The Bud Albin Challenge acts as the semifinal round of the
Paul J. Holloway Prize Innovation to Market Competition.
The 2025 Bud Albin Challenge will take place on Friday, April 11, at UNH Paul College.
Teams present their business concepts to a panel of judges using PowerPoint, a poster, and a prototype of their innovation, if available. Posters are not required as part of the formal presentation.
Twenty teams will advance to the Semifinal Bud Albin Challenge Round where they present their business concept before a panel of business and industry judges who have reviewed their 5-page submissions and videos. Teams are allotted 10 minutes to present followed by 15 minutes of Q&A with the judges.
At the conclusion of the Semifinal Bud Albin Challenge Round, all teams will receive detailed feedback from the judges and six teams will advance to the Holloway Prize Competition Championship Round.
Prizes
Cash prizes will be awarded to all teams not advancing to the Holloway Prize Competition Championship Round
$600- 2nd Place Teams
$500- 3rd Place Teams
$300- Runner-up Teams
| Time | Room | Order | Track |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:50 p.m. | 175 | Competition Opening | |
| 1:00 p.m. | Presentation #1 | ||
| 115 | ShelfLife | Health and Wellness Ventures | |
| 125 | MycoRemedy Solutions | Sustainability, Energy, and Infrastructure Ventures | |
| 175 | RoomNet | Software and Information Technology Ventures | |
| 185 | Snowy Backyard Productions, LLC | Other High-Potential Ventures | |
| 1:30 p.m. | Presentation #2 | ||
| 115 | Love and Listen | Health and Wellness Ventures | |
| 125 | Lease Logically | Sustainability, Energy, and Infrastructure Ventures | |
| 175 | Scout | Software and Information Technology Ventures | |
| 185 | Aerial Perspectives, LLC | Other High-Potential Ventures | |
| 2:00 p.m. | Presentation #3 | ||
| 115 | EZ Gauze | Health and Wellness Ventures | |
| 125 | ADU Insight | Sustainability, Energy, and Infrastructure Ventures | |
| 175 | PractApp | Software and Information Technology Ventures | |
| 185 | Nuelife | Other High-Potential Ventures | |
| 2:30 p.m. | Outside 165 | Break | |
| 3 p.m. | Presentation #4 | ||
| 115 | Thrival | Health and Wellness Ventures | |
| 125 | QuickQuery AI | Sustainability, Energy, and Infrastructure Ventures | |
| 175 | Obscura AI | Software and Information Technology Ventures | |
| 185 | SnowSips | Other High-Potential Ventures | |
| 3:30 p.m. | Presentation #5 | ||
| 115 | New-Age Crafts | Health and Wellness Ventures | |
| 125 | Granite State Systems | Sustainability, Energy, and Infrastructure Ventures | |
| 175 | OmniClimb | Software and Information Technology Ventures | |
| 185 | REACH | Other High-Potential Ventures | |
| 4:00 p.m. | G45 | Dinner | |
| 4:50 p.m. | Great Hall | Advancing Teams Announced | |
| 5:15 p.m. | G45 | Run-off Round: Presentation #1 | Health and Wellness Ventures |
| 5:45 p.m. | G45 | Run-off Round: Presentation #2 | Sustainability, Energy, and Infrastructure Ventures |
| 6:15 p.m. | G45 | Run-off Round: Presentation #3 | Software and Information Technology Ventures |
| 6:45 p.m. | G45 | Run-off Round: Presentation #4 | Other High-Potential Ventures |
| 7:40 p.m. | Ground Floor | Run-off Round Winners Announced |
Health and Wellness Solutions
New-Age Crafts
Trent McGoldrick, UNH
Sadie Caddell, UNH
Mons Langaardmons, UNH, (Hometown: Oslo, Norway)
Faculty Advisor: Joshua Cyr
Thrival
Dominic Rainville
Faculty Advisor: Joshua Cyr
ShelfLife
ShelfLife is an innovative app that lets users scan grocery receipts to track product expiration dates, receive smart storage recommendations, and get personalized recipe suggestions based on ingredients they already have at home. The app sends timely alerts before items expire, helping you use them in time—saving money, reducing food waste, and making the most of what’s in your kitchen!
Caitlin Powers, UNH, (Hometown: Marshfield, MA)
Faith Rizza, UNH, (Hometown: Hampton, NH)
Natalie Campbell, UNH, (Hometown: Bedford, NH)
Jess Plumser, UNH, (Hometown: Hightstown/Princeton, NJ)
Faculty Advisor: Jianhong Chen, Ph.D.
Love and Listen
Love and Listen is an AI-powered voice cloning software that integrates with Amazon Alexa Dot to support dementia patients by delivering calming messages in the voice of a loved one. Using emotional analysis and voice recognition, it detects agitation and automatically responds with personalized, soothing phrases to provide comfort and familiarity.
Lauren Chance, UNH, (Hometown: Brookfield, NH)
Hannah Ritchie, UNH, (Hometown: Seabrook, NH)
Devon Smith, UNH, (Hometown: Toms River, NJ)
Faculty Advisor: Jianhong Chen, Ph.D.
EZ Gauze
EZ Gauze is a wall-mounted gauze dispenser aimed at reducing medical waste and promoting efficiency in medical facilities.
Gavin Cronin, UNH, (Hometown: Derry, NH)
William Kellerman, UNH, (Hometown: Sandown, NH)
Faculty Advisor: Joshua Cyr
Sustainability, energy, & infrastructure solutions
Lease Logically
A free information hub to augment your renting, leasing, or home-buying experience.
Hunter Pelletier, UNH, (Hometown: Milton, VT)
Ripken Kimball, UNH, (Hometown: Webster, NH)
Jack Noon, UNH, (Hometown: Newmarket, NH)
Roy Ryder, UNH, (Hometown: Nantucket, MA)
Faculty Advisor: Joshua Cyr
QuickQuery AI
QuickQuery AI provides AI-powered assistants for local government websites. Finding information on government sites is often like searching for a needle in a haystack our assistant solves that. From locating the right forms to creating citizen newsletters, and much more, it’s the ultimate citizen support tool.
Arthur Murphy, UNH, (Hometown: Deerfield, NH)
Faculty Advisor: Joshua Cyr
Granite State Systems
Granite State Systems leverages novel sensor technology and a proprietary algorithm to integrate machine learning into a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit to optimize energy consumption by pre-cooling or pre-heating a cold storage warehouse (CSW) during periods of lower electricity prices.
Brett Schultz, UNH, (Hometown: North Reading, MA)
Shea Garland, UNH, (Hometown: Lakeville, MA)
Rowan Baptista, UNH, (Hometown: Lakeville, MA)
Faculty Advisor: Joshua Cyr
MycoRemedy Solutions
Miles Drum
Faculty Advisor: Christopher Neefus
ADU Insight
ADU Insight is a tech-driven platform designed to streamline the process of determining whether a property in New Hampshire qualifies for an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). ADU Insight automates the evaluation process, saving homeowners, investors, and developers time and effort. Instead of manually researching town-by-town regulations, users can access clear, property-specific insights in seconds. This tool simplifies decision-making, empowers property owners, and promotes smart housing development.
Jakob Mikhitarian, UNH, (Hometown: Stratham, NH)
Faculty Advisor: Joshua Cyr
Software & information technology solutions
Obscura AI
Shaun Devan
Xander Cogan
Faculty Advisor: Joshua Cyr, Brian Gibb
Scout
Scout is an autonomous sports tracking tripod that follows the game using just an iPhone. It provides players and coaches with game insights, analysis, and highlight clips to improve their skills and help players with college recruiting.
David Scholz, UNH, (Hometown: Adams, MA)
Faculty Advisor: Joshua Cyr
RoomNet
RoomNet presents an interactive solution to the outdated and inconvenient roommate matching process found inside university technology infrastructures
Tyler Norcross, UNH, (Hometown: Adams, MA)
Luca Mikulis-Borsoi, UNH, (Hometown: Fonte, Italy)
Jordan Friedly, UNH, (Hometown: Dover, NH)
Faculty Advisor: Joshua Cyr
PractApp
PractApp helps users learn a language by actively practicing it. Instead of memorizing words, users translate sentences from their native language into their target language and speak them aloud. The app listens, provides instant feedback, and reinforces learning through repetition. With speech recognition and text-to-speech technology, it ensures accurate pronunciation and effective language acquisition.
Martin Babak, UNH, (Hometown: Kyiv, Ukraine)
Faculty Advisor: Daryl Hemeon
OmniClimb
OmniClimb is your own personal rock climbing coach. Our innovative technology integrates force sensors and AI analytics with climbing gyms, empowering climbers to objectively track and improve their performance.
Blaise O'Mara, UNH, (Hometown: Sunapee, NH)
Ethan O'Leary, UNH, (Hometown: Madison, NH)
Matthew Gunther, UNH, (Hometown: Chatham, MA)
Faculty Advisor: Lisa Keslar
Other High Potential Ventures
REACH
REACH (Rapid Emergency Aerial Coordination Hub) is a drone designed for emergency personnel. It's incredibly high speed and affordable nature makes it competitive in the drone market.
Marcus Herold, UNH, (Hometown: Merrimack, NH)
Will Carlson, UNH, (Hometown: Manchester, NH)
Faculty Advisor: Ivaylo Petrov Nedyalkov, Ph.D.
Nuelife
100% natural skin serums crafted with sustainability in mind. Offering a clean, eco-friendly alternative to the synthetic ingredients commonly used by major brands, and meeting the growing consumer demand for natural, environmentally responsible skincare solutions.
Aiden Bondaz, UNH, (Hometown: Gilford, NH)
Faculty Advisor: Joshua Cyr
Aerial Perspectives, LLC
Aerial Perspectives, LLC is a drone services business operating out of Stratham, NH and currently serving the entire state of New Hampshire. Common services include aerial photography and videography, mapping, residential thermal imaging, roof surveys, and pet search & rescue. All pilots are FAA Part 107 Commercially Certified.
Ryan Guerette, UNH, (Stratham, NH)
Faculty Advisor: Joshua Cyr
Snowy Backyard Productions, LLC
This company will produce quality independent feature films with a focus in original heartfelt, and nostalgic, and visually beautiful stories.
Nia Garland, UNH, (Hometown: New Durham, NH)
Faculty Advisor: Jianhong Chen, Ph.D.
SnowSips
A portable, lightweight, and flexible self-heating beverage pouch.
Gavin Blonda, UNH, (Hometown: Rye, NH)
Sam Croteau, UNH, (Hometown: Bolton, MA)
Faculty Advisor: Andrea Kokolis
Health and Wellness Ventures
Kristin Laberis, VP of Operations at Parkland Medical Center
Rose Lopez, VP of Growth, Turnstone
Cole Jaillet , EVP, Turnstone
Nick Doucette, Manager, Health Policy and Reimbursement at Novocure
Mike Aldous '11G, Vice President of Product Management and Data Analytics, Warner Pacific Insurance Services
Software and Information Technology Ventures
Brian Veroneau '11G, Chief Executive Officer at Argen Tech Solutions Inc.
TJ Evarts '20, Founder & CEO of SMARTwheel
Jeff Lapak '02, '13G, Director at UNH InterOperability Lab
Kendra Bostick , Founder & CEO, Kikori
Jose Abreu, Associate Vice President, Eastern Bank
Mike Morneault, Investor & Advisor
Sustainability, Energy, and Infrastructure Ventures
Hunter Lambroff, Senior Business Development Manager, Energy Source
Emily Wood , Program Developer Climate Justice and Environmental Resilience, CEI Inc
Andrew White, Corporate Sustainability Director at VHB
Joe Whitten, Co-founder & CEO, Apparel Impact
Jessica Nelson, Principal, New North Ventures
Other High-Potential Ventures
Mike Somers, President & CEO at New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association
Michelline Dufort, Executive Director, UNH CEO & Family Enterprise Center
Sherif Farag, Owner & Founder at Elephantine Bakery
Abby Bachman '18, Senior Associate at Colliers
Dave Widener, AVP, Innovation and Analytics at Service Credit Union
Runoff Round
Lindsey Hayes, Apparel Executive
John Pelaggi, Vice President of Sales, CyCognito
Holly Neiweem, Founder and Managing Partner, Apprentis Venture
Sam Warach, Founder, CEO of NextStep Health
About the Benefactor
Harold C. "Bud" Albin, Jr. '55 was an active and generous supporter of his alma mater, most notably in the area of entrepreneurship and business development.
After working full-time and attending the University of Maryland part-time, Bud Albin enrolled at the University of New Hampshire. Following graduation, Mr. Albin entered the U.S. Navy Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, and became a Naval Aviator. He was attached to squadrons in Georgia, Rhode Island and Virginia, piloting all weather fighter/interceptors.
In 1961, Mr. Albin joined a small company that manufactured steel parts. He continued his active participation in the Naval Reserve in flying status and was promoted to Officer-in-Charge. Mr. Albin retired from the Naval Reserve in 1978 at the rank of Captain.
While serving in the Reserve, he founded Albin Industries, which sold copying supplies. Shortly after its start-up, Mr. Albin expanded the company to include the sale and servicing of copier and fax machines. When sold to Konica Business Machines in 1995, Albin Industries had grown to a business employing 185 people.
In honor of his fiftieth class reunion, Mr. Albin established the endowment that bears his name to encourage and advance entrepreneurship within the Whittemore School of Business and Economics and support activities related to entrepreneurship, primarily in New Hampshire.
The Albin Entrepreneurship Fund supports faculty and administrative programs that link students with entrepreneurs; provides consulting support for new start-up companies; supports lectures and in-residence programs; funds external entrepreneurship competitions; and brings UNH students, faculty, and industry experts to the larger community.
Mr. Albin earned his Bachelor of Science at the University of New Hampshire, was awarded an MBA degree from Wayne State College and completed Harvard University's Owner/President Management program.
Questions? Email holloway.prize@unh.edu
