NYC Gazette

Game-changing ideas and strategic presentations characterized the Yeshiva University Innovation Challenge, where seven student teams vied for a $2,000 prize at this annual entrepreneurial event. This year's competition, held at Yogoda Commons on the Beren Campus, drew over 100 attendees and saw a record 84 submissions from nine schools and 24 programs.

YU's flagship entrepreneurial event—co-produced by the YU Innovation Lab, the Shevet Glaubach Center for Career Strategy and Professional Development, and in collaboration with the Arieli Group—guides students in launching a startup from concept to pitch. Participants, both undergraduate and graduate, compete for funding and mentorship, with the top entries gaining prize money, credibility, and access to a network of future collaborators and investors.

Seven finalist teams, selected through a multi-stage process, worked with mentors to refine their pitches. On the night of the competition, each team presented their ideas to a panel of judges composed of experienced entrepreneurs and investors, answering challenging questions about their ventures' viability.

Ruben Mena from the Cardozo School of Law emerged victorious with his communications platform, YachtNotes, designed to optimize operations in the luxury yacht industry. Mena, with support from Mikhael Shamailov and Manang Mehta, expressed, “If you have an idea, don’t be afraid. Get out there and try to make it into a business. You meet a lot of professionals, you make a lot of friends. I highly recommend it.”

The second-place prize of $1,000 went to DMiing, a secure messaging platform from Katz School of Science and Health students Shiva Kumar Arugonda, Altaf Ahmed, and Dwani Patel, focusing on user privacy and usability.

Judges Moshe Bellows, Tracy Harmon Blumenfeld, Avi Rosenbaum, Or Haviv, and Dr. Tamar Avnet praised the quality and potential of this year's entries. Evan Renov, keynote speaker and co-founder of the Arieli Group, stated, “To see all the teams and their enthusiasm for entrepreneurship—this is what we need to keep building. It truly feels like there’s a bright future.”

Students gained crucial skills and connections through the competition, which emphasized both personal growth and entrepreneurial ability. Natasha Srulowitz, Director of the YU Innovation Lab, remarked, “The quality and talent of the teams was impressive. They learned how to work as a team, how to incorporate feedback, how to present their business idea. These are the skills that will be highly valuable for their future success.”

The YU Innovation Challenge, supported by the Glaubach family and the Arieli Group, continues to foster creativity, leadership, and innovative impact within the YU community.