2025 Conrad Challenge Summit Winners

Pete Conrad Scholars

SensAir

Singapore

Team: Ishaan Puri and Anvay Mathur

Coach: Christine Nguyen

SensAir is a cutting-edge aerospace sensor that detects clear-air turbulence (CAT), a major hazard for aviation. Unlike traditional radar, which fails to detect CAT due to the absence of particulates, SensAir employs pulsed lasers, photodetectors, and statistical mechanics to map turbulence in real time. It provides pilots with actionable data for timely warnings, optimized path adjustments, and fuel-efficient operations. SensAir also fills a critical gap as the first dedicated backup system for turbulence detection. While most aviation systems have contingency measures, pilots currently depend on briefings and weather maps updated every six hours. With 75-80% of crashes linked to human error, SensAir’s real-time capabilities significantly enhance safety, offering immense business potential and operational benefits for airlines. Our target customers include aircraft manufacturers (e.g., Boeing, Airbus), avionic system companies, and UAV developers. SensAir supports new aircraft, retrofits older models, and offers a subscription-based global turbulence database.

Power Pitch Winners

Weathering Heights | AirAnchor

Republic of Korea

Team: Changun Jeong, Seyoung Lim, Chanmin Chung, Yeonsoo Chu

Coach: Sukbum Hong

Unmatched stability. Unprecedented reusability. Unmatched potential. The AirAnchor is a groundbreaking innovation devised to revolutionize approaches to conventional meteorological measurements. With its lightweight Kevlar flaps and expanding compliant frame, the AirAnchor is able to reduce aircraft drift by more than 50%—greatly increasing the regional precision of meteorological data collection. Furthermore, with its masterful coordination of stepper motors, the AirAnchor also possesses the unprecedented ability to return home, ready for redeployment. The reusability of the AirAnchor, with our revolutionary lease-based system, dramatically cuts costs to lower the price of launching meteorological devices such as radiosondes from being well over two hundred dollars to just about the price of a cup of coffee. With climate change becoming an increasingly dire concern, the AirAnchor’s combination of precision and sustainability makes it an irresistible choice.

Pete Conrad Scholars

WiFind

Virginia, USA

Team: Nayel Rehman, Aayush Tendulkar, Arhan Menta, Rushil Kukreja

Coach: Ashish Tendulkar

In 2023 alone, natural disasters resulted in over 86,000 deaths as well as millions of injuries, with building collapses accounting for a significant portion. Search and rescue teams know that every minute counts and can be the difference between life and death. However, the technologies they rely on to locate people all have one fatal flaw: they require a direct line of sight. WiFind is here to change that. By detecting disturbances in WiFi signals emitted from the device, WiFind can detect human micromovements through rubble and obstructions. In just a few minutes, SAR teams can set up a WiFind system and scan the area for survivors, pinpointing their exact location through our proprietary Signal & Disturbance Localization System. Once individuals are detected, rescuers can access a real-time 3D map with their locations. With WiFind, we hope to speed up SAR missions exponentially, saving countless lives each year.

Power Pitch Winners

SoberRide

North Carolina, USA

Team: Swayam Shah, Bhavik Kanumuri, Neil Patel, Krithin Visvesh, Shaurya Mantrala

Coach: Bhavik Shah

Imagine the empty chair, the silent room, and the ache of a family forever torn apart—all because of a singular, devastating mistake. This mistake is drunk driving, and it claimed the life of our neighbor. It’s a choice that steals 13,000+ lives each year in the US, shattering families and leaving people in a state of grief that no one should ever have to endure. This deeply personal loss opened our eyes to a global crisis, one that extends far beyond just our own community. To combat this, we created SoberRide, a quantum-optimized and multimodal intoxication detection device sold to vehicle manufacturers (OEMs) to eradicate drunk driving. With state-of-the-art facial analysis and an AI-enhanced sensor, SoberRide accurately identifies drunk drivers and prevents vehicle operation. A trillion-dollar infrastructure bill was recently passed requiring new vehicles to come with anti-drunk driving systems, so time is on our side.

Pete Conrad Scholars

SPIRo

California, USA

Team: Evan Zhang, Eddie Zhang

Coach: Bhavik Shah

Most gas distribution pipeline leaks in the U.S. are fugitive, releasing 7 million tons of methane into the atmosphere annually. Our innovative product, SPIRo (Soft Pipeline Inspection Robot), is a cutting-edge AI-based soft robotic system designed for real-time methane leak detection in upstream pipeline distribution systems. Combining bio-inspired soft robotics with advanced machine learning, SPIRo offers unparalleled flexibility, adaptability, and high accuracy (95% in the field). It addresses the challenges of existing methods, including costly hardware, low efficiency, and inaccessibility in complex environments such as underground or hazardous conditions.

Power Pitch Winners

Swarmthinkers | FireAIDSS

China

Team: Yecheng Gong, Yiran Zhu, Sarah Huang

Coach: Shiyao Gu

As global warming continues to exacerbate, wildfires have taken a grave toll on civilians around the world, causing 900 billion dollars per year due to property loss, life loss and large-scale chronic disease. Our company Swarmthinkers developed FireAIDSS, an intelligent drone swarm powered by cutting-edge AI technology. It is the first ever one-stop solution that enables firefighters to see invisible threats of wildfires, such as ember attacks, in real time. The system not only provides superior accuracy and efficiency compared to current competitors at a lower cost, but also a disruptive technology for 3D wildfire spread prediction, transforming invisible threats into actionable intelligence. FireAIDSS is set to revolutionize the forest fire prevention DICT market, which is predicted to expand rapidly as more organizations in public and private sectors join us to explore new ways to prepare for, monitor, and respond to environmental disasters for decades to come.

Pete Conrad Scholars

Neuropod

California, USA

Team: Vishresh Deepak, Nikhil Krishnaswamy, Anika Mukherjee

Coach: Deepak Balasubramaniam

Imagine if monitoring your brain’s activity was as easy as checking your phone. That’s what we’re bringing to life with Neuropod: a revolutionary, non-invasive mastoid EEG device that fits discreetly behind the ear, offering real-time insights into brain activity. Unlike current EEG systems which are bulky and expensive, Neuropod is designed to be affordable, easy to use, and part of your everyday routine. Though applications range from stress, sleep, or mental wellness tracking, we believe that Neuropod can make a big difference in the lives of those with epilepsy. Neuropod democratizes brain health monitoring, breaking down affordability barriers. Our target groups are patients with neurodegenerative diseases, persons interested in mental health and neurological wellness, and health and wellness technology companies. Neuropod’s business potential is immense, tapping into the rapid growth in the health-tech market. Neuropod makes brain health attainable, paving the way for a healthier, more empowered society.

Power Pitch Winners

Kinection

China

Team: Agnes Chiu, Ian Xie, Caroline L Zhang, Brian Ma, Chun Hei Jessie Yim

Coach: Kenneth Tang

What if recovery wasn’t about setbacks, but comebacks? At Kinection, we’re transforming odds of rehabilitation into opportunities. Our innovation, Kinector, integrates a wearable brace with advanced EMG sensors, a mobile app for patients, and a web portal for physiotherapists to monitor ankle physiotherapy progress in real time. By guiding patients to perform exercises correctly, we reduce re-injury risks from 38% to just 5.6%, saving patients’ time, money, and emotional stress while empowering physiotherapists to increase operational efficiencies and revenue. The financial model shows net profits turn positive in Y3, and by Y10 net profits will be north of 26mio USD. Kinection offers sustainable and scalable growth potentials while lowering patient healthcare costs and streamlining the rehabilitation process. Join us in revolutionizing recovery – because healing shouldn’t be harder than it needs to be. 

Pete Conrad Scholars

ToiletWarrior | Aquabel

China

Team: Zikang Zhang, Chunhei Lam, Mingyu Shen

Coach: Chengwei Sun

“Aquabel” is an innovative smart urinal equipped with a water-saving device, which can achieve an annual water saving of 220,000 liters per unit through patented technology, reducing the operating costs by about 85%. It leverages IoT smart management to lower maintenance costs and is suitable for public toilets in various areas. This device can break through the high investment threshold for water-saving facility renovations, promoting its adoption in more commercial and public spaces, aligning with national water-saving renovation policies, and offering broad market prospects, awaiting investment to drive innovation.

Power Pitch Winners

Aquaneers | Shells for Water

Vietnam

Team: Quoc Huy Nguyen, Hoang Long Pham, Alexander Chau, Nha Tran, Khang Tran

Coach: Thuy Trang

Imagine waking up each day uncertain if potable water will be available—this is the harsh reality for 17 million people in Vietnam and 2 billion worldwide. At ChitoClear, we tackle this challenge head-on with a sustainable water purification system powered by chitosan, a non-toxic, biodegradable polymer sourced from seafood waste. Our innovation provides a cost-effective, non-toxic solution that operates three times faster than traditional chemical treatments, improving water quality while minimizing environmental impact. ChitoClear not only provides clean water for rural and urban households but also fosters a circular economy by upcycling seafood waste into a valuable resource, achieving sustainability, and accessibility and affordability in water-scarce regions. We target rural households, enterprises, NGOs, and local governments with a scalable, affordable solution designed for high-impact adoption. Beyond Vietnam, we aim to serve water-stressed regions worldwide, opening markets in water-scarce countries like Kuwait hence contributing to global water equity.

Equinor “Searching for Better” Award

Team Gevish | PureDae

Spain, Turkiye and USA

Team: Nujen Yuksel, Arda Bora Karahan, Bejan Yilmaz, Manuela Borba, Calixte de Belloy

Coach: Mustafa Özgür KELEŞ

Livestock contributes to over 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions, simultaneously affecting air quality and sanitation inside barns. This, in return, increases the animals’ mortality rate, affects workers’ health, and has recently imposed a financial burden on those in this industry due to taxes. Since regulations in carbon and methane taxes are becoming increasingly common, the need for innovative solutions to reduce the livestock industry’s GHG emissions is growing exponentially. This is why PureDae emerges as a game-changing solution to achieve sustainability in an affordable and multi-dimensional way. PureDae’s technology reduces GHG emissions in two steps: filters trap carbon dioxide, ammonia, and VOCs, instantly enhancing air quality inside barns. Second, the air mixture passes through a selective membrane, leaving pure methane to be channeled and stored in a tank. We aim our product toward owners of fully closed or semi-opened barns in areas enforcing strict emission regulations.

Donald James Citizenship Award

The Octopus

Georgia, USA

Team: Spencer Perry, Elizabeth Reed, Elijah Williams

Coach: Curtis Durham

Imagine drinking a glass of water, unsure of what’s inside or if it’s safe. Over two billion people face this reality every day. That’s why we created the Octopus: a modular, cost-effective water monitoring station with eight interchangeable sensors that provide critical data on water health. By making water testing affordable and accessible, the Octopus empowers communities to take control of their water safety, reducing the risk of waterborne diseases and improving overall health. At 1/10th the cost of traditional systems, the Octopus is a game-changer for NGOs, municipalities, and families in need. With our goal to reach 10,000 communities in five years, we aim to prevent thousands of water-related deaths. At $500 per unit, we expect $445 million in revenue, targeting just 10% of the $4.5 billion global market. The Octopus isn’t just a product—it’s a transformative step towards safe water for all.

Glinsky Expo Exhibit Award for Most Persuasive

Positive Impact Maker

China

Team: Diane Seyeon Lee, Tae Hyeon Jun, Seojin Kim, Gyumin Kim, Minseok Park

Coach: Hyun Lee

In the Halloween crowd crush in Seoul on October 29, 2022, 159 lives could have been saved if proper CPR had been administered. Worldwide, sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) claims over 7 million lives annually, with survival rates below 10% due to the lack of affordable AEDs and training. Immediate CPR can triple survival chances, yet most bystanders hesitate to act. Our innovation, the CPR Aid Kit, can change this reality. Designed for anyone, even without prior training, it provides step-by-step visual/audio instructions, real-time feedback, and ECG monitoring to check the patient’s condition. At about 1.5% of the price of an AED, our innovation offers a readily accessible solution through massive distributions in schools, public spaces, and underserved regions. Moreover, considering that 40 million AEDs are necessary in the US while there are only 4.5 million serviceable AEDs in the country, there exists a huge opportunity. Join us in saving lives.

Glinsky Expo Exhibit Award for Best Tabletop

Aquaneers | Shells for Water

Vietnam

Team: Quoc Huy Nguyen, Hoang Long Pham, Alexander Chau, Nha Tran, Khang Tran

Coach: Thuy Trang

Imagine waking up each day uncertain if potable water will be available—this is the harsh reality for 17 million people in Vietnam and 2 billion worldwide. At ChitoClear, we tackle this challenge head-on with a sustainable water purification system powered by chitosan, a non-toxic, biodegradable polymer sourced from seafood waste. Our innovation provides a cost-effective, non-toxic solution that operates three times faster than traditional chemical treatments, improving water quality while minimizing environmental impact. ChitoClear not only provides clean water for rural and urban households but also fosters a circular economy by upcycling seafood waste into a valuable resource, achieving sustainability, and accessibility and affordability in water-scarce regions. We target rural households, enterprises, NGOs, and local governments with a scalable, affordable solution designed for high-impact adoption. Beyond Vietnam, we aim to serve water-stressed regions worldwide, opening markets in water-scarce countries like Kuwait hence contributing to global water equity.

Space Center Houston Best Entrepreneurial Innovators

mO=On

United Kingdom

Team: Amy Webster, Aaron Smith, Casey Nip, Christina Jin

Coach: Adrian Kewell

We are mO=On, the breath of Space exploration. We provide a sustainable service to extract, store and transport liquid Oxygen and Hydrogen to our customers on the Moon. These gases are used to fuel trips from the Moon to Mars, and oxygen can also be used by humans in the lunar settlements. Our target customers are Space agencies, companies and organizations who will own and operate settlements on the Moon and those who intend to use the Moon as a pit stop to travel to other planets. There are no services like this currently on the market and a reliable supply of Oxygen is both vital for life on the Moon and the sustainable Space travel that will enable us to explore the Universe. That is why mO=On is such an innovative and desperately needed solution. 

Alumni Leader Council (ALC) Award

Co-Leads of ALC

Isabella Brakhage | Colorado, USA

Ella Bianco | New Jersey, USA

Excellence in Education Award

Innova Nation | Karin Sempf

Panama