The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign proudly announces the seven finalists for the Grainger Engineering Tech Startup Challenge. These teams will pitch for a prize pool exceeding $200,000 at the TechChicago Capital Summit on July 22, part of the broader TechChicago Week.
Leading Chicago venture capitalists and founders will attend the competition, providing finalists with direct access to key decision-makers in the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. The Grainger Engineering Tech Startup Challenge aims to foster the next generation of entrepreneurs, providing a platform for student startups to accelerate their growth and impact.
Divey Gulati, ShipBob co-founder and Illinois alumni, will deliver the closing keynote at the event. Divey transformed his Illinois engineering education into a billion-dollar logistics empire, embodying the entrepreneurial spirit and technical excellence that defines Grainger Engineering.
The inaugural Grainger Engineering Tech Startup Challenge program received 110 applications from over 35 leading national and international universities. The seven finalists represent technological innovation, spanning quantum computing, AI, health care, defense, sustainability and advanced materials. Each team is addressing critical global challenges with breakthrough solutions that have the potential to transform entire industries.
Meet the 2025 Finalists
AG3 Labs, Michigan State University: AG3 Labs specializes in designing and manufacturing next-generation, low-cost autonomous drones with advanced AI-driven capabilities, equipping U.S. forces to confront emerging threats with next-generation technology.
K1 Semiconductor, University of Chicago: Transforming the semiconductor industry with groundbreaking wafer-splitting technology, K1 Semiconductor enables up to 20x wafer reuse across high-performance materials. Their proprietary platform is powering the future of mobility, clean energy, industrial automation, defense, and AI infrastructure through enhanced efficiency and economics.
Photon Queue, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Pioneering the quantum computing revolution, Photon Queue is developing free-space quantum memories that could become the "RAM" for utility-scale quantum computers. The startup is commercializing photon-storage technology that addresses critical efficiency gaps in quantum information processing.
Pilbo Health, Northwestern University: Pilbo is a cost-effective and comprehensively automated smart pill dispenser and connected app bundle designed for the medication adherence improvement of individuals through automatic reminders, tracking intake, and keeping caregivers in the loop.
Solitude Labs, University of Chicago and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Solitude Labs is building a zero-trust, decentralized cybersecurity platform to protect America's critical infrastructure. The startup’s focus is on securing distributed energy resources (DERs) to prevent malicious actors from causing devastating disruptions to the energy grid.
Tandemn, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Tandemn is revolutionizing the AI computing landscape with their innovative platform, which connects underutilized Graphics Processing Units (GPUs, specialized electronic circuits designed for parallel processing) and converts them into powerful distributed clusters that deliver scalable, secure and cost-effective AI workloads while providing GPU owners with a new revenue stream for their underutilized assets.
Xatoms, University of Toronto: Making sustainable water sources accessible to everyone, Xatoms is using AI and quantum chemistry to discover new materials that purify water using just sunlight or LED light. The novel photocatalytic molecules remove pathogens, chemicals, and heavy metals, cleaning polluted water from indigenous communities to heavy industries.
Runner-up Teams
- AUVI Labs, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Auvi Labs is developing Beacon, a non-invasive wearable designed for the early detection of dialysis access failure.
- BRCĒ, Michigan State University: BRCĒ is a sports-material tech startup that uses proprietary composite material technology to revolutionize performance and safety across athletic and industrial settings
- Nlab, Northwestern University: The startup has developed easy-to-use kits and step-by-step guides for building real circuits in minutes.
- Menopatch, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Menopatch is revolutionizing menopausal care with a monthly, customizable, extended-wear transdermal patch.
Semifinalists
- Pathlit, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Pathlit empowers anyone to create, automate and deploy powerful AI workflows.
- kWh, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: kWh is a B2B SaaS enabling Indian electricity utilities to prevent blackouts by integrating smart devices — batteries, thermostats, and EV chargers — boosting grid sustainability and capacity by 20%.
- FarmSmarter.ai, Louisiana State University: FarmSmarter’s virtual assistant, “FarmerAI,” turns vast amounts of agricultural information into actionable intelligence for farmers and gardeners to save time and money.
- Silma Labs, Indiana University: The startup helps businesses turn raw data into machine learning insights faster and cheaper — without needing advanced data science skills.
These finalists and semifinalists exemplify the innovative spirit and technical excellence that defines Grainger Engineering—relentlessly pursuing a better tomorrow by solving the world's toughest challenges.
Stay tuned to find out who will win the Grainger Engineering Tech Startup Challenge!