2025 Dempsey Startup Competition Expands After Another Record Showing from Students

The Dempsey Startup entered its 28th year with a record 23 colleges and universities in Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, and Alaska represented.

Written by: Charles Trillingham, Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship

The 2025 Dempsey Startup Competition will have 40 finalist teams for the first time ever — after another record-setting start to the annual collegiate new venture competition at the University of Washington. More than 250 judges selected the finalists and three alternates (detailed below) to move onto the Investment Round on Thursday, May 1 from a record pool of 174 Screening Round participants (up from a record 136 last year).

The 40 student teams will showcase elaborate booths and pitch their early-stage ideas to a room full of startup founders, investment professionals, and competition alumni in the next step of the multi-stage competition hosted by the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship in the Foster School of Business.

“It’s truly inspirational to see students rise to meet the moment and have the courage to try and build a future for themselves through innovation and business savvy,” said Amy Sallin, director of the Buerk Center. “We believe the effort we’ve already seen in this year’s competition firmly establishes the Dempsey Startup as one of the biggest and most impactful student competitions in the entire nation.”

The Dempsey Startup entered its 28th year with a record 23 colleges and universities in Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, and Alaska represented. Nearly 500 students across the 174 teams received detailed feedback from Screening Round judges so they can evolve their ideas for future success.

The advancing teams now find themselves up for a share of $87,500 in prizes — including multiple “Big Picture Prizes” of $5,000 and “Best Idea Prizes” of $2,500 in several distinct categories. Over the past 27 years, student teams have received more than $2 million dollars in prizes, while giving up zero equity in their ideas as part of the competition process.

The 16 highest-scoring teams will be announced at the reception following the Investment Round and advance to compete on Thursday, May 22. The Final Four teams will then compete in front of a select panel of judges for the largest of the competition prizes in a public round that afternoon. An awards dinner and celebration take place later that evening in Seattle.

The Investment Round student teams represent 11 colleges and universities including the University of Washington, UW Bothell, UW Global Innovation Exchange, Seattle University, Seattle Pacific University, the University of Victoria, the University of British Columbia, Eastern Washington University, Washington State University, the University of Oregon, and Oregon State University.

Screening Round teams included student submissions from the aforementioned schools, as well as UW Tacoma, Portland State University, University of Alaska Fairbanks, North Seattle College, Central Washington University, Western Washington University, Simon Fraser University, Whitworth University, Highline College, Green River College, South Puget Sound Community College, and Edmonds College.

Since 1998, the competition has empowered nearly 7,000 student founders and just under 2,400 teams to explore how to turn early-stage ideas into fully formed startups. Beginning in 2019, the generous support of alumnus Neal Dempsey allowed the competition to expand eligibility for student teams in Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, and British Columbia, stimulating more student-created startups than ever before.

Numerous finalist and prize-winning teams from the Dempsey Startup have gone onto launch growing startups and successful businesses including, but not limited to, MoodRoom (2024), RFPGo.ai (2024), SECONDSITE (2024), Cledge (2024), OneCourt (2023), NoWhere Foods (2023), CathConnect (2022), LifeAt (2021), Aquagga (2020), Spira (2020), Perfect Coffee Water (2020), Bridgecare (2019), Nanodropper (2019), Kadama (2019), A-Alpha Bio (2018), Membrion (2016), Scholarship Junkies (2015), Eldergrow (2015), Silene Biotech (2015), OlyKraut (2014), ZGiRLS (2013), Spiral Genetics (2009), Impel NeuroPharma (2008), and nanoString Technologies (2003).

The Buerk Center wishes each and every one of the 40 finalist teams good luck in the next round of the 2025 Dempsey Startup Competition!

The 2025 Investment Round Finalists of the Dempsey Startup Competition

APPAIC
APPAIC has developed an artificial intelligence solution to aid in completion of clinical diagnostic tests at a time when the number of patients is rising and the number of diagnostic labs is shrinking.

• University of Washington (Executive MBA)

Arid Cycles
Arid Cycles created a sustainably made mountain bike frame using recyclable and renewable materials that pushes the limits of performance.

• University of Washington (Human Centered Design and Engineering)

BagSight
BagSight created an AI-powered robotic system that detects and removes plastic bags from recycling streams to help prevent machine jams, reduce costs, and help facilities operate more sustainably.

• UW Global Innovation Exchange (GIX) (Technology Innovation)

BioSyft Technologies
BioSyft is developing AI-driven technologies to automate and standardize the classification of animal behavior in drug testing, reducing bias and saving valuable time for researchers.

• University of Washington (Pharmacology, MBA, Neuroscience, Computer Science, Biochemistry)

Breathe to Lead
Breathe to Lead offers immersive, nature-based retreats for burned-out tech professionals seeking clarity, embodiment, and renewal.

• University of Washington (MS in Entrepreneurship)

BridgFounder
BridgFounder created an AI-powered platform to deliver curated, high-intent matches for startups looking to find their perfect co-founders and initial key hires.

• University of Washington (MS Entrepreneurship, MBA)

Chaska
Chaska is a Seattle-based food truck serving handcrafted Kulfi and Falooda, traditional Indian desserts made with all-natural ingredients.

• University of Washington (Interactive Design)

CureXsco
CureXsco has developed a cost-effective and sustainable solution for reactivating PFAS-exhausted filters, thereby reducing landfill waste and operating costs for water filtration.

• University of Washington (Mechanical Engineering), Seattle University (Finance)

Distill
Distill has developed a way for knowledge workers to transform lengthy articles into podcasts, summaries, or mind maps to turn neglected digital clutter into actionable insights.

• University of Washington (Human Centered Design and Engineering, MBA)

DynamEye
DynamEye created AI-powered smart glasses for visually-impaired individuals to navigate the world with real-time obstacle detection, haptic feedback, and audio guidance.

• UW Global Innovation Exchange (GIX) (Technology Innovation)

Edu
Edu is an AI-powered platform that transforms college application materials — like Common App essays, activity lists, and awards — into professional assets for students to personalize industry-aligned content to their own voice, goals, and strengths.

• University of Washington (Computer Science, Education, Informatics)

Elementrailer
Elementrailer is a motorized electric trailer that transforms fleet towing by significantly reducing Electric Vehicle range loss and slashing operating costs and emissions for greener, more efficient operations.

• University of Washington (MS in Entrepreneurship, Accounting, Mechanical Engineering, Environmental Science and Terrestrial Resource Management, MBA, Electrical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering)

Find That Flip
Find That Flip is an AI-powered platform that gathers property data and evaluates house flip opportunities for those in the real estate market.

• University of Washington (Computer Science, Finance and Entrepreneurship, Finance and Information Systems)

Floating Fables
Floating Fables is a creative toy brand bringing storytelling and style to life through LayerDolls — stackable dress-up kits that combine the charm of paper dolls with the excitement of collectible cards.

• University of Oregon (Biology)

FreshPal
FreshPal is building a smart food management system that helps households reduce food waste and save money through a detachable sensor and mobile app.

• University of Washington (MS in Entrepreneurship, Human Centered Design and Engineering, Information Management)

Global Impact Innovators (GII)
Global Impact Innovators (GII) developed an accessible, high-quality product management training platform for aspiring African entrepreneurs, particularly women and marginalized communities in rural areas.

• University of Washington (MBA)

Go Lemi
Go Lemi is a full-service AI-as-a-Service (AIaaS) marketing solution designed for startups, small to medium-sized businesses, and marketing agencies to rapidly create high-quality campaigns.

• University of Washington (Information Systems)

Hestia
Hestia is an AI-powered parenting app supporting parents of 2–6-year-olds with expert-backed guidance and emotionally-safe community spaces, backed by scientific research.

• UW Global Innovation Exchange (GIX) (Technology Innovation)

Kaapu AI
Kaapu AI created a platform for the professional services market to transform generic AI policies into customized, machine-readable safety layers that enable real-time compliance monitoring throughout the AI development lifecycle.

• University of Washington (MS in Entrepreneurship)

Kerat.ai
Kerat.ai created a service for consumers to leverage advanced computer vision and AI to connect with scientifically backed hair care products and recommendations designed for their unique hair conditions.

• Washington State University (Molecular Biosciences, Genetics and Cell Biology)

Kilat Official
Kilat Official offers a line of 100% biodegradable, eco-friendly car care products designed for automated car washes.

• University of Washington (MS in Entrepreneurship, Information Management, MBA, Material Science and Engineering)

Luminovah
Luminovah created continuous monitoring system for newborns so parents and doctors can non-invasively detect jaundice.

• University of Washington (Electrical and Computer Engineering, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Accounting)

MIKE
MIKE is an AI-powered platform that automates home insurance claim processing by leveraging LiDAR and digital twin technology to deliver fast, automated damage assessments and streamlined settlements.

• University of Washington (Computer Science, Human Centered Design and Engineering, MBA)

MycoLab
MycoLab harnesses the power of mycelium (fungus) to reduce plastic decomposition time from 450 years to just 2 weeks.

• University of British Columbia (Marketing and Entrepreneurship, Business Technology Management, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Accounting, Biomedical Engineering, Systems, Electrical engineering)

ON-Air
ON-Air is developing a novel, non-invasive medical device that quantifies nasal obstruction in real time, providing clinicians with objective data to improve diagnosis and treatment.

• University of Washington (Mechanical Engineering, Bioengineering)

RenoLoop
RenoLoop solves the costly problem of poor lead follow-up for home improvement businesses with an AI-powered SMS platform.

• Seattle University (Mechanical Engineering, Business Analytics)

Revyn Medical Technologies
Revyn is a medical device company improving gynecological care with an alternative to the vaginal speculum that increases practitioner usability and device effectiveness while prioritizing patient comfort.

• University of Victoria (Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering)

RideSafe+
RideSafe+ developed a cost-effective mobile app for universities offering safety escort services to help keep their students safe and stress-free on campus.

• University of Washington (Computer Science, Finance, Psychology)

Ripple
Ripple created a hyperlocal marketplace and social platform built exclusively for college campuses, where students can buy, sell, and connect.

• University of Washington (Finance, Entrepreneurship, Computer Science, Informatics, Human-Computer Interaction)

Rx-Pert
Rx-Pert developed a web-based patient simulation platform designed for healthcare professionals, pharmacy students, and clinical educators to practice patient encounters.

• University of Washington (Public Health, Pharmacy, Informatics)

Seattle Financial Initiative
Seattle Financial Initiative is a fully student-run and operated credit union initiative focused on providing tailored financial products, services, and resources to students in the Greater Seattle Area.

• Seattle University (Management and Marketing, Individualized Business, Finance)

Second Helpings
Second Helpings is developing a software application to connect students to the availability of leftover food from events on college campuses, in hopes of preventing food waste.

• University of Washington (Biology, Marketing, and Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health, Computer Engineering)

Smooji
Smooji is a smart smoothie vending machine that delivers fresh, real-fruit smoothies in under 60 seconds without the need for staff.

• Seattle University (Finance)

Stimma
Stimma is a consumer AI agent designed to save time, money, and hassle by calling customer service lines and resolving issues on behalf of users.

• University of Washington (Computer Science, MBA, Human Centered Design & Engineering)

SuperSurya
SuperSurya developed a method to boost solar panel efficiency to 60%, by using excess wasted heat as commercial heating in buildings.

• University of Washington (Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering)

Sutra
Sutra created an AI-driven multimodal and individualized platform to transform medical education by bringing real patient cases to life for the improvement of clinical reasoning and bedside manner.

• University of Washington (Computer Science)

Universal Extrusion Solutions
Universal Extrusion Solutions created a single-step plastic waste recycler named PolyForge that converts shredded plastic and pellets into filament in real time, seamlessly extruding directly into any 3D printer or spooling for later use.

• Eastern Washington University (Business Administration, Engineering)

Vaccine Genie
Vaccine Genie is a universal vaccine tracking app providing easy access to vaccine records, customized vaccine advice and translation services no matter where users are or where they receive vaccinations.

• University of Washington (Clinical Informatics, Biology), Seattle University (Computer Science), UW Bothell (Computer Science and Engineering), Seattle Pacific University (Political Science, Philosophy & Economics), Oregon State University (Business)

VisionVoice
VisionVoice is an AI-powered voice assistant integrated into smart glasses that helps visually-impaired individuals safely navigate their environment and use everyday items like cash or credit card.

• University of Washington (Computer Engineering, Business, Finance & Information Systems, Political Science)

Voltair
Voltair builds autonomous drones that charge directly on power lines, enabling an inspection service for power utilities that prevents wildfires and cuts operation costs.

• University of Washington (Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Finance & Information Systems, Psychology)

2025 Dempsey Startup Competition Investment Round — Alternate Teams

inquis.it
inquis.it is a domain-agnostic SaaS platform that centralizes every step of the research process, including knowledge base, project management, literature review, academic writing, and collaboration, within one secure workspace.

• University of Washington (Physics, Electrical and Computer Engineering)

Leaffyhill Marketplace
LeaffyHill Marketplace created a digital marketplace to transform Malawi’s agricultural trade by improving market access for rural smallholder farmers and connecting them directly to bulk buyers.

• University of Washington (MS in Entrepreneurship)

ReviveHer
ReviveHer developed a universal breast attachment for CPR manikins designed to revolutionize CPR training and a patch to improve confidence in CPR providers.

• University of Washington (Biochemistry, Medicine)