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Change the World Challenge
Also known as: CTWC
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute · Troy, NY
Campus-wide innovation challenge where student teams pitch solutions to global and societal problems. Funded by RPI alumnus Sean O'Sullivan '85 (founder of MapInfo). Top teams receive $1,000 each and are eligible for a $5,000 Best of the Best prize at year-end. Winners often advance to the New York Business Plan Competition.
Quick fit check
- Offers direct funding
- No equity required
- Currently active
- Verified by research
Key numbers
Funding range
$1,000 – $10,000
Cash Prize
Equity
None
Application
Semiannual
Campus Wide
Last activity
2023-04-20
High confidence
Application and Timing
Runs periodically (semesterly cycles). Application through Severino Center.
Participants
RPI students (team-based).
Funding and Equity
Up to $10,000 in prizes per cycle. Funded by Sean O'Sullivan '85. No equity taken.
Recent Activity
April 2023: Six winning teams documented. Evidus won Capital Cup at NY BPC. 2024-2026 cycles not documented in public sources reviewed.
Known startups and winners
Competition winners and notable student ventures from our research.
AduCare
$1,000
prize won
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Cognitive decline tracking venture; Spring 2023 RPI Change the World Challenge winner by Nathan Smith '25 and Anqesha Murray '24.
Cellvion
1st place
placement
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
2023 RPI Change the World Challenge winner; battery fire safety.
Ensure Records
1st place
placement
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
2023 RPI Change the World Challenge winner; documented in RPI entrepreneurship research.
Evidus
1st place
placement
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
2023 RPI Change the World Challenge winner; surgical tech.
Exxont
1st place
placement
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
2023 RPI Change the World Challenge winner; documented in RPI entrepreneurship research.
HARMONIC-IR
$30,000
prize won
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
2026 RPI Faculty Translation Grant ($30K); OntoAgentic AI.
Simplicity Tech Solutions
1st place
placement
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Navigation for visually impaired; 2023 RPI Change the World Challenge winner by Sheldon Jackson '23 (also known as Soundscape).
Soundscape
1st place
placement
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
2023 RPI Change the World Challenge winner; navigation for visually impaired.
Talinted
$30,000
prize won
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
2026 RPI Catalyst Pre-Seed Award ($30K); gene editing startup.
Historical winners (research notes)
- Cellvion (Anuj Swaminathan '23) — Lithium-ion battery fire safety
- Exxont (Osama Rais '23, Aitazaz Khan '23) — AI accent modification
- Ensure Records (Andrea Muniz-Martinez '23) — Interagency communication
- Soundscape (Sheldon Jackson '23) — Navigation for visually impaired
- AduCare (Nathan Smith '25, Anqesha Murray '24) — Cognitive decline tracking
- Evidus (Sonya Heldman '24) — Surgical technology; won Capital Cup at NY BPC
Verification Gaps
- Whether cycles continued consistently 2024-2026.
- Current prize structure.
- More recent winners.
Change the World Challenge
Additional research notesShow
News & articles
News articles and official sources documenting Change the World Challenge at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
2 sources
RPI News
Change the World Challenge 2023 Winners
RPI News article (April 20, 2023) documenting the spring 2023 Change the World Challenge winners and their advancement to the NY Business Plan Competition. Funded by Sean O'Sullivan '85 with up to $10,000 in prizes.
Read on RPI News
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Severino Center Official Pages
Two official Severino Center web pages captured via Defuddle: the home page (describing programs, I-Corps, competitions, events) and the "I Need Funding" page (detailing Catalyst Starter Funds, MVP Funds, Bridge Seed Funds, Faculty Translation Grants, Founder Fellowships, and Faculty Sabbatical Awards).
Read on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute