SIOY
This is a yearly competition jointly sponsored by BYU’s engineering and business schools. The competition allows teams of students to develop an innovative product concept and an accompanying business model. It gives students a chance to show off both design and business skills in a competition that has significant payouts for the winning team/concept.
EDX SIOY Contestants
Here are some of the club's previous entries for the Student Innovator of the Year competition!
Project Pet
This was our club’s submission to the 2023 Student Innovator of the Year competition. We wanted to create a product to help pet owners who are also working professionals. The main idea was that we would create a smart system that would meet the pet’s needs while their owner goes to work. The system included a smart doggy door that would detect the pet’s proximity through a tag in their collar and only open for them. This ensured that other animals or people could not use the door to enter your home. There was also an automatic feeding and watering system to ensure that your pet was fed and had plenty to drink for a few days at a time. The feeder also had a built-in webcam so that owners could check in on their pets throughout the day. All of these smart systems were controlled and monitored through an app that could also be integrated with a smart home ecosystem.
Read Full Story
Lil' Bud
Lil' Bud is our club's SIOY project submitted in 2026. It's intended to be a solution to the loneliness epidemic that afflicts our loved ones today. What exactly is Lil' Bud and how does it work? Lil' Bud is a simple, interactive flower pot with a little UI system that allows it to communicate in simple messages to other flower pots. Other key features include a moisture sensor inside the pot, LED's that shows the moisture level, and the UI display that also gives moisture readings, received messages, and allows you to send messages to others!
How does it help with loneliness? Well, Lil' Bud is the perfect excuse to get in touch with your family or friends without having to pick up your phone. You can send a message of love to connected Lil' Buds, remind them to water their plant, all while receiving the healthy benefits of growing your own little plant.
Have a family member in the hospital or nursing home? Put one of these in their window seal and share the experience of growing a plant together.
Where is Lil' Bud now? We haven't yet started user testing, but that is the next big step. With that, we'll be able to use feedback to update and upgrade Lil' Bud to be the helpful, friendly flower pot it's intended to be! Come to club to get updates or even help us out, even if you don't have experience!
How does it help with loneliness? Well, Lil' Bud is the perfect excuse to get in touch with your family or friends without having to pick up your phone. You can send a message of love to connected Lil' Buds, remind them to water their plant, all while receiving the healthy benefits of growing your own little plant.
Have a family member in the hospital or nursing home? Put one of these in their window seal and share the experience of growing a plant together.
Where is Lil' Bud now? We haven't yet started user testing, but that is the next big step. With that, we'll be able to use feedback to update and upgrade Lil' Bud to be the helpful, friendly flower pot it's intended to be! Come to club to get updates or even help us out, even if you don't have experience!