Amirreza Fahim Golestaneh, a post-doctoral research scholar in mechanical engineering at the University of Iowa, was awarded first place and $25,000 in the Graduate/Faculty/Staff/Incubator Startup division of Innovation Challenge on Nov. 20 at a reception at MERGE, Iowa City.

Golestaneh's idea, RoboSoft Simulator, is inspired by the adaptive movements of animals. The soft robots excel in challenging environments by achieving mobility and manipulation through flexible body reconfiguration, rather than relying on traditional rigid systems like wheels or end-effectors.

A total of $75,000 was awarded to 14 Innovation Challenge winners. Five people in the Graduate/Faculty/Staff/Incubator Startup division shared $50,000 and nine people in the Undergraduate division shared $25,000. The competition is hosted by the University of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (Iowa JPEC).

Other winners in the Graduate/Faculty/Staff/Incubator Startup division were Krista Davidson and RescueVoice (second, $10,000), Muhammad Rahman and Cover-Slipper (third, $5,000), Braeden Harrell and Casually Clipless (honorable mention, $5,000) and Gregg Atkinson and VOR Innovations (honorable mention, $5,000).

There were three $5,000 winners in the Undergraduate division: Nick Hageman and SmartDart (best technology), Dasia Taylor and NERD STEM Box (best education), and Tyler Graham and Archaneon (best consumer project). 

Forty-seven University of Iowa-related businesses applied for the Fall elevator pitch competition and 29 were selected as finalists to compete Nov. 18 (undergraduate) and Nov. 19 (faculty, staff, graduate students, incubator startup).

Iowa JPEC is the hub for entrepreneurial education and outreach at the University of Iowa. It is committed to helping students, faculty, staff, and community members launch and grow businesses.