I3 Day Competition
The i3 Innovation Showcase Registration is open! This is the premier collegiate innovation event in the state of West Virginia. Now in its 9th year, the i3 Showcase gives University of Charleston students, faculty, and staff members the chance to present their innovative ideas and win cash prizes. We are giving out over $18,000 in total prize money this year!
There are some changes this year, including expanded categories and real-world case studies (for students) from businesses that completed our Business Accelerator Program at the Downtown Innovation Hub. We are returning to in-person presentations this year, so no more video entries. There will simply be a single presentation that you’ll deliver at the end of March.
Everything you need to know about the 2025 i3 Innovation Showcase
Why you should enter this year’s i3 Innovation Showcase
Student Tessla Aguilar 2024 winner of the case study competition.
To enter i3, you must register by February 3rd
The registration form is simply to indicate your interest in entering. You DO NOT need a fully formed project, or even a fully formed concept by February 3rd. You can absolutely enter more than one category. Below, I’ve listed information about the categories and format of the event:
Important Dates
- Registration Deadline: Feb. 3rd
- Executive Summary and poster design due: March 3rd
- Presentations: March 25-27
- Award Ceremony: March 28
Categories
- Innovative Solutions & Design- Productive Work: Business ideas and new/improved products or services
- Innovative Solutions & Design- Enlightened Living: Social justice projects or ideas with the primary purpose of educating and informing
- Innovative Solutions & Design- Community Involvement: Community service projects or nonprofit initiatives
- Research- Scholarly research projects; in most cases, these should be projects that have gone through the IRB approval process.
- Art- Paintings or drawings, songs, poems, theatrical performances, dance, or any other artistic endeavor
- Joint faculty-student research- Same as the research category but completed in conjunction with a faculty member
In addition to the above, students also have:
- Case Competition- Case analysis with a real Charleston area business; case details will be provided when registration closes
Prizes
All categories will receive the following prizes:
- 1st place: $800
- 2nd place: $400
In addition to the above, students also have:
- 3rd place: $200
Format
Presentations will be 10 minutes long before a panel of external judges on March 25-27 (different categories will be held on different days). Online faculty may present over zoom. We require a poster design with each entry, which will be displayed in the UC Commons the week of i3. For the presentation, you are encouraged to use visual aids like power points, posters, charts, graphics, prototypes, etc.
Feedback/Workshops
If you want feedback on your ideas, the Innovation Center is planning to host four feedback sessions (dates TBA). Since we create the judges’ rubrics, I highly encourage you to attend one of the workshops!!
FAQs
- Can I have multiple entries?- YES! You are encouraged to enter multiple projects. The only projects you cannot enter are ones that received 1st place in a previous i3 event.
- Will my prize money be reduced if I place in multiple categories?- No! You can even win more than one category OR get 1st and 2nd place in the same category (this has happened several times in the past).
- Will prizes be split among team members or does each team member get the full amount?- Unfortunately, the value of the prize will be split. For example, if you win the Productive Work category and have two team members, each member will receive $400.
- I’m not sure exactly what to do but I have a general idea. Should I go ahead and enter?- YES! Registration is to inform us how many people want to participate so that we can split up the judges accordingly. You don’t need a fully formed concept until the Executive Summary is due.
- What kind of poster do you want?- We will give you more guidance after you register. The poster can be as simple or as detailed as you want. Most people find that a single power point slide works best (or canva).
- Do I need to get the poster printed?- No. We will print it for you.
