GOAT TANK 2025: WPI’s Top Undergraduate Startups Take the Stage

Students

Department(s):

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)’s i3-Lab recently hosted GOAT TANK, an exciting pitch competition showcasing the entrepreneurial spirit of undergraduate student startups. Organized by i3-Lab the competition brought together over 20 student-led ventures, culminating in a thrilling final round where 10 finalists pitched their startups in front of a distinguished panel of judges.

The judging panel featured:

  • Joe Klimek ‘94– CEO at Synergy ITS, specializing in innovation and technology adoption
  • Amy Swotinksy ‘86 – Executive Transformation Coach, Team Innovation Coach, and Champion for Diversity & Inclusion
  • Bill Wheaton ‘83 – CEO at Symitri, Board Member, Entrepreneur, Angel Investor, and Advisor

With over 80 students in attendance, the event fostered a vibrant atmosphere of innovation, competition, and inspiration. After an intense round of pitches, three startups emerged as winners:

🥇 1st Place ($750) – DryPro Equipment

Founder: Calvin Lambert - Class of 2027, B.S. Data Science

DryPro Equipment is revolutionizing sports gear maintenance by eliminating sweaty, moldy, and bacteria-ridden equipment. This innovative approach to sports equipment dryers won the top prize and secured a spot at both the upcoming WOOTANK competition in April and the prestigious Hult Prize.

Preview

first

🥈 2nd Place ($500) – QuickEst

Founders: Russell Hertel - Class of 2026, B.S. Robotics Engineering, Luis Alzamora - Class of 2026, BS Robotics Engineering, MS Mechanical Engineering

QuickEst streamlines the landscaping estimate process by offering instant, accurate quotes—eliminating the hassle of scheduling appointments. This startup will also represent WPI at WOOTANK in April.

Preview

secondplace

🥉 3rd Place ($250) – ODILE Entry Information

Founder: Emily Dean - Class of 2026, B.S. Biochemistry and Business

ODILE is a machine-learning-powered computational biology software that predicts unintended protein-ligand interactions in small molecule pharmaceuticals, providing valuable insights for drug development.

Preview

thirdplace

 

The GOAT TANK competition highlighted the innovation and entrepreneurial drive of WPI’s student founders, with participants tackling real-world challenges across industries. As DryPro Equipment and QuickEst prepare to represent WPI on bigger stages, the event reinforced WPI’s commitment to fostering student innovation and entrepreneurship. Special thanks to the members of the Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization (C.E.O.) club for helping to set up the event

Stay tuned for more updates on these promising startups as they take their ideas to the next level! 🚀

Faculty/staff
Ardian Preci
Rosanna Garcia