BEN CORSETTI
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
Major: Accounting/Management
Class: Senior
VitaPet is a health and calorie tracker for your four-legged friends. Animals suffer greatly when fighting obesity, and the negative effects range from long-term pain to significantly shorter life spans. I have an obese cat myself, and it seems impossible to fix. If you put a cat on a diet too fast, they can go into kidney failure; however, if you don’t limit their food enough, they become dormant and keep the weight. What you end up with is a fear that your cat or dog is suffering more than they have to, and you’re left with no way to differentiate between a typical whine for food and a plea for help.
That’s why I came up with VitaPet. It’s the equivalent of a Fitbit for animals. With VitaPet, you can count the number of calories your pet burns every day. The device connects to a feeder through the VitaPet app and dispenses the exact amount of food needed to maintain a specific caloric deficit. VitaPet simply needs you to enter the caloric weight per gram of your pet’s favorite food. This way, you can safely track your pet’s location and weight.
The device is designed to be placed behind the front left shoulder of your pet, a spot that behaves similarly to a human’s wrist. Eventually, VitaPet will grow in scale and scope, entering the dog food industry while expanding its technological capabilities and the types of health tracking possible.
LUKE DAMIRI
Hometown: Mullica Hill, NJ
Major: Industrial Design
Class: Senior
Steady Slice began as a cutting board and peeler designed specifically for individuals living with only one hand, but quickly evolved into a universal kitchen aid that enhances independence, safety, and efficiency for all users. Its inclusive design bridges accessibility and everyday convenience, empowering anyone, whether cooking one-handed, multitasking, or simply seeking more control, to prepare food with ease.
The system features a stable wooden base with a non-slip silicone underside, ensuring it stays firmly in place during use. A modular peg-and-spike plate securely holds produce of various shapes, preventing slipping while slicing or peeling. The integrated slanted peeler allows effortless one-handed operation. Each element of the design was developed through empathetic research and user testing, emphasizing dignity, comfort, and adaptability.
While originally conceived for people living with a disability, Steady Slice quickly proved beneficial for a much wider audience: parents cooking while holding a child, individuals with arthritis, and even children or beginner chefs. Its universal usability makes it not just an assistive device, but a smarter, more thoughtful approach to kitchen design.
By merging inclusive design principles with everyday practicality, Steady Slice represents a step toward kitchens that work for everyone, no matter their ability, age, or experience.
ALEXANDER DIBELLA
Hometown: Fredericksburg, VA
Major: Industrial Design
Class: Senior
Traditionally, products made for amputees tend to focus entirely on function and neglect aesthetics, resulting in items that feel sterilized and impersonal. While prosthetic covers offer a way for people to customize their look, most desirable models are extraordinarily expensive, making them largely unattainable for a demographic that has so many other necessary expenses. Additionally, users vary wildly in terms of what styles they gravitate towards and how comfortable they are showcasing their prosthetic, making nailing down a one-size-fits-all solution virtually impossible.
PRISM is a line of prosthetic leg covers for above-knee amputees designed for anyone, anytime. Made from die-cut polystyrene sheets that are heat-formed to mirror the shape of a natural leg, its low price makes it easy for users to purchase multiple different styles. Users can choose to match the cover with their outfit and the occasion, with options ranging from professional to flashy to athletic. PRISM’s goal is to not only provide people with an affordable alternative to other covers, but to give wearers the freedom to reclaim their personal style and showcase their prosthetic on their own terms
TIFFANY ELLIS
Hometown: Vale, NC
Major: Business Management
Class: Junior
As a parent of three children in charter schools, I’ve seen how difficult lunch can be. Since most charter schools don’t receive meal funding, parents must either pack lunches daily or order from expensive services like My Hot Lunchbox. That challenge inspired Nutritious Lunch Delivery for Charter Schools. A service offering affordable, homemade, healthy meals delivered directly to schools.
The plan begins with using ghost kitchens, shared commercial kitchens rented from small restaurants that are closed early in the week. This keeps costs low, ensures food safety compliance, and supports local businesses. Meals would be prepared fresh each morning, labeled with each child’s name, and delivered to schools in insulated carriers before lunchtime. Staff or volunteers could easily distribute meals during lunch periods.
Parents could order through a simple app featuring a rotating four-week menu, with flexible daily, weekly, or monthly payment options. The app would also manage allergy preferences, payments, and delivery tracking.
Partnerships with schools will be key to coordinating orders, meal distribution, and parent outreach. Once the service is established, then expansion into the whole school week and additional dietary options will follow.
This need extends far beyond one community. Charter schools across the state have a similar problem. My sister’s children in Raleigh face the same problem. With growing demand statewide, this model could scale across North Carolina, helping families access healthy, affordable school lunches while supporting local restaurants and communities.
NATHAN HALLADAY AND NOAH KITCHON
Hometown: Rutherfordton, NC
Major: Business Management - Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Class: Junior
BrushaBlade is a premium oral care innovation that combines a high-quality toothbrush and a stainless steel tongue scraper into one refined, dual-ended design. Research in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology shows that brushing paired with tongue cleaning can reduce oral bacteria by up to 75 percent more effectively than brushing alone. Yet most people never clean their tongues, even though nearly half of adults experience chronic bad breath.
BrushaBlade transforms oral care by merging luxury and science into one effortless experience. Its balanced form, precision materials, and minimalist design encourage a healthier daily routine while appealing to modern consumers who value both wellness and aesthetics.
We are now moving forward with prototype development and production planning to bring BrushaBlade from concept to reality.
CONNOR HILL
Hometown: Franklinton, NC
Major: Industrial Design - Product Design
Class: Senior
Holding a nail or screw becomes a high-risk task for millions of people with limited upper limb dexterity, even though it should not require two hands. Too frequently, moments that may seem empowering like creating, repairing, or building something become reminders of what is unachievable. After witnessing people face these problems personally, I realized the problem was not only physical, but also emotional. Most assistive devices have a clinical or stigmatizing feel, as if they lack the pride that comes with utilizing actual instruments.
That's why I developed V-TEX, a stabilizer that allows people to put fasteners independently using only one functional limb or residual limb pressure. No coordinated grip needed. The angled silicone geometry holds nails and screws firmly against any surface, so users can align and drive fasteners with a hammer or drill. Instead of hiding what it is, V-TEX leans into bold design inspired by brands like Milwaukee and DeWalt. It's about dignity through ownership, not being treated like an exception.
Primary users include people with limb differences, stroke survivors, veterans, and older DIYers. But the potential goes further: parents teaching kids safe tool practices, makerspaces, beginner builders, or anyone needing precision. With manufacturing costs around $2–$3 per unit through injection molding, V-TEX is accessible and scalable for communities.
I created V-TEX because freedom should not be contingent on having two flawless hands. When someone completes a task on their own, even driving a nail, it becomes more than a function. It becomes reclaimed confidence.
KIERA MURPHY
Hometown: Smyrna, Georgia
Major: Business Management
Class: Sophomore
Interest in rock climbing has grown rapidly since the 1970s, and has exploded after its Olympic debut in 2020. Youth participation is booming through indoor gyms, climbing teams, training programs, and organizations like USA Climbing. However, while there are summer day camps and sleep-away camps that include climbing as an activity, there are no programs designed specifically for experienced youth climbers who want structured outdoor training.
Our solution is a two-week summer expedition-style camp in the Southeast U.S. focused on outdoor climbing and wilderness skills. Participants will climb across multiple destinations, while also learning Leave No Trace ethics, backpacking, and camping skills. Led by experienced climbing coaches with Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certifications and AMGA multi-pitch instructor certifications (American Mountain Guiding Association), the program combines high-level coaching with immersive backcountry experience.
Our target audience is climbers aged 12–17 who train indoors year-round but lack consistent access to outdoor climbing. This program provides the opportunity to apply their gym skills on real rock in a supportive, challenging environment with peers who share their passion. According to industry sources, there are 7,000 recreational youth climbers in the Southeast, 640 of whom are actively registered and competing through USA Climbing.
In the summer of 2026, we will hold four 2-week programs for 10 climbers each, generating $25000 in revenue for each camp and $8500 in profit. We will revise and refine the program to scale in 2027 to climbing destinations all around the world.
SKYLAR PERGUIDI
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
Major: Business Management - Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Class: Junior
Every year, millions of college freshmen move into dorms and face the same reality: a cold metal bed frame pushed against a white cinderblock wall. It’s uncomfortable, uninviting, and nothing like home. Parents hate sending their child off to a space that feels more like a hospital room than a room to recharge. For students, it makes relaxing, studying, or even sitting up in bed a daily struggle.
University Headboards solves this. Our padded, professionally upholstered headboards are designed to mount securely onto standard dorm frames without tools, damage, or messy workarounds. They instantly make dorm rooms warmer, more personal, and more like home. Students get comfort and functionality. Parents get peace of mind.
This isn’t just a what-if. In our second year of business, our headboards are already in dorms at Appalachian State, UNC Charlotte, and NC State. Students love the comfort. Parents love how easy it is to set up and how big of a difference it makes.
With over 1.5 million freshmen moving into dorms each year, the opportunity is enormous. We’re scaling through outsourced manufacturing, targeted marketing to students and parents, and nationwide dorm delivery.
University Headboards is only the beginning. With new products in the works, I see this company becoming a full dorm outfitter. Not just headboards, but a range of comfort solutions and stylish upgrades. Turning plain dorm rooms into spaces students love and parents feel good about.
SAWYER O'DONNELL
Hometown: Wake Forest, NC
Major: HR Management
Class: Senior
In 2024, I found myself unemployed after a breakup. Searching for a job felt like swiping in the dark. Endless cover letters, impersonal job boards, and deafening silence. Ironically, it was a dating app that reminded me how powerful intuitive design and human connection can be. That’s when I had the idea: what if finding a job felt more like finding love?
I launched a survey and collected data from across the world. The feedback was unanimous: people are tired of ghost jobs, unprofessional recruiters, and the lack of genuine connection between candidates and companies.
CareerCrush is a mobile job platform that reimagines recruitment through the lens of dating app mechanics, profile swipes, instant messaging, and curated matching. No more redundant applications. Candidates who fit the qualifications can send a single, thoughtful message to recruiters to express interest and qualifications. In return, companies engage faster and more personally.
But the real innovation lies in our CultureMatch Technology, a machine learning model that analyzes candidate values, work preferences, and communication styles (via well-tested personality assessments and sentiment analysis) to match people with companies where they’ll thrive. We also integrate verified employer listings to eliminate ghost jobs and allow users to join professional communities for networking and mentorship.
CareerCrush doesn't just aim to fill roles. We aim to spark meaningful, long-term matches between people and employers. For a monthly fee, companies access higher-qualified, culture-aligned candidates. We’re here to make hiring more human and help job seekers find where they truly belong.
NOLAN WESTROM
Hometown: Chapel Hill, NC
Major: Supply Chain Management
Class: Junior
UniPlanner is an academic planning and advising platform that helps students stay organized, reduce stress, and achieve better outcomes — while giving advisors and academic departments real-time insight into student progress.
For students, UniPlanner replaces the endless juggling of syllabi, emails, and spreadsheets. By uploading their course syllabi once, every assignment, exam, and meeting is automatically synced to a calendar, then transformed into a personalized AI-powered study plan. The result: less anxiety, better time management, and fewer missed deadlines.
For advisors, academic chairs, and student success offices, UniPlanner is a time-saving powerhouse. Its centralized dashboard provides instant visibility into which students are falling behind or have upcoming deadlines, enabling proactive outreach and support before grades slip. Departments save hours each week while improving communication and accountability across entire organizations.
Our first integrations with Greek organizations like Zeta Tau Alpha at NC State have shown measurable benefits: improved accountability, fewer missed deadlines, and a clear reduction in time spent on academic check-ins.
As we expand integrations with Canvas, Outlook, and Google Calendar, UniPlanner is on its way to becoming the academic infrastructure layer for higher education — connecting students and advisors through intelligent automation, real-time data, and personalized guidance.
Our mission is simple: make academic success proactive, not reactive — empowering students and institutions alike to stay one step ahead.