University of Texas at Dallas students, alumni and researchers shared their innovative business initiatives while competing for $170,000 in cash and scholarship prizes during the 2023 Big Idea Competition finals on May 19 at the Blackstone LaunchPad facility on campus. Hosted by the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IIE), UT Dallas’ premier pitch contest featured projects in industries ranging from transportation and health to pet care and education. Routora, led by computer science senior Tom Vazhekatt, won the student competition and $25,000. “Winning the pitch competition was an incredible milestone for us at Routora,” Vazhekatt said. Leon Jacobson MBA’22, assistant director of IIE who oversaw the competition this year, was pleased with the amount of diversity among the finalists.