The Next Big Idea™

The Next Big Idea™ is an annual innovation competition at NTID sponsored by ZP Better Together.

Teams of deaf and hard-of-hearing students worked together to create a product, business, service or type of technology that solves a problem or eliminates an existing challenge for potential consumers and/or users everywhere.

Sign up for the Next Big Idea this year, and your idea could win big!

The Next Big Idea 2026 is here! See below for our full schedule and instructions to register you and your team:

Applications for the Next Big Idea are being accepted! To sign your team up, click below:

Apply now!

To learn more about the Next Big Idea or for any questions, contact Kendell Charles at kxcnca@rit.edu.

1. The competition is open to all RIT/NTID-supported students* who are full-time matriculated students or graduate students and who are registered for classes during the 2025-2026 academic year. Entrants can have no academic, judicial or financial holds. *Interpreting and MSSE students also are eligible to enter.
2. Teams should create a product, service or type of technology that can benefit anyone, anywhere.
3. Teams consist of 2 - 5 students enrolled in at least two different disciplines (business, engineering, etc./departments)
4. All submissions, sales pitches and review of prototypes will be reviewed by a panel of four RIT/NTID faculty and staff judges who will ensure that the work meets the competition criteria and who will determine the winners.
5. Teams must adhere to deadlines. Failure to do so will disqualify the team from competition.
6. At least two out of five team members are required to attend review meetings. Failure to do so will disqualify the team from competition.
7. Teams may be required to meet certain project milestones along the way (i.e. complete business concept; complete marketing concept; develop sneak peek video, etc.).
8. Submissions must be the original work of the contestants and must not be in violation of copyright laws.
9. Submissions should not include racial slurs, sexist remarks, profanity or other inappropriate content.

First Round Presentation

• Create a business plan using slide presentations (PowerPoint, Google Slides, Keynote, or Prezi) to explain your idea. All presentations have a time limit of 3 minutes.
• Answer the following questions in your presentation:
  • What is the product or service?
  • What is the goal of this product or service? 
    • Introduction of the idea
  • What problem does your product or service idea solve?
  • Who is your target audience?
  • Use a survey to collect feedback about your idea
    • What data did you collect?
    • Ask family, friends, followers on social media.
    • Your goal is to prove that your idea is useful and marketable.
• Share your presentation link with Kendell Charles at kxcnca@rit.edu by April 8, 2026. 
  • Ensure your presentation is only viewable by those who have the link.

The Next Big Idea event is sponsored by ZP Better Together, who award the following prizes to the best ideas each year:

• 1st Place: $2,500 cash and $3,000 for your startup
• 2nd Place: $1,000 cash and $2,000 for your startup
• 3rd Place: $500 cash and $1,500 for your startup

Each year, RIT/NTID students come together to create amazing ideas that impress our judges. Here are last year's winners and their ideas that have come to fruition as a result of the Next Big Idea competition: 

2025 Competition Results

1^st Place: Silent Diva

Laniece Oliver – 5th year, Individualized Studies Immersion in Advertising/Public Relations
Emma Vollmar – 2nd year, Business
Leilani Cronin – 2nd year, Graphic Design

Silent Diva is a deaf female-owned fashion and accessories brand empowering women to express their identity without limitations. Unlike traditional designs that rely on “deaf” labels or fingerspelling, we create stylish, bold graphics and catchy phrases that resonate with deaf women, their allies, and a wider audience. Our mission is to blend fashion with empowerment, ensuring that identity is celebrated in a modern, inclusive way. With Silent Diva, you make a statement – without saying a word.

2^nd Place: @spira'

Megan Montoya – 4th year, Environmental Sciences
Marisa Montoya  - 4th year, Humanities, Computing, and Design

@spira’ is to focus on Accessible Environmental Sciences related to material for the Deaf Community.

3^rd Place: Nexus Shield

Tanner Ketchum – 5th year, SOIS: Advertising and Public Relations
Cayne Aggas – 2nd year, Information Computer Science

Nexus Shield is an advanced cybersecurity solution designed to protect vulnerable groups, including the Deaf community and senior citizens, from scams, hacking, and digital threats. It offers real-time threat detection, secure communication tools, and educational resources to enhance online safety.

The Next Big Idea is an annual competition that is sponsored by ZP Better Together in partnership with NTID.

For any questions or inquiries, contact Kendell Charles at kxcnca@rit.edu.