Monday, April 27, 2026
UNT’s culture of innovation was on full display at the 2026 Innovate UNT Pitch Competition (iUNT), where five standout student-led startups pitched their ventures for a share of more than $35,000 in cash and in-kind prizes. Hosted by the Murphy Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the G. Brint Ryan College of Business, the annual competition brought together aspiring entrepreneurs, industry experts, and community leaders for a showcase of bold ideas and real-world solutions.

iUNT is a campus-wide entrepreneurship competition open to both undergraduate and graduate students. Participants develop and refine a business concept through a multi-stage process that includes a business model submission, a video pitch, and a final live presentation before a panel of judges.

This year’s finalists represented a diverse mix of industries and students from across the UNT campus:

  • Fluxera – An AI-driven infrastructure platform focused on energy intelligence and arbitrage.
  • ColoShrink – A biodegradable heat-shrink solution designed for colorectal surgical applications.
  • IronInterview – A secure interview platform that detects deepfakes and prevents misuse of AI tools.
  • MobiFlex – An affordable robotic exoskeleton for hand rehabilitation following injury or stroke.
  • CyberOracle – A cybersecurity gateway designed to inspect and secure AI prompts.

A group of people, dressed in formal attire, are standing and clapping their hands. The person in the foreground is a smiling man wearing a suit jacket and light-colored pants.Each finalist received seed funding and mentorship support leading up to the final event thanks to the support of the UNT President’s Office and Murphy Center team.

During the live competition, teams delivered presentations and fielded questions from a panel of experienced judges representing economic development, venture capital, and startup ecosystems.

The judges awarded the grand prize of $10,000 to ColoShrink. The prize was funded from The Bob Kimmel Student Entrepreneurial Innovation Endowment, donated in honor of longtime supporter and donor Bob Kimmel.

“My inspiration for developing and pitching this venture came from a strong desire to translate my Ph.D. thesis on shape-memory polymers into a practical solution that could make a real difference, especially in the biomedical field,” said Raj Kumar Pittala, the student founder of ColoShrink. “With ColoShrink, I want to connect advanced materials research with real clinical needs. The funding will help us improve our material system, expand prototyping, and start early validation for further milestones.”

The experience also proved transformative beyond the competition itself.

“Through iUNT, I’ve learned to view my research through a commercial lens,” Raj added. “Beyond the technical work, the constructive critiques from the judges were instrumental in helping me understand how to bring lab-based solutions to the market. I now approach every problem with the mindset of both a researcher and an entrepreneur.”

In addition to prize money, iUNT provides participants with mentorship, professional feedback, and access to resources that help transform ideas into viable businesses. Many past competitors have gone on to launch successful startups, contributing to the growing entrepreneurial ecosystem in North Texas.

From AI security to healthcare innovation, the 2026 competition demonstrated the breadth of talent and ambition across UNT’s student body. View the judges and more information about iUNT here.

iUNT 2026 Photos

A woman in a magenta top is speaking and gesturing during a meeting or presentation, with another person partially visible in the background.
Two young men in suits are standing and gesturing. One is speaking and the other is listening intently.
A bald man in a suit and tie gestures with his hands while speaking to an unseen audience.
A young man in a suit and glasses is speaking to an audience while holding a phone. He appears to be in a professional or educational setting.
A man in a blue suit is speaking to an audience. He is gesturing with his hands as he talks.
A young man in a suit gestures while speaking to an unseen audience. A woman in a purple top is visible in the background.
A diverse group of eight individuals, mostly young men dressed in business attire, pose for a photo in a well-lit room. The group includes one woman in the front left.
Six professionals are standing together in a modern conference room, smiling for the camera, positioned behind a long wooden table with black chairs.
A group of five smiling people are seated around a large conference table with laptops in front of them. The people are in a professional setting with large windows and curtains in the background.
A man with a beard and a grey jacket is speaking animatedly with his hand raised. He is seated at a table with other people and a laptop.
Three young adults in formal attire are standing and smiling. A buffet-style setup with drinks and food containers is visible on a counter to the right.
A group of people, mostly young adults in business casual attire, pose for a photo in a modern conference room. They stand behind a long wooden table with chairs, smiling at the camera.