2026 Winners

1st Place: ReGraphite Technologies: Rishita Tubati, Tindra Tramontano, Sai Gosala, Lillian Lower
Advanced Materials from Urban Waste
North Carolina State University

2nd Place: AgroWet: Hanieh Najafi, Raziyeh Jokar, Chandra Khanal
Sprayable Bio-Based Adjuvants from Soybean Processing Byproducts for Enhanced Leaf Wetting and Agrochemical Retention
Auburn University

3rd Place: Chain Cycle: Vivian Usha, Kayode Taiwo, Samuel Bassey, Ibrahim Bello, Myka Wenzel, Ejike Ide
University of Georgia

The ASABE Bioprocess Startup Competition, first launched at the ASABE Annual International Meeting in 2022, is designed to cultivate entrepreneurial thinking and help students translate academic innovation into real-world commercial ventures. In this simulated “shark tank” event, teams comprised of undergraduate and/or graduate students develop startup concepts around novel bioproducts or bioprocesses that utilize sustainable biological resources. Teams prepare a 3–5 page report describing their design, business model, and market strategy, demonstrating how their ideas can move from research to impact. The top three submissions, selected from written reports due in April, advance to pitch their innovations to industry judges at the Annual International Meeting in July. The competition builds critical skills in business development, communication, and commercialization—bridging the gap between academia and the private sector—while awarding $1,250, $1,000, and $750 to the top three teams.

DEADLINE EXTENSION:

April 15, 2026, is the deadline to submit Round 1 documents for the competition. No late submissions will be accepted. Teams will be informed of results by April 30th. The top three teams will be invited to compete in the final pitch at the Annual International Meeting.

Rules and Contest Guidelines

Past Winners

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