Ideas
18 Finalist student teams were chosen to pitch to judges from a record pool of 42 applications
Written by: Charles Trillingham, Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship
Automation, artificial intelligence, and critical healthcare ideas captivated judges at the 2025 Science and Technology Showcase (STS) at the University of Washington. The 18 finalist teams (from a record pool of 42 applications) debuted innovations coming out of UW to receive feedback from Seattle-area entrepreneurs and investors on their commercial potential. Judges awarded the $2,500 Electronic Arts Grand Prize to team ReviveHer for its new CPR training toolset for different genders and body types.
ReviveHer previously won the $200 Best Marketing Strategy Prize in the 2024 STS, as well as the $2,500 Population Health Initiative Best Idea for Addressing Health Access and Disparities Prize in the 2024 Hollomon Health Innovation Challenge.
A total of $6,000 in prizes — the most ever — was awarded at the 19th annual STS co-hosted by the UW Science and Engineering Business Association (SEBA) and the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship in the Foster School of Business.
The $1,500 WRF Capital Second Place Prize went to team Elementrailer. The team of Master of Science in Entrepreneurship students created a motorized utility trailer that extends electric vehicle range while towing, with the goal of advancing sustainability and EV adoption. Elementrailer also took home the $250 Pack Ventures Best Pitch Prize.
The $750 Davis Wright Tremaine Third Place Prize went to team Venosense. They created an automated, machine-learning-enhanced ultrasound system designed to streamline the detection of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), with the goal of reducing diagnostic costs and improving accessibility. Judges also awarded Venosense the $250 Best Poster Prize.
Team SpectrAble earned the $250 Best Marketing Strategy Prize for its novel approach to combatting bacterial sepsis pathogens like antibiotic-resistant strains like MRSA.
Team GUIDEAIR Labs won the $250 Pack Ventures Best Communicator Prize for its innovative low-cost GPS system for high-speed low altitude applications.
Finally, team Voltair won the $250 Pack Ventures Most Innovative Prize for its approach to automating power grid infrastructure.
The 2025 STS finalists were made up of 20 undergraduate students, 25 graduate students, seven Ph.D. students and one degree-seeking medical student. They represented departments including Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Business, Computer Science, Informatics and more. Each team received the feedback and connections to potentially move forward with their ideas by applying to upcoming competitions like the Hollomon Health Innovation Challenge (Application deadline February 3), the Environmental Innovation Challenge (Application deadline Feb. 10) and the multi-stage Dempsey Startup Competition (Application pending) that takes place in mid-April and May.
Following the competition, the Buerk Center hosted its largest networking night of the year for student innovators and entrepreneurs looking to recruit team members, or join projects presented at the STS, or are otherwise being developed across the campus. More than 46% of the 42 teams that applied for the STS competition reported they were looking for additional teammates.
Recent STS competitors who have gone on to earn investments, launch, or earn additional prize money in Buerk Center competitions and the Jones + Foster Accelerator include BioSyft (2024), Greener Pastures (2024), SEAPEN (2024), Panyon (2023), Ultropia (2022), One Court (2022), Puget Buoy (2021), Aquagga (2020), AeroSpec (2020), SENSOL Systems (2020), ApnoMed (2020), Spira (2020), Nanodropper (2019), Chibage Chip (2019), Lonely Produce (2019), Otogear (2018), 4th Phase (2018), A-Alpha Bio (2017), PlayGait (2017), EpiForAll (2017), and mIPS Labs (2016), among others.
The Buerk Center and SEBA wish to thank this year’s sponsors and prize presenters: Electronic Arts, Washington Research Foundation (WRF Capital), Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, and Pack Ventures.
A complete list of descriptions for the finalist teams (in alphabetical order) who competed in-person at the event are listed below.
2025 Science & Technology Showcase Finalists
B-AI
- B-AI is developing an AI-based SaaS platform that emulates the role of a business architect.
Cliinica
- Cliinica is developing a software suite that automates key patient journey processes, improving efficiency, reducing referral leakage, and enabling AI-driven innovations.
CureXsco
- CureXsco is developing technology that uses a supercritical-carbon-dioxide-based process to remove toxic forever chemicals from water filtration materials.
Dolori
- Dolori is working on a customizable, wearable device that provides safe and effective relief for individuals suffering from menstrual pain.
Elementrailer
- Elementrailer is developing a motorized utility trailer that extends EV range while towing, advancing sustainability and EV adoption.
Femur
- Femur is developing personalized exercise and wellness solutions for individuals with menstrual cycles by integrating wearable metrics and diverse hormonal profiles on an intuitive platform.
Flow Email
- Flow Email is developing a SaaS product that leverages a new information architecture to streamline organizations and improve user productivity.
GUIDEAIR Labs
- GUIDEAIR Labs is developing an accurate, low cost GPS localization system for high speed low altitude applications.
Loaf
- Loaf is working on a small autonomous drone fleet for use in emergency response and small zones like university campuses and corporate parks.
Nimbus Ships
- Nimbus Ships is designing a new class of zero-carbon-emissions lighter-than-air airships for freight shipping using autonomous navigation.
OncoDetect
- OncoDetect is developing a novel, non-invasive and inexpensive test to detect seven of the most common types of cancers.
ReviveHer
- ReviveHer is developing a universal CPR manikin breast attachment designed to address gender disparities in CPR access and outcomes.
Septacain
- Septacain is creating a novel way to combat bacterial sepsis pathogens, including antibiotic-resistant strains like MRSA through the use of a herbal therapeutic drug.
spectrAble
- spectrAble is developing a personalized platform for addressing sensory needs through data-driven insights and home care-based suggestions for children with autism.
VenoSense
- VenoSense is working on an automated, machine-learning-enhanced ultrasound system designed to streamline the detection of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Voltair
- Voltair is developing an automated virtual twin of distribution and transmission power grid infrastructure using distributed sensors.
yap!
- yap! Is working on an app to translate sign language into spoken or written sentences (and vice-versa) in real time.
