Innovation Awards

Soropad, along with the Abacus Prodigy website, uses a virtual tutor to teach children first how to calculate with the abacus and then to calculate mentally. Inception Learning says children who start learning math with an abacus have greater conceptual and analytical skills. With the Soropad, data is sent to the website where the user can get feedback or correction from a virtual tutor.

The United State ranks very low in math competency among developed countries. The Soropad aims to teach the best techniques from around the world, integrated with the U.S. Common Core curriculum, to give children a higher standard in math.

Enterprise Software and Web-Enabled B2B Solutions
Needle By Needle Inc.
Smart companies are paying attention to consumers who frequently share their opinions on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. Even smarter companies are putting those online advocates to work through the help of innovators like Needle.

Draper-based Needle offers a unique solution that matches passionate consumers with corresponding companies. Needle’s technology searches social media sites to find a company or product’s biggest “fans.” Those fans are recruited to become “needlers” who will officially advocate for that company. Needlers are tasked to engage in chats with potential customers, including answering and asking questions, and making recommendations. Because needlers are already genuine fans of a company or product, they bring an extra dose of enthusiasm and passion to the discussion, creating a win-win for the company, consumer and needler.

Major retailers using Needle’s unique fansourcing model include Skullcandy, Urban Outfitters, Coach and Under Armour.

Canvas By Instructure
Canvas has revolutionized the world of learning management systems (LMS). Universities, colleges and K-12 schools have been using LMS programs for decades in order to streamline the education process—but both instructors and students have found the systems so cumbersome that many simply choose not to use them.

Canvas by Instructure is the first cloud-native learning management system; it incorporates the latest web technologies including social, mobile, multi-media, analytics and rich user experience features. With Canvas, instructors are able to create course websites that work more like the modern websites that students are used to.

The system includes several free mobile apps, such as the SpeedGrader app, which lets instructors quickly and easily grade assignments. Another mobile app allows students to view grades and class schedules, participate in discussions and post multi-media files. As a cloud-native program, Canvas is always up to date with the latest features and security enhancements with no inconvenient downtimes.

SiteTablet By Property Solutions International, Inc
SiteTablet is changing the multifamily real estate industry. The unique innovation has reinvented the way property staff and leasing agents do business by providing real-time property information.  The SiteTablet allows leasing agents to show clients virtual tours, photos, amenities, nearby attractions and even allows clients to fill out paperwork, such as a rental application. It eliminates the need for brochures and paperwork. It also saves maintenance managers the time of having to provide numerous tours and constantly update maintenance orders.

“Once a prospect has filled out the application, we even have the capability of letting them sign their lease with their finger on the iPad,” says Kaitlyn Michaelis, marketing manager at Property Solutions. “It keeps the whole leasing process digital and paperless—no brochures, no paper applications, no paper leases.” Today, nearly 1,000 properties are using the SiteTablet.

Mechanical Systems/ Chemicals /Manufacturing
CarbonX Aluminized Fleece By Chapman Innovations
Professionals working in high-heat environments have traditionally worn heavy, uncomfortable protective apparel to adequately shield them from the dangers of radiant heat and molten metal splash. Though protective, the weight and inflexibility of the traditional garb made working conditions difficult. Chapman Innovations has developed CarbonX Aluminized Fleece to solve this problem.

CarbonX is a one-of-a-kind garment that offers high-quality protection combined with a lightweight and flexible fabric. The fabric’s base begins with a fleeced knit made of the patented CarbonX blend of high-performance fibers. Because the CarbonX fabric is inherently flame resistant, suits will not burn, melt or ignite. The garment even sheds sparks and other hot liquids, including molten metal. For extra protection, the garment is coated with many layers of aluminum and heat-stable adhesives. CarbonX is offered in coats, jackets, full-body suits and more.