2026–27: one competition, one podium
Design the products of the future.
The Beall Butterworth Student Competition challenges UC Irvine students to turn breakthrough ideas into working products. One competition, one podium, and 13 awards that reward the whole design process.
Prizes
- $10,0001st place
- $6,5002nd place
- $3,5003rd place
- $40,000+in prizes every year
The competition in numbers
- 10+Years of innovation, since 2014
- $500K+Awarded to student innovators
- 13Awards, $40,000+ every year
- 6Design sprints held in class
About the competition
One competition. One vision.
Run jointly by UC Irvine's Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, the competition is judged as product design and development. Teams build a working prototype and put it in judges' hands at Demo Day.
Teams need at least two matriculated UCI students, and at least one must be from Engineering or ICS. Either school qualifies. Mixed teams get no extra points, but they can win Best Cross-Disciplinary Team. Teams can enter the New Venture Competition at the same time.
Every team that submits a concept paper keeps building through Demo Day. There are no cuts. Judges weigh the working prototype, technical design, and how your team iterated most heavily. Business viability is a smaller check because the New Venture Competition already judges the venture.
The competition provides in-class design sprints, coaching, and feedback along the way, not just a prize at the finish line.
How it works: five stages
- Intent to EnterA short form and a one-line problem statement. Open from October through February.
- Concept Paper + Product SpecThe New Venture Competition concept paper plus a one-page BB product spec, on the same deadline.
- Judges' PreviewA virtual check-in in mid-April. Judges give feedback; preview scores don't count toward placing.
- Final Product & Business CaseThe final paper plus a short build log of 5 to 8 entries with photos and dates.
- Demo Day + AwardsA science-fair showcase, then the awards ceremony.
How teams are judged
Judged as product design and development
Demo Day placing uses this rubric. Judges read the final paper and build log beforehand and score the working prototype at your table.
| Criterion | Weight | What judges look for | Main evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working prototype | 30% | Functionality, reliability, usability, and how well judges can try it hands-on | Demo Day table |
| Technical design and engineering | 25% | Sound architecture, engineering trade-offs, feasibility, and integration of hardware and software | Product spec, final paper |
| Design process and iteration | 20% | Number and quality of prototype iterations, testing, and what changed as a result | Build log |
| Problem definition and user insight | 15% | A clear problem, real user evidence, and requirements traced back to user needs | Concept paper, build log |
| Path to product | 10% | Scalability or manufacturability, cost to build, and a roadmap to beta or launch | Final paper |
13 awards · $40,000+ every year
Rewarding the whole design process
A podium for the best overall products, plus awards for each stage of the design process. Judges announce three nominees per award when they announce Demo Day finalists; winners are revealed live at the ceremony.
The podium
- $10,0001st PlaceHighest rubric total
- $6,5002nd PlaceSecond highest total
- $3,5003rd PlaceThird highest total
- $2,500 eachHonorable Mentions (×2)4th and 5th highest totals
Process awards
- $2,000Best User DiscoveryMost and best conversations with real users, and how they changed the product.
- $2,000Best PretotypeThe smartest low-cost test of the idea before building it.
- $2,000Best PivotThe biggest change made because of evidence, and how well it was carried out.
- $2,000Best Technical DesignThe strongest system architecture and engineering decisions.
- $2,000Best PrototypeThe most complete, reliable, hands-on working demo.
- $2,000Best InnovationThe most original idea or technology.
- $2,000Best Cross-Disciplinary TeamThe best use of mixed skills: Engineering, ICS, arts, business, health, and more.
- $1,000Audience FavoriteThe table attendees liked most, by QR-code vote at Demo Day.
- Each team can win at most one specialty prize plus a podium place or Honorable Mention. Audience Favorite is open to every team.
- Every nominee gets a certificate and a mention on this website, useful for portfolios and resumes.
- Podium judges also nominate for the process awards, so judges don't need an extra event.
Results
Congratulations to our 2026 winners
Butterworth Product Development CompetitionDonald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences
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1st
BillBack
Anup Kumar · Anusha Reddy Amula · Benjamin Ogboye · Karan Jain · Richa Rao · Shri Prasanna
An AI-powered medical billing audit platform that finds billing errors in claims for self-insured employers' Third-Party Administrators, and drafts ERISA-compliant dispute letters.
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2nd
Auréa
Farrin Marouf Sofian · Kushagra Pandey
A B2B SaaS platform for generative AI video, offering layered editing, persistent character and location memory across shots, and professional color-pipeline output.
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3rd
Socratic OC
Bruhati Aarushi Kuchi · Daniyal Rauf · Jamal Alardah · Rutu Aarabhi Kuchi · Tanvi Badadare
An all-in-one academic support app for tutors, educators, and students that combines course tools in one place.
Watch the summary video for Socratic OC (opens in a new tab)
Beall Student Design CompetitionHenry Samueli School of Engineering
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1st
Neovi Medical (NeoFusion)
Aditi Ranabhor · Christopher Tan · Keerthana Anand · Kevin Gurney · Sarah Liu
A spring-powered, pendulum-regulated neonatal syringe pump that works without electricity or batteries.
Watch the summary video for Neovi Medical (NeoFusion) (opens in a new tab)
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2nd
Natavue
An Tran · Anthony Istaphanous · Dathan Nguyen · Isaac Torosian · Joshua Varela · Lucas Jones
An ultrasound-integrated urinary catheter for continuous, objective cervical dilation measurement during labor.
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3rd
Atmadyne
Churui Deng · Hriday Ram · Jonathan Lin
Plug-and-play robotic actuators and integrated motion systems for embodied AI and robotics.
International Collaboration Prize
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1st
International Collaboration Prize
UNI
UCI team: Jeremy Li · Runcheng Gao · Shixin Huang · Ziran Ge. Partner team: Rafael Barbosa Asmuz.
An AI agent "friend" system that combines productivity, emotional support, and agent capabilities to help users turn ideas into plans.
Looking for earlier results? Browse the Past menu: 2025, 2024, and every year back to 2014.
Competition highlights
A community of innovators
Past participants, alumni, mentors, judges, and sponsors have built the Beall Butterworth community since 2014. Learn more on the Judges and Coaches and Sponsors pages.
2026–27 Season · dates proposed
Key dates and deadlines
Every milestone, from the October kickoff through Demo Day at The Cove. All 2027 dates are proposed and will be confirmed.
- Tue, Oct 27, 2026 · 5:30–7:00 PM Kickoff with the New Venture Competition Proposed date · includes a 5-minute introduction to the new format and the Intent to Enter form
- Tue, Nov 17, 2026 · 6:30–8:00 PM Early Showcase + Coaches & Judges Welcome Proposed date · teams bring problem posters
- Winter Quarter · Weeks 1–7 In-class design sprints Proposed · in Engineering, ICS, and business classes
- Winter · Week 5 · date TBD BB Build Night Proposed · team matching and prototyping, with a New Venture Competition mixer
- Sun, Feb 21, 2027 · 11:59 PM Concept Paper + Product Spec Deadline Proposed date · one deadline and one portal shared with the New Venture Competition
- Mondays: Apr 12, Apr 26, May 3, May 10, 2027 · 5–6:30 PM Coaching sessions Proposed · all competitors invited; coaches by invitation
- Around Apr 15, 2027 Judges’ Preview (virtual) Proposed · feedback only; preview scores don't count toward placing
- Around May 3, 2027 Final Product & Business Case + build log Proposed · the final paper plus a 5–8 entry build log
- Early May 2027 · date TBD Finalists and award nominees announced Proposed · three nominees per process award
- Fri, May 14, 2027 · The Cove Demo Day + Awards Proposed date · during OC Innovation Week · time TBD
Winter Quarter · Weeks 1–7
Design sprints, right in class
Instead of evening workshops, 20 to 30 minute hands-on design sprints come to Engineering, ICS, and business classes in Weeks 1 to 7 of Winter. Each one ends with a concept card: one page you keep, which becomes the first draft of your concept paper.
- 01 Problem Hunt List 20 everyday frustrations in pairs, then vote on the one most worth solving. Based on a session by David Ochi.
- 02 Listen, Don’t Pitch Run a 5-minute customer interview, then rewrite the problem in the user's own words. Based on a session by Jeff Kunzelman.
- 03 25-Minute Pretotype Fake the product with a paper mock-up, landing page, or "Wizard of Oz" test, and try it on a classmate. Based on a session by Cynthia Kirkeby.
- 04 Experience Map Sketch a user's journey and mark the worst moment. Based on a session by Tony Crisp.
- 05 Edge of Innovation Combine a lab technology with a real need, then pitch it in one minute. Based on sessions by Kurt Busch and Emma Bardin.
- 06 Protect It in 10 A quick check: is it patentable, has it been disclosed, and who owns it? Based on a session by Justin Sanders.
One evening event stays: a BB Build Night in Week 5 for team matching and prototyping, held alongside a New Venture Competition Tuesday mixer. Recorded versions of every sprint will be posted online. Faculty or club leaders who would like to host a sprint can email bbcomp@uci.edu.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I compete in both the Beall & Butterworth and the Stella Zhang New Venture Competition?
Yes. The two competitions share a kickoff, a concept paper deadline, and a submission portal, and Beall & Butterworth adds a one-page product spec. Visit the New Venture Competition website (opens in a new tab) to enter there as well.
Can I use my New Venture Competition concept paper?
Yes. Add the BB product spec page to it. Download the template to see what's required.
Do I need my full team to submit the concept paper and product spec?
No. Team composition requirements are not enforced until your Final Product & Business Case submission. You can submit early with a partial team.
Who can be on a team?
Teams need at least two matriculated UCI students, and at least one must be from Engineering or ICS. Either school qualifies. Teams that mix the two get no extra points, but they can win Best Cross-Disciplinary Team.
What kinds of products are eligible?
Any product with substantial design and development effort: hardware, software, or both. Judges weigh the working prototype, technical design, and iteration most heavily, and business viability counts for 10%.
What is the build log?
A short log of 5–8 entries, with photos and dates, covering your prototypes, user conversations, and pivots. You submit it with the Final Product & Business Case, and judges use it to choose nominees for the process awards.
Can a team win more than one prize?
A team can win at most one specialty prize plus a podium place or Honorable Mention. Audience Favorite is open to every team.
Is the International Collaboration Prize still offered?
It stays as a separate award for joint teams from UCI and a partner international university if its funding continues. Check back for confirmation.
Still unsure? Email bbcomp@uci.edu.