NEWS
NORMAN, OKLA. –When two University of Oklahoma students stepped onto a competition stage in Boston, they weren't just pitching their invention—they were showcasing the OU’s thriving innovation ecosystem that empowers students from any major to make their ideas real.
The Hult Prize challenges student teams to create a for-profit social venture that will deliver a measurable, positive impact on people or the planet. OU’s team was comprised of mechanical engineering senior Bryce Goodin and chemical engineering junior Colton McCullough.
The students developed Infinisink, a closed-loop water recycling sink that conserves water by filtering and reusing it in real time. As they investigated water conservation issues, they discovered their idea could address genuine worldwide challenges, but transforming their technical prototype demanded business acumen and entrepreneurial vision.
Goodin and McCullough found exactly what they needed through Startup OU's Venture Program. Already accomplished problem-solvers with years of experience at the OU Fabrication Lab, they recognized that taking Infinisink to the next level required a different toolset.
"When you give exceptional students the opportunity to lead and participate in well-executed programs, they rise to the occasion," said Micah Headley, Startup OU venture programs manager. “We introduce students who are trying to solve real-world issues to venture development concepts like customer discovery and sales strategy. In many cases, these students meet someone with a complementary skill set and they come together as co-founders.”
By bringing together students from entrepreneurship, marketing, finance and numerous non-STEM fields in a dedicated space, Startup OU challenged these engineers to think beyond technical specifications, tolerances, and moduli and consider user experience, market fit and emotional connection.
"We're intentional about exposing students from across campus to entrepreneurship," said Keith Brigham, executive director of the Tom Love Innovation Hub and division director for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development. "In this case, engineers discovered not just how to build a product, but how to launch it."
The Hult Prize at OU
The duo decided to participate in OU’s second annual local Hult Prize competition, which was led by a student director, Raeed Zainuddin, a management and information systems sophomore.
"I've seen firsthand how much entrepreneurial talent exists at OU," said Zainuddin. "My goal in bringing the Hult Prize to OU was to create a space where students could realize that if they want to change the world, entrepreneurship is one of the most powerful ways to do it."
Hosting such an event is a heavy lift. Startup OU staff and entrepreneurship faculty from the Price College of Business made themselves available for hosting training and development workshops. Entrepreneurship instructor Bruno Teles hosted a workship to help students understand what social entrepreneurship is and how it integrates into their business plans. Together, this team helped prepare student competitors for a final pitch competition at the Tom Love Innovation Hub. Professors Bobby Lepak and Brent Norwood then served as judges for the competition.
Goodin and McCullough beat out seven other student teams to win OU’s competition and advance to the national competition in Boston.
Competing on the National Stage
Out of 10,000 teams in over 100 countries, OU’s team was among 750 total teams globally. With only a week’s notice, Goodin and McCullough were notified that they were chosen to compete against 63 other teams from Ivy League, AAU and other top-tier universities from across the country.
"We came in thinking we were underdogs. But once we saw the other teams, we realized we actually belonged here,” said McCullough.
Although they didn't make the final round, the experience transformed their perspective. They were excited about how positive and optimistic the social entrepreneurship community is.
"Seeing OU represented in a national entrepreneurial setting showed just how competitive, passionate, and engaged our students are. It's important that we continue to give them these kinds of platforms," said Aaron Latham, Startup OU program coordinator.
Future Possibilities
This experience opened new horizons for both students. McCullough is now considering launching his own startup, while Goodin is exploring self-employment alongside traditional engineering paths. They are continuing to develop Infinisink as Founders in Residence at Startup OU, refining their design, gathering customer feedback and exploring funding opportunities.
Learn more about the Tom Love Center for Entrepreneurship and Startup OU, both of which co-hosted the event.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
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