Exactics Wins 2025 College New Venture Challenge, Securing $115K for Innovative Rapid Diagnostic

Published on Monday, March 10, 2025

The Exactics team (from left to right): Devin Singh, Miranda Thomson, Zachary Sarmoen, Julian Kage, Dylan Murray, Sean Greeby, Maxwell Almeida.

The Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and The Grainger College of Engineering announces Exactics as the winner of the 13th Annual College New Venture Challenge (CNVC).

Exactics, a biotechnology corporation dedicated to improving global healthcare through affordable, accurate, and accessible rapid diagnostic tools, has been awarded $115,000 as the winner of the 2025 College New Venture Challenge (CNVC). Utilizing its proprietary adaptable platform, Exactics is launching with QuickLyme, an at-home Lyme disease screening test, with plans to expand into diagnostics for various Neglected Tropical Diseases and beyond.

Starr Marcello, AM ’04, MBA ’17, deputy dean for MBA programs at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business and professor of the CNVC, kicked off the event with opening remarks.

“The College New Venture Challenge continues to be a launchpad for the next generation of entrepreneurs, fostering bold ideas and transformative ventures,” said Marcello. “This year’s finalists exemplify the spirit of innovation, addressing important challenges across industries — from biotechnology to sustainability and robotics. We are proud to see how competitive the CNVC program has become and congratulations to all the teams — this is just the beginning of their entrepreneurial journeys.”

Jed Taylor, assistant dean of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Grainger Engineering, also spoke to the crowd before the teams pitched.

“We are immensely proud of all the teams that participated in this year’s College New Venture Challenge. Their achievements highlight the strength of collaboration between the University of Illinois and the University of Chicago in nurturing groundbreaking innovation. Congratulations to all the teams. We look forward to seeing their continued success in transforming industries and improving lives.”

The six finalists presented their business plans to a judging panel composed of investors, entrepreneurs, alumni, and faculty on March 7.

Each of the six finalists received investment. Final placements and dollars invested:

First Place – $115,000

Exactics // Exactics is a biotechnology corporation focused on improving global healthcare by expediting treatment for debilitating diseases through affordable, accurate, and accessible rapid diagnostic tools. Utilizing their proprietary adaptable platform, Exactics is launching with QuickLyme, an at-home Lyme disease screening test, with expansion plans for various Neglected Tropical Diseases and beyond.

Second Place – $95,000 each

Club Hub // Club Hub is a centralized platform that streamlines extracurricular management for schools. It enhances student engagement, automates club communication, tracks attendance, and simplifies administrative oversight. Club Hub is used by 14,000 students in 30 paying schools across 15 states, and we’re not stopping till every student uses Club Hub.
(P)rind // (P)rind repurposes parmesan rinds into a nutrient-dense, three-ingredient superfood snack. Packed with health benefits supporting muscle, bone, and heart health, (P)rind caters to busy, health-conscious consumers seeking affordable convenience without compromise. It upholds the artisanal quality of Italy’s finest parmesan, delivering flavor with a positive social impact.

Fourth Place – $50,000 each

*Rise Reforming // Rise Reforming, Inc. is developing a novel process to transform plastic waste into carbon-negative dimethyl ether (cnDME), an emerging chemical used in both the propane and aerosol industries. We take plastic companies would otherwise landfill, reducing their waste-disposal costs while avoiding methane emissions from plastic decomposition.
Tilden Therapeutics (formerly Orion Oncology) // Tilden Therapeutics is commercializing revolutionary drugs to address the deadly process of tumor spread during stage IV cancer, responsible for 90% of cancer-related deaths. We are focusing our efforts first on triple-negative breast cancer, the most deadly and spread-prone subtype of breast cancer, and has extremely limited treatment options.

*Rise Reforming’s investment comes from the new Polsky Energy Transition Leadership Program

Sixth Place – $15,000

Avea Robotics // Avea Robotics is developing autonomous, collaborative floor cleaning robots designed for mid-sized commercial buildings. Our system of vacuums, scrubbers, and workstations works seamlessly to reduce labor costs, improve efficiency, and ensure consistent cleanliness. By targeting cleaning contractors and universities, we are transforming commercial cleaning with a smart, scalable, and cost-effective solution.

Additionally, the following non-finalist teams, which include members from both universities, received investment from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

kwH – $10,000
BioPack – $10,000
TrVise – $10,000
RCM-X – $5,000
Hpad – $5,000

The CNVC is the undergraduate track of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business’ New Venture Challenge – one of the top-ranked accelerator programs in the nation – and is open to returning undergraduate students from UChicago as well as students in the entrepreneurship track of The Grainger College of Engineering’s City Scholars program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC).

The program consists of a credit-bearing course at Chicago Booth during the winter quarter that culminates in a venture launch competition.

Learn more about the CNVC.