On December 3, 2025, Western New England University (WNE) held its 11th Annual Product Innovations Showcase — a dynamic capstone event uniting aspiring engineers and business leaders to present their semester-long product development projects. The Showcase, hosted in Rivers Memorial Hall, once again welcomed community members, alumni, regional investors, and innovation enthusiasts to witness the next generation of student-led inventions.
Highlights from the 2026 Showcase
The 2026 Showcase featured a diverse array of student projects addressing real-world needs — from mobility and accessibility to home goods, environmental solutions, sports innovations, and industrial tools.
Top Awards
Fan Favorite — Quick Clear
Garnering the most votes from attendees, Quick Clear won over the crowd with its clever design and practical appeal.
Dean’s Social Impact Award — HandiLink
HandiLink was honored for demonstrating significant potential to improve accessibility and quality of life, reflecting WNE’s commitment to socially conscious business and engineering.
Top Investment Picks
In a mock investment simulation using “Golden Bear Dollars,” three teams stood out as the most investable:
|
Rank |
Project |
Investment Awarded |
|
1 |
HandiLink |
$4.9 M Golden Bear Dollars |
|
2 |
Orbit |
$4.1 M Golden Bear Dollars |
|
3 |
Adj Tube Holder |
$4.0 M Golden Bear Dollars |
These top-funded teams impressed judges not only with functional prototypes, but also with market analyses, business plans, and scalability potential.
All Teams Garner Strong Interest
Every participating team secured substantial backing, underscoring the overall quality of the 2026 cohort. Investment results included:
Adj Tube Holder — $4.0 M GBD
BioBarrel — $2.7 M GBD
C3H8 Crate — $2.1 M GBD
Chop Swap $2.6M GBD
Clean Stream — $3.9 M GBD
Drive Line — $2.7 M GBD
EZ Hook — $2.8 M GBD
HandiLink — $4.9 M GBD
Ladder Daddy — $2.9 M GBD
Ladder Rack Buddy — $2.5 M GBD
Orbit — $4.1 M GBD
Quick Clear — $2.75 M GBD
Torque Funnel — $2.1 M GBD
Track Meet — $2.3 M GBD
UniNet — $3.0 M GBD
Celebrating a Decade of Innovation — Now in Year 11
Over the past decade, the Product Innovations Showcase has become a defining cross-college experience at WNE, giving hundreds of students the chance to transform ideas into tangible prototypes and business plans. The continued success of the event is made possible through the leadership and mentorship of its faculty champions, who this year includes: Mary Schoonmaker, Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Roger Blinn, Professional Instructor of Mechanical Engineering; Linda Jones, Professor and Chair of Mechanical Engineering; and Dan Hamel, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering.
“Innovation at WNE isn’t just about creating products — it’s about building a mindset of problem-solving, collaboration, and entrepreneurial thinking,” said Mary Schoonmaker. “This year’s results reaffirm the program’s power to prepare students for real-world challenges, combining technical design with market-savvy business planning.”
As in prior years, many of these projects are expected to evolve into senior-design initiatives, pursue patents, or compete in broader entrepreneurial competitions, potentially bringing WNE innovations to market.
“We’re proud of all our students — their creativity, dedication, and willingness to tackle problems that matter,” added Roger Blinn. “With the 11th Annual Showcase behind us, we’re already looking forward to the ideas next year’s students will bring to life.”
To view the product innovations, visit https://www1.wne.edu/product-innovations-showcase/?wr=1
