Baylor Students Showcase Innovation at Second Annual AI Venture Challenge

Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business (HSB) hosted its second annual AI Venture Challenge on Tuesday, Oct. 20, showcasing innovative student-developed solutions that leverage artificial intelligence to address real-world business challenges.

Building on the success of the inaugural competition in 2025, this year's event attracted 70 submissions, with organizers noting a significant increase in the quality and sophistication of proposals. Several students also returned to the competition for a second year, reflecting continued interest in exploring the entrepreneurial potential of emerging technologies.

"It is encouraging to see the AI Venture Challenge continue to grow, not only in participation but also in the quality of student submissions," said David M. Szymanski, PhD, the William E. Crenshaw Endowed Dean of HSB. "The innovative solutions developed by this year's winners are particularly impressive, and the representation of students from multiple majors and colleges reflects the collaborative spirit that makes Baylor such a special place. These students are demonstrating how their unique perspectives and talents can come together to address real-world challenges through artificial intelligence."

First place and a $3,000 prize were awarded to Easibility, a subscription-based software platform designed to help hospitals connect patients with financial assistance programs for which they qualify but may otherwise never receive support. The platform uses AI to identify relevant programs based on patient information, prepare applications and track them through the approval process. By helping patients access financial assistance and hospitals recover revenue that might otherwise go uncollected, Easibility seeks to address financial challenges facing both patients and healthcare providers.

The winning team included Ananya Bharathapudi, a senior Business Fellows major; Mayank Chauhan, a sophomore computer science major; and Vrinda Sri Tadepalli, a sophomore pre-neuroscience major.

Second place and a $1,500 prize went to MANDATE, a platform designed to establish clear permissions and accountability for AI agents as they increasingly perform tasks on behalf of individuals and businesses. Described as a digital power of attorney, MANDATE translates instructions into defined authorizations that specify what an AI agent can do, including spending limits, time restrictions and other conditions. The platform aims to provide greater transparency and security as AI systems become more capable of independently completing transactions.

MANDATE was developed by Dariia Isykeeva, a senior economics major.

Third place and a $500 prize were awarded to Bureaucrat, an AI-powered platform designed to help businesses manage regulatory paperwork and compliance requirements. The system identifies missing or outdated documentation, prepares and submits forms following human approval, and continuously monitors records for changes in regulatory requirements. By simplifying administrative processes, Bureaucrat aims to help organizations reduce compliance risks and devote more resources to their core operations.

The team included Zanea Ali, a sophomore data science major with a minor in economics; Victor Cruz, a junior computer science major with a minor in Spanish; and Aarah Sardesai, a senior bioinformatics major with a minor in chemistry.

Beyond recognizing the winning teams, this year's competition demonstrated the growing sophistication of student approaches to artificial intelligence.

“This year, we saw a 17-percent increase in applicants, with 70 submissions across multiple departments, including Business, Arts & Sciences, and Engineering and Computer Science,” said Lee Grumbles, PhD, a clinical associate professor in the Department of Entrepreneurship and Corporate Innovation. “The submission process also revealed an overall improvement in the breadth and quality of AI-based venture ideas focusing on solving timely problems, such as cost-effective research for rare diseases, providing communication channels during natural disasters and streamlining the daunting task of regulatory customs paperwork for companies.” 

The competition's judging panel included four business leaders and entrepreneurs:

• Jeremy Martin, BBA ’99, CFO of Option Circle, an AI options platform, and founder and managing partner of JACB Ventures, a family office.
• Charley Donaldson, BBA ’02, a three-time founder and CEO of DonationScout, a software-as-a-service company that helps restaurant chains expand community engagement through fundraisers, donations and sponsorships.
• Michael Dyson, a former attorney, founder and CEO with more than 25 years of experience leading companies in the water, energy, infrastructure and environmental technology sectors through growth, capital raising, strategic partnerships and commercialization.
• Aston Teague, an energy services executive with more than 15 years of experience driving growth for private equity-backed industrial and energy services companies, including two successful business exits. His expertise spans business development, major contracts and expansion into emerging energy markets.

Now in its second year, the AI Venture Challenge continues to provide Baylor students with opportunities to develop entrepreneurial skills, explore emerging technologies and transform innovative ideas into solutions with real-world potential.