People of Play announce winners of 18th annual young inventor challenge
Catastrophe of Hairballs, Hike the Spike, and Blanket Kingdom were among the top place finishers at People of Play’s 18th Annual Young Inventor Challenge® (YIC) held in 2023 on November 4th at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair.
Creating original play products
The YIC is a yearly competition where students between the ages of 6 and 18 have the opportunity to create an original play product and pitch it to professional toy and game inventors for a chance to win big prizes. Past winners have seen their entries licensed, manufactured, and sold in both specialty toy stores and in major retailers including Target and Amazon. Leading up to the Young Inventor Challenge® in November, regional events are hosted at independent toy stores, day camps, and summer school programs to inspire and engage kids to create toys and games to be judged in the annual competition.
"The Young Inventor Challenge has a mission to inspire the next generation of innovators, but I find the kids are the inspiration. It is a joy to be a part of their journey from start to finish and watch their creativity unfold!", said Young Inventor Challenge Director, Ahren Hoffman.
Exciting opportunities
Each year, Young Inventor Challenge® competitors have the option to pitch their project in-person. This is not a requirement for participation, but an exciting opportunity for kids to present and watch the award ceremony live! In 2023, the YIC had 44 projects pitched at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair and 4 of the 8 winners were presented with trophies on stage. Winners spanned multiple states including Illinois, Indiana, Colorado, and Massachusetts.
Below is the official list of winners of the 2023 Young Inventor Challenge:
BEST GAME - Sponsored by Mattel
Senior Winner: Endless by Keegan Franck (8th grade) of Belmont, MA
Junior Winner: Catastrophe of Hairballs by Carol Pack (4th grade) of Palos Heights, IL
MOST CREATIVE - Sponsored by Crazy Aaron's®
Senior Winner: Pirates of the Spinning Sea by Analise Potsander (7th grade) of Goshen, IN
Junior Winner: Hike the Spike by Shaurya Shah (4th grade) of Chicago, IL
MOST AUTHENTIC - Sponsored by Boogie Board®
Senior Winner: Blanket Kingdom by Wolf Danzer (7th grade) of Superior, CO
Junior Winner: Zombie Zania by Shea Curran (4th grade) of Palos Heights, IL
BEST PITCH - Sponsored by The Toy Association™
Senior Winner: Delivering Presents by Claire Schmitt (7th grade) of Evansville, IN
Junior Winner: Makeover by Marley McCall (4th grade) of Palos Heights, IL
The 19th Annual Young Inventor Challenge registration is set to open this summer. Interested participants are encouraged to check out the resources and rules at www.younginventorchallenge.com for inspiration. Caregivers, teachers, and other adults can sign up to be notified when registration is live!
Explore photos of 2023 winners and past published toys and games to experience the excitement of the Young Inventor Challenge®.
Source: People of Play Press Release