Student startups win funding in Invent Penn State Inc.U Competition

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - SlammedU, a startup founded by Smeal College of Business student Niklas Restrepo, won first place and $15,000 in the 2026 Invent Penn State Inc.U Competition. As a kickoff to Penn State Startup Week, six student teams pitched their startups to a panel of judges, competing for prizes totaling $35,500 in funding.

SlammedU connects incoming college students before they arrive on campus, Restrepo said, through verified, school-specific social communities that turn online engagement into real friendships.

"It was actually my second year participating in Inc.U," Restrepo said. "Last year, I went into it not knowing what to expect, and I ended up not receiving any funding. But I took the judges' advice and decided that I needed to try again. Overall, I think Inc.U is an incredible opportunity for anyone with a startup. It made me really look at my startup from an outside perspective and gave me ideas that I never thought of before. My advisor, Leo Daiuto, was a very helpful asset as well and really helped me redefine my pitch."

Restrepo said the funding will go towards hiring contractors to assist with social media community growth and customer outreach and experiences.

"My biggest takeaway from Inc.U was that even if you fail once or more times, you should never let that stop you from doing something," Restrepo said. "Failure is a part of life, and it will be one of the best teaching moments of your life."

Second place, receiving $10,000, was awarded to Now You Know, founded by Joseph Laezza, College of Engineering, and Charlie Jacobs, Smeal College of Business. Now You Know is a social card game that improves communication by having players guess how others think and feel, then revealing the truth through fast, engaging play.

Third place, receiving $5,000, was awarded to The Eleventh Round. Founded by Penn State Abington student Kevin Leka, The Eleventh Round is a centralized platform supporting combat sports athletes with mentorship, mental performance and career planning resources beyond competition.

The following prizes also were awarded:

• $2,500 People's Choice Award, sponsored by Engineering Entrepreneurship - Now You Know
• $1,000 Startup Spark Award - Pillar Cabins, founded by Penn State Harrisburg student Aiden Beiler, helps buyers navigate the complex process of purchasing park model homes with confidence. The Startup Spark Award recognizes one Commonwealth Campus applicant for exceptional innovation and potential.
• $1,000 - Vayla, founded by Maya Anderson, Eberly College of Science, and Riley Maynard, College of Information Sciences and Technology, designs durable, biodegradable hair accessories that solve everyday hair frustrations while being both functional and beautiful.
• $1,000 - Surge, founded by Lance Robert Streuber and Ishaan Narang, College of Engineering, uses AI to automatically build and maintain modern, optimized websites for businesses, turning their existing online content into a high-performing digital presence.
• $1,000 - Whirl Pong, founded by Dillon Fink, College of Engineering, modernizes classic cup pong with a rotating, rechargeable system that adds motion, excitement and competition without changing how the game is played.

"Each year, we're continually inspired by the creativity and drive of these student entrepreneurs," said Joanna Sutton, director of the Inc.U Competition. "Watching their ideas grow and take shape throughout the competition is truly exciting, and we're proud to support them as they move forward in bringing their ventures to life."

Prior to the competition, finalists gained access to pitch training and startup support services from across the Invent Penn State LaunchBox & Innovation Network. In addition, teams received support from the Penn State Dickinson Law Entrepreneur Assistance Clinic to help establish LLCs and the Penn State Dickinson Law Intellectual Property Clinic for patent and intellectual property assistance.

The full competition video can be viewed on the Invent Penn State YouTube channel.

About the Inc.U Competition

Inc.U is a signature program of Invent Penn State and an annual showcase of student innovation across the commonwealth. Every spring, the Inc.U Competition awards up to $30,000 in funding to the top six student startup teams at the culminating pitch event that takes place during Penn State Startup Week. This funding, coupled with ongoing pitch training and startup support services, enables student entrepreneurs to take the next step in turning their daydream into a reality.

Subscribe to the Invent Penn State monthly e-letter to learn more about our programming.

This project was financed in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community & Economic Development.