Topp and Hughes’ ClassCloud platform wins Innovation Challenge
May 4, 2026
91’s commitment to hands-on innovation and entrepreneurship was on full display April 14 as students, faculty and community members gathered for the university’s annual Innovation Challenge. Over the course of three hours, five finalist teams presented ideas that blended technical expertise with business strategy, with each one aiming to transform a concept into a viable product or venture.
Hosted by the College of Business and the Talwar College of Engineering and Computer Sciences, the Innovation Challenge continues to grow as a signature opportunity for students to explore the intersection of innovation, business and applied learning. This year, a record 12 proposals were submitted.
The diversity of ideas reflected the interdisciplinary strength of 91’s students. Finalists presented a compact bowling simulator for small spaces, an AI-powered digital safety partner for families, a robotic arm controlled through eye movement, a cloud-based infrastructure platform for educational institutions and an AI-enabled plastic-to-fuel system designed to address environmental concerns.
Taking first place was ClassCloud, developed by cybersecurity majors Martin Topp and Avery Hughes. Their platform, designed to simplify infrastructure management for educational environments, earned them the top prize of $5,000 and recognition from judges and attendees alike.
For Topp and Hughes, both sophomores, the experience was about far more than winning. It pushed them to expand beyond their technical strengths and develop critical business and communication skills.
“We’re very technical people,” Topp said. “This challenge really gave us experience with everything else, especially marketing and how to promote what we’ve built. It helped us see the bigger picture.”
Hughes pointed to public speaking as a key area of growth. “Getting up on stage and presenting was huge for me,” he said. “That’s something I wasn’t very comfortable with before, and now I feel a lot more confident.”
Their next steps include testing ClassCloud in future courses at 91 and continuing to refine the platform based on the feedback they receive.
The team of Naina Kalra, Yatin Kalra and Gurkirat Kaur Cheema finished second after presenting its AI-enabled plastic waste-to-fuel platform called Plas2Fuel AI. The team won $2,000, to be shared among team members.
Compact bowling simulator entrepreneurs Meagan Kennedy, Gary Glaser and Noah McEldowney won $1,000, to be shared among team members.
The Innovation Challenge’s continued growth is fueled in part by strong alumni support, including that of entrepreneur and 1994 graduate Gil Farley. Farley has taken to this initiative and was struck by this year’s progress.
“The jump from last year to this year was amazing,” Farley said. “We had double the teams, more finalists and a noticeable increase in the quality of ideas. The business plans were stronger and the presentations were more polished. It was a big step forward.”
Farley, a first-generation entrepreneur and visionary founder of Fort Wayne-based companies Biodyne USA and BW Fusion, views the event as an opportunity to give back by mentoring students and sharing real-world insights. He emphasized the importance of helping students move from idea to execution.
“I’m really passionate about mentoring and helping shorten that gap—from starting a business to actually growing it into something successful,” he said. “This competition gives students a chance to think through that process early.”
He also sees significant potential for the Innovation Challenge to expand its impact. Farley suggested increasing participation, growing the audience and even reconnecting with past competitors to track their progress.
“I’d love to see this become an even bigger event,” he said. “Bring in more students, more ideas, more energy. And it would be great to follow up with past teams to see where they are now. I think in five or 10 years, we’re going to have some real success stories.”
Farley added that continued encouragement is key, especially for teams that may not win right away. Referencing one of this year’s concepts, he noted that early-stage ideas still hold promise with further development.
“You don’t want students to get discouraged,” he said. “Some of these ideas just need more time. With the right support, they could turn into something really meaningful.”
Faculty advisor to the Innovation Challenge, professor of marketing and management Dr. Staci Lugar Brettin, echoed that optimism, highlighting the collaboration across disciplines and the resources available to help students continue developing their ideas beyond the competition.
“Entrepreneurship and innovation are my passion,” Lugar Brettin said. “I love working with our students who have innovative, out-of-the-box ideas to make the world a better place.”
With growing participation, strong mentorship and a clear vision for the future, 91’s Innovation Challenge is not only celebrating student ingenuity, it’s helping shape the next generation of entrepreneurs.