UNH students from across the university, from a wide range of majors, entered this year’s NH Social Venture Innovation Challenge, with incredibly inventive ideas to solve some of the world’s toughest sustainability issues. Our online Preliminary Round Judges narrowed the field down to 10 finalist teams who presented at the Live Final Round on December 5. They pitched their ideas to a panel of esteemed Final Round judges, who determined the six Judges' category awards and over 1000 people from our community voted in the Audience Choice Award! 


We could not host this transformational learning experience for NH's students with out the support of our many partners - thank you!

Logos of Alnoba, Impax Asset Management and Kennebunk Savings

Major supporters of the 2023 SVIC include Alnoba, Impax Asset Management and Kennebunk Savings

Logos of Cirtronics, Prime Buchholz, Unitil, CCA Global Partners, NH Businesses for Social Responsibility, The Recycled Planet and UNH ECenter Maurice Prize

Additional supporters include Cirtronics, Prime Buchholz, Unitil, CCA Global Partners, New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility, The Recycled Planet Company and the UNH ECenter Maurice Prize. 

The SVIC is a collaborative, interdisciplinary event, organized at UNH's Changemaker Collaborative, a partnership of UNH's Sustainability Institute, the Peter T. Paul College of Business & Economics and the Carsey School of Public Policy. 

 

Congratulations to the 2023 SVIC Winning Teams!

Most Well-Articulated Problem

A-peely Filter 

A-Peely Filter is an affordable lead filter for communities with low socioeconomic status using food waste materials to create it from restaurants. 

Ava Gardner ‘25,  Justice Studies and Sociology, Minor in Philosophy
Cole Capobianco ‘25, Environmental Engineering 
Gibby Villa ‘24, Civil Engineering  
Advisor: Jason Plant, Co-Founder, HydroPhos Solutions 

three students standing outside

Most Impact Potential

GLOFWatch 

Combining satellite imagery and weather updates shared on social media platforms to provide early warnings regarding glacial lake outburst floods. 

Imran Khan ‘25 PhD Candidate, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Advisor: Jennifer Jacobs, Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering 

a student standing outside

Most Innovative Solution &
Audience Choice Award

ChargeOn 

ChargeOn is an electric car rental company that stores wholesale renewable energy in EV batteries (when cars are not in use) to supply energy to the grid during peak demand.

Daisy Burns ‘24, Economics and Sustainability Dual Major 
Natalie Young ‘25, Equine Science and Sustainability Dual Major 
Windsor Golembeske ‘26, Communication and Sustainability Dual Major 
Edyn Winter ‘24, Marketing and Sustainability Dual Major 
Advisor: Joshua Cyr, Interim Director, UNH Entrepreneurship Center 

four students standing outside
Most Financially Sustainable Solution
College Connector 

College Connector is a community-centered platform designed to alleviate the social, emotional, and financial issues associated with collegiate life. 

Brett Schultz ‘26, Business Administration and Sustainability Dual Major 
Advisor: Joshua Cyr, Interim Director, UNH Entrepreneurship Center 

a student standing outside

Most Impressive Presentation

HELPLink is a cutting-edge digital platform that fosters connections between victims and NGO workers, elevating the effectiveness and speed of humanitarian aid response.

Daryna Serediuk ‘26, Biochemistry, Molecular, and Cellular Biology 
Viktorie Vagnerova ‘26, Mechanical Engineering 
Naranjana Thangam Archunaraj Indhumathy ‘26, Neuroscience and Behavior 
Advisor: Joshua Cyr, Interim Director, UNH Entrepreneurship Center 

three people standing outsdie

Best First-year Student Submission

Electric Velomobile 

An ultra efficient EV that puts freedom of movement back in the hands of the average person. 

Timothy Yon ‘27, Mechanical Engineering 
Advisor: Joshua Cyr, Interim Director, UNH Entrepreneurship Center 

a student standing outside