AI audit idea wins top prize at UI innovation challenge

IOWA CITY -- Shea Brown and his business, BABL AI, won first place and $25,000 at the University of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center Innovation Challenge.

The event was held April 18 at the Iowa Memorial Union in Iowa City.

A total of $135,000 was awarded in three divisions to 29 startups.

BABL AI, which uses certified independent auditors to ensure systems comply with AI regulations, won in the faculty/staff/graduate student/incubator startup division. Brown is a UI associate professor teaching classes in physics and astrophysics.

Placing second and receiving $15,000 in the faculty/staff/graduate student/incubator startup division was Daniel Infield and his Halide Biologics, a research and development engineering firm.

Third place and $10,000 went to Aaron Brake and APEX: AI Patient Experience, an advanced AI-driven platform aiming to transform patient education in health care.

SeatStock, a company that safeguards clients when buying and selling student tickets, was the biggest winner in the undergraduate division. It placed first for best technology/high growth division and earned $10,000 for students Josh Cohen, Brandon Egger, Brady Stein and Adam Hasan.

First place in the alumni division and $12,500 went to Zachary Grasso and Pesche, which specializes in health-conscious mocktails catering to the lifestyle-oriented market.

Six winners in the faculty/staff/graduate student/incubator startup division shared $60,000, 20 winners in the undergraduate division shared $50,000, and three winners in the alumni division shared $25,000.