Game-changing concepts, smart strategy and a shot at $2,000 brought seven student teams to the final round of the YU Innovation Challenge. Part “Shark Tank” part startup bootcamp, the annual competition drew a crowd of more than 100 to Yogoda Commons on the Beren Campus—where innovation, ambition and entrepreneurial spirit were on full display.
With a record-breaking 84 student submissions from nine schools and 24 programs and majors, this year’s Innovation Challenge—YU’s flagship entrepreneurial competition—was the largest in the competition’s four-year history, bringing new energy, cross-campus collaboration, and bold ideas to the forefront of Yeshiva University’s innovation community.
Designed to guide students through the real-world process of launching a startup—from idea to pitch—the Innovation Challenge is led by the YU Innovation Lab and co-produced with the Shevet Glaubach Center for Career Strategy and Professional Development, in collaboration with the Arieli Group. It invites participants—both undergraduate and graduate students—to develop a business concept, build a team and compete for funding and mentorship. The top entries receive prize money, credibility and—just as valuable—a network of future collaborators and investors.
After a multi-stage selection process, seven finalist teams were chosen and paired with mentors to refine their ideas and pitches. On competition night, each group took the stage to explain their concept, make their case to the judges—experienced entrepreneurs and investors—and field challenging questions aimed at testing the viability of their ventures.
The winning idea came from Ruben Mena, a student at the Cardozo School of Law, who, with support from Mikhael Shamailov and Manang Mehta, introduced YachtNotes—a communications platform designed to streamline operations in the $10 billion luxury yacht industry.
“If you have an idea, don’t be afraid,” said Mena, holding his $2,000 check. “Get out there and try to make it into a business. You meet a lot of professionals, you make a lot of friends. I highly recommend it.”
Second place prize of $1,000 went to DMiing, a private, secure messaging platform developed by Katz School of Science and Health students Shiva Kumar Arugonda, Altaf Ahmed and Dwani Patel. Their app aims to reimagine digital communication for users who prioritize privacy without sacrificing usability.
The judges praised the level of polish and potential in this year’s entries. They included Moshe Bellows, a Yeshiva University alum and general partner of Maccabee Ventures; Tracy Harmon Blumenfeld, co-founder, president and CEO of RapidTrials; investor and entrepreneur Avi Rosenbaum, Ph.D., a Yeshiva College and RIETS graduate; Or Haviv, partner, Arieli Group and head of Arieli Innovate; and Dr. Tamar Avnet, director of the Sy Syms MBA Program.
“To see all the teams and their enthusiasm for entrepreneurship—this is what we need to keep building,” said keynote speaker Evan Renov, a Syms School alumnus and co-founder and managing partner of the Arieli Group. “It truly feels like there’s a bright future.”
For students, the experience was as much about growth as it was about competition. From learning how to build a viable business model to crafting a compelling pitch, participants gained critical entrepreneurial skills—and forged real-world connections along the way.
“The quality and talent of the teams was impressive,” said Natasha Srulowitz, Director of the YU Innovation Lab. “They learned how to work as a team, how to incorporate feedback, how to present their business idea. These are the skills that will be highly valuable for their future success.”
Prize money was generously provided by the Glaubach family and the Arieli Group.
With record participation and standout ideas, the YU Innovation Challenge continues to grow—not just as a competition, but as a cornerstone of YU’s commitment to creativity, leadership and forward-thinking impact.
