The Picture of Progress

17th Annual Cardinal Challenge Event Showcases Forward-Thinking Student Entrepreneurship

The 2025 Cardinal Challenge event, The Art of Entrepreneurship, was held on Thursday, July 17, bringing together 13 teams of rising entrepreneurs at the Speed Art Museum for an evening that showcased forward-thinking, innovative products and services conceptualized and developed by the University of Louisville’s local and international competitors–students enrolled in Innovation and Global MBA programs at the College of Business. Teams competed for cash prizes, mentorship opportunities and for one team, the recognition of being named the “People’s Choice” winner.

The 17^th annual event branched away from its previous format of ranking and judging competitors, pivoting instead toward providing invaluable feedback and mentorship opportunities from area industry leaders to each student team. The shift in event design also allowed event attendees to experience each presentation. Sergey Anokhin, Director of the Forcht Center for Entrepreneurship, explained his reimagined framework for the event, which focused on mentorship, advising and partnering with teams in lieu of ranking or judging. “Like art, entrepreneurship requires courage, iteration and vision,” he said.

The event culminated with team G&E Solutions, comprised of Emmanuel Haynes and Golden Mashindi, receiving the first-ever People’s Choice Award for their product, Portable Shower Solutions. An affordable way to deliver clean water and sanitation by tapping into existing infrastructure, their product strives to improve dignity, health and quality of life. INNOFeet and Second2U were each recognized with the Forcht Accelerator Award, which awards grant prizes of up to $2,000. Additionally, each of the sponsoring companies for the event awarded teams customized gift packages, including:

Render Capital

• Awarded investment mentoring opportunities to Taylor Social

Occam Design

• Awarded device engineering consultation and prototyping to FLO-X

Amplify Louisville

• Awarded networking, strategy mentoring and other perks to uMoments

Wyatt, Combs & Tarrant, LLC

• Awarded legal services to Bottle Episodes

Mightily

• Awarded digital marketing strategy assistance to JobArmor

UofL Forcht Center for Entrepreneurship

• Awarded grant funding (up to $2,000) to G&E Solutions

EVPRI

• Awarded a technology commercialization grant to Due Gooder

Story Louisville

• Awarded a one-year co-working space membership to Diggsy

Canopy

• Awarded a personalized gift package to G&E Solutions

Katalyst Creative

• Awarded graphical storytelling services to INNOFeet

From immersive role-play platforms to 3D-printed housing solutions, this year’s Cardinal Challenge teams pushed boundaries–reimagining what’s possible by pitching real-world solutions to real-world problems. The event brought a wide spectrum of innovation to the table, showcasing bold ideas, strong business acumen and purpose-driven entrepreneurship.

uMoments

We all want our loved ones to stay connected, curious and included as they age—and uMoments is built to make that easier. This subscription-based app created by Maxmillian Müller, Mercedeh Imaninobar, Laura Gronbach and Yuliya Kreta helps older adults discover local events that match their interests, offering new experiences and real opportunities to build community. For subscribers, there’s also a personal touch: curated gift boxes their loved one can send to the people they meet. It’s connection with intention—thoughtful, human and designed to remind seniors that they still belong at the heart of it all.

INNOFeet

Falls don’t just shake confidence—they steal independence. INNOFeet founders Sabrina Mayer, Felix Fees, Natalie Wittlinger, Jan Jäger and Tim Bender tackle this issue with smart, sensor-equipped insoles and a companion app that guides users through balance-boosting exercises. With real-time feedback and a focus on strengthening muscle and reaction time, INNOFeet empowers users to build stability safely and effectively. It’s a simple, tech-forward solution with the potential to help people stay upright, confident and in control of their day-to-day lives.

JobArmor

JobArmor is what happens when PPE meets modern logistics. Designed for small and mid-sized companies in hands-on industries, founders Ulf Blättgen, Jascha Winkler, Lisa Löchner, Dominik Rublé and Renato Pazinato have developed a platform to simplify every part of the safety gear process—ordering, compliance, inventory and replacement cycles—all in one place. No more guesswork, no more supplier roulette. Just smarter sourcing, safer teams and a system built to keep the right gear in the right hands at the right time.

Second2U

Created by founders Dominik Preisner, Deniel Schönberg, Felix Zinke, Belinda Wawak and Frederik von Hintzenstern, Second2U is designed to make secondhand furniture shopping smarter, safer and more satisfying. This user-friendly app puts powerful tools directly in your hands—think intuitive augmented reality previews that let you see how a piece fits in your space before you commit, fast 3D scanning for easy listings and AI tailored recommendations based on your style. With verified listings and built-in scam protection, both buyers and sellers can move with confidence. Whether you’re refreshing your space or letting go of pieces that no longer fit, Second2U turns the resale process into something that feels seamless—and elevated.

Taylor Social

Founded by Carly Haines, Taylor Social is a fresh take on the modern social club—designed for remote professionals who crave both ambition and belonging without the luxury markup. This hybrid model blends curated experiences with community-driven access: think members-only lounges, exclusive event seating unlocked through group buying power and a network of global creatives and entrepreneurs you actually want to build with. Whether you’re scaling your venture or simply seeking connection beyond a screen, Taylor Social makes space for the life you’re building—wherever work takes you.

G&E Solutions

Emmanuel Haynes and Golden Mashindi, the founders of G&E Solutions, are tackling hygiene inequality head-on with Portable Shower Solutions—a low-cost, portable system that delivers clean water where it’s needed most. By tapping into existing infrastructure and using a foot-pump mechanism, the system offers a safe, accessible shower experience for children, the elderly and people with disabilities. It’s a small device with a big mission: improve health outcomes and preserve dignity through smarter sanitation.

Card Software

With the textile industry growing fast, the flood of emails and outdated tracking systems has become a serious bottleneck. That’s why Collin Shields, founder of Card Software, created Aetnis—a centralized platform that replaces chaotic email threads and manual processes with a digital system built for clarity and control. By centralizing documentation and automating traceability, Aetnis reduces miscommunication, saves time and keeps teams aligned—from first order to final shipment.

FLO-x

Oxygen therapy shouldn’t come with stigma or discomfort. That’s the thinking behind FLO-x, founded by Brad Richeson and Gautam Gupta. Their sleek glasses deliver clean air discreetly, supporting everyone from those with chronic respiratory issues to athletes and urban commuters. With FLO-x, users get wearable support that fits seamlessly into daily life—no tanks, no tubes, no compromises.

Due Gooder

Founded by Ethan Havertape and Nate Royal, Due Gooder simplifies student life with an AI-driven organizer that does the heavy lifting. Upload your syllabus or connect your learning management system and it does the rest–extracting deadlines automatically and syncing with Google Calendar and built-in dashboards to turn them into calendar-ready tasks updated in real time. With additional benefits like AI-recommended start times to avoid last-minute cramming and daily text message reminders with a personalized to-do list, Due Gooder provides organization without the effort, and one less reason to fall behind in class.

Bottle Episodes

Bottle Episodes, created by Maya Jamner and Claudia Harrison, reinvents game night with genre-driven, character-personalized roleplay experiences that adapt to your group’s unique style. Delivered through a mobile app, it blends guided storytelling with creative freedom—no dice, no setup, just instant immersion. Whether you’re diving into noir mysteries or sci-fi quests, each session is crafted for one-night-only adventures that feel tailor-made and endlessly memorable.

Diggsy

Conversations open doors—but only if you’re ready for them. Diggsy, founded by Keegan Tingle and Tejas Shastry, helps prepare users for success with a lead intelligence tool that gathers insights from LinkedIn and the web, including shared contacts, key details and tailored talking points, distilling it all into one sharp, AI-crafted page. You show up not just prepared, but powerfully positioned to connect, influence and convert.

FF RAM

FF RAM is setting a new benchmark for performance in consumer and industrial tech. Developed by UofL Professor Shamus McNamara, this advanced memory technology merges main memory and storage into a single chip that outpaces today’s standards in speed, reliability and energy efficiency—redefining what’s possible in computing.

Home Academy

As climate change intensifies and disasters displace more families each year, Home Academy is reimagining how we build. Founded by Stephanie Vasquez and Jesse Thomas, the company offers a hands-on training program that equips workers with the skills to construct durable, affordable 3D-printed homes. By merging workforce development with cutting-edge construction tech, they’re creating more than just houses—they’re creating opportunity. With Home Academy, sustainable housing isn’t a distant future; it’s a skillset we can teach today.

Does the Cardinal Challenge spark your inner entrepreneur? Take the next step with UofL’s Innovation MBA. It’s fast, immersive and custom-built for creative problem-solvers who want to pitch smarter, build faster and win bigger—on stage and beyond. https://business.louisville.edu/academics-programs/graduate-programs/imba/

About the UofL College of Business:

Founded in 1953, the UofL College of Business fosters intellectual and economic vitality in our city, region and the global business landscape. Our academic programs, research, community outreach initiatives and commitment to student success inspire lives and businesses to flourish through entrepreneurship, innovation, critical thinking, diversity and the power of people.

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