Budding young entrepreneurs and inventors from across the U.S. convened this weekend at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI for the annual National Invention Convention and Entrepreneurship Expo (NICEE). Put on by The STEMIE (STEM + Invention + Entrepreneurship) Coalition, this invitation-only event is a celebration of K-12 inventors and entrepreneurs who competed in regional invention competitions around the country in order to qualify. The 300 finalists were invited to bring their invention to the expo to compete against one another for awards such as “Best Pitch,” “Most Patentable,” “Best Prototype,” “Most Sustainable,” and more.

How is Ideaz involved?

Ideaz was one of the ten Mentor Partners for the 2018 NICEE, and Stanley Black & Decker, an Ideaz client, was the Investor Partner.

Our Co-Founder, Dave Mathieu, is not only attending the National Invention Convention and Entrepreneurship Expo in Dearborn, MI but also one of the judges for the competition. Pictured is Dave Mathieu with Danny Briere, Executive Director, The STEMIE Coalition, who shares our passion for developing young entrepreneurs.

Dave was a judge of the Chairman's Award for Best Blend of Design and Engineering, which was awarded to Addison, a 5th grader from Farmingville Elementary School in Connecticut. The criteria used to evaluate the concepts included communication, critical thinking, and environmental awareness. After recognizing that over 20 million baby hangers end up in landfills each year, Addison developed a solution: "Out-Fit". The Out-Fit is an eco-friendly clothing hanger which expands in size as a child grows, allowing families to use one set of hangers for life.

In the coming months, Addison will work directly with IDEAZ and their team of industry leading experts in product design and engineering. IDEAZ will assist Addison in creating a product development plan, improved design concepts and 3D CAD database with the expectation to build a next level prototype. Stay tuned for more updates on this project!

Why is this event important to the team at Ideaz?

The purpose of this STEMIE Coalition-fueled event is to encourage young entrepreneurs and inventors to build an “Innovation Ecosystem” by using creative and critical thinking. Already on their way to solving real-world problems, these kids are paving the way for the future.

Entrepreneurs ourselves, we understand what it takes to shepherd an idea to reality and want to help these young entrepreneurs through the process. We are there to encourage, experience share and support the entrepreneurs of tomorrow and guide them through the product development process.