The 2024 Red Raider Startup brought together 133 participants from diverse fields to develop innovative business ideas over the weekend-long program.
The 2024 Red Raider Startup program, held from October 4th to 6th at the Texas Tech Innovation Hub, was an exciting three-day event aimed at fostering entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation among students and community members. With 133 participants spread across 12 teams, the program brought together aspiring entrepreneurs from diverse disciplines, including agriculture, engineering, AI and advanced technology, higher education, and medicine. These participants collaborated to develop and pitch new business ideas, receiving hands-on experience in startup creation and management.
"Red Raider Startup empowers students to bring their ideas to life. This year’s teams showcased amazing creativity, tackling challenges in agriculture, engineering, and AI. It’s inspiring to see so much innovation, and we’re proud to support their journeys," said Ryan Bain, Program Manager of the Texas Tech Innovation Hub.
The event kicked off with an ideation workshop, where participants brainstormed solutions to various real-world problems, followed by group formations around promising ideas. Teams were then guided by iTTU Mentors and industry experts through the process of refining their concepts, conducting market research, and building initial business models. The Innovation Hub provided a supportive environment for participants to take their innovative concepts from idea to potential startup, offering a platform to test their creativity, strategic thinking, and collaboration skills.
A key highlight of the 2024 program was the introduction of a new $500 cash prize, sponsored by the Texas Tech Davis College, awarded to the team with the highest pitch score in the field of agriculture innovation. It underscored the increasing importance of technology and innovation in the agriculture industry, especially as it faces challenges related to sustainability and water security.
"This collaboration between Davis College and the Innovation Hub is a pivotal step in inspiring students to innovate within agriculture. The economic impact of agriculture, natural resources, and landscaping industries is $10 billion in West Texas alone," shares Cele Stone, the Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships & Innovation for the Davis College. "Supporting programs like Red Raider Startup spurs innovation geared toward preserving our way of life. We're excited to see how these young entrepreneurs will bring fresh ideas and solutions to the industry."
On Sunday, October 6th, the teams each pitched their venture to Texas Tech leadership and a Texas Tech Accelerator Program graduate. As the weekend came to a close, Ryan Bain announced this year's winners who receive cash prizes. The Agricultural Entrepreneurship Award, sponsored by the Davis College, was awarded to Green N' Things with a $500 prize. Green N' Things is developing an AI-powered app that helps gardeners and plant lovers find the perfect plants for their space, tailored to their environment and care preferences. The co-creaters are Giulian Alfaro, a Whitacre College of Engineering student, and Lilly Herring, a Rawls College of Business Administration student.
The first place winner of the 2024 Red Raider Startup Weekend and the $1,000 cash prize, sponsored by the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance (LEDA), was Ardiyon Bio. Led by John McCord, a Research Assistant at the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center, Ardiyon Bio revolutionizes auto-immune disease treatment for lupus.
The Red Raider Startup program continues to be an essential stepping stone for aspiring entrepreneurs in the Texas Tech community, fostering innovation across industries and equipping participants with the tools to bring their ideas to life. By integrating agriculture, technology, medicine, and more, the event highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of modern entrepreneurship and the pivotal role of innovation in shaping the future.