The Young Inventor Challenge (YIC) International Championship celebrated its 19th annual awards ceremony at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair. It showcased aspiring young inventors ages 6-18 from five countries. Dedicated to fostering creativity and entrepreneurship, the event recognised exceptional young inventors who presented original toy and game inventions reviewed by toy industry professionals.
YIC offers youth a platform to express ideas, refine skills and receive mentorship from toy industry experts. Winners were selected based on their inventive concepts, compelling pitches, and strong potential for market success.
The 2024 YIC winners (Senior then Junior) include:
Best Pitch
Senior – Skirmish-Battle-War by Gideon Koffman, 6th grade, Toronto, Canada
Junior – Aliens vs. Cows by Elliott Anderson, 4th grade, Palos Park, IL
Most Innovative
MetroNet by Keegan Franck, 9th grade, Belmont, MA
Makenix by Claire Drapa, 4th grade, Palos Heights, IL & Richard Lee, 4th grade, Palos Park, IL
Most Engaging
Ultramons Board Game by Palash Bhasin, 6th grade, Issaquah, WA
Calming Cuddlees by Maria Schwartze, 4th grade, Saint Charles, MO
Most Original
Wizard Quest by Andrew Hebdon, 9th grade, Forest, VA
Spladder by Hyacinth Speropolous, 4th grade, Palos Hills, IL
Most Marketable
Battle Blox by Bella Mulligan, 6th grade, Rolla, MO
Chopstick Chef by Nate Tellone, 4th grade, Palos Park, IL
Best Potential
Tenball by Alex Kirsch, 11th grade, Scarsdale, NY
Smack It! by Olivia , representing countries such as Canada, Spain, Mexico, and Guyana, as well as 18 US states Scheetz, 4th grade, Palos Park, IL
This year, 168 young inventors — representing countries such as Canada, Spain, Mexico, and Guyana, as well as 18 US states — submitted a total of 120 toy and game creations to the competition. Each participant brought global perspectives to their creative concepts. The YIC continues to expand its international reach, offering a platform for young inventors worldwide to share their ideas.
The judges collectively dedicated over 200 hours to reviewing, scoring and providing thoughtful feedback for each participant online. This rigorous review process helped identify winners across six categories, representing the best in innovation, creativity, and market potential.
Ahren Hoffman, YIC director for People of Play, said: “Our judges were so impressed by the passion and ingenuity each inventor brought to the table. These young inventors not only displayed immense talent but also the determination to make their ideas a reality. We are honoured to support their journeys and grateful to the judges for their commitment to helping each participant grow.”
Congratulations to all the young inventors who participated in this year’s Young Inventor Challenge International Championship! For more information visit www.chitag.com/yic
