Skandalaris Center IdeaBounce® and McKelvey School of Engineering Bring the Entrepreneurial Community Together for an Evening of New AI Ideas and More

IdeaBounce®: AI Ideas and More brought an exciting mix of creativity and community to Washington University’s Whitaker Hall Auditorium on February 17, 2026. Undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, alums, and innovation leaders from across St. Louis gathered to share ideas, cheer each other on, and celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship. 

Whitaker Hall was buzzing with excitement, with more than 70 attendees as 20 pitches took the stage, each bringing a fresh take on AI, innovation, and problem-solving. A panel of judges from the St. Louis AI and entrepreneurial communities selected five standout ideas to receive two-hundred-dollar awards. And the kicker is that one of the winning ideas came straight from the open mic list, a first for IdeaBounce®!

The range of ideas showed just how diverse and creative this community is, something the judges immediately noticed. “I think the biggest takeaway for me is seeing what ideas are brewing on this campus, what students are thinking about, and how they are leveraging their coursework into products,” said Saif Arif, Director of Digital Solutions at the DI2 Accelerator.

IdeaBounce® winners included:

Sophia Acker, creator of PTTRN  (McKelvey ‘27)

Max Bagga, creator of ParamAI  (WashU School of Medicine) 

Sundeep Chakladar, creator of ArmorMed  

Brent Pennington, creator of Euno  

StraightUP, created by Isha Vasil, Carrie Cao, Noah Levy, and Brian Lee  

These ideas showcased the wide range of innovation happening across campus, from health and wellness to AI‑driven tools and community‑focused platforms.

For many participants, stepping onto the stage brought a mix of nerves, excitement, and ultimately, pride. When asked, “How do you feel after pitching?” the answers came quickly, and almost all of them pointed to the same feeling. 

“I am happy. My idea is very abstract, so pitching it has always been a process. It took a year and a half to figure out the value proposition, what the actual service is, how you communicate it, all the different facets and functions. So I am happy we got there.”

 –Brent Pennington, creator of Euno

“Feels good. It was a cool experience to put your idea out there and see how people respond.”  

–Noah Levy, co-creator of StraightUP

“Relieved. At first, I was nervous to go up there and talk, but afterwards the nerves were gone.”  

–Sophia Acker, creator of PTTRN

Have you caught the trend? Relief! Not only that, but students walked away feeling proud that they took the step to share their ideas with a supportive and encouraging community!

To all future IdeaBouncers and innovators, do not hesitate to voice your ideas. The stakes are low, the community is welcoming, and you never know whom you might meet or how your idea might develop.

And once again, thank you to our judges.

IdeaBounce® consists of two components that work together seamlessly:

The Platform. ideabounce.com is a free, public idea repository where anyone can post a concept at any stage, no business plan required. Browse amazing work from our Bouncers, find collaborators, and connect directly with founders.

The Event. Several times a year, the Skandalaris Center hosts live IdeaBounce® events where idea-havers take the stage for a two-minute, slide-free pitch. Judges evaluate on clarity, passion, and a specific ask for help. Networking and feedback follow every session.

Whether you have an idea or want to support one, IdeaBounce® is where the St. Louis entrepreneurial community starts. Visit our website to learn more.