People of Play honored 12 young people at The Young Inventor Challenge (YIC) International Championship. Held at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair (ChiTAG) earlier this month, the championship celebrated its 19th year. This year’s winners include kids ages 6-18 from 18 states and five countries, including Canada, Spain, Mexico, and Guyana.
The Challenge allows participants to express their ideas while refining their skills. Participants receive mentorship from industry experts.
Winners were judged based on original toy and game inventions and are selected based on their concept, pitch, and potential for success. The judges’ panel was comprised of industry professionals who dedicated over 200 hours to scoring, reviewing, and providing feedback online to young candidates.
“Our judges were so impressed by the passion and ingenuity each inventor brought to the table,” said Ahren Hoffman, YIC Director for People of Play. “These young inventors not only displayed immense talent but also the determination to make their ideas a reality. We are honored to support their journeys and grateful to the judges for their commitment to helping each participant grow.”
The 2024 Young Inventor Challenge International Championship winners include:
Best Pitch — Sponsored by Amazon
- Senior Winner: Skirmish-Battle-War by Gideon Koffman, 6th grade, Toronto, Canada
- Junior Winner: Aliens vs. Cows by Elliott Anderson, 4th grade, Palos Park, IL
Most Innovative — Sponsored by Mattel
- Senior Winner: MetroNet by Keegan Franck, 9th grade, Belmont, MA
- Junior Winners: Makenix by Claire Drapa, 4th grade, Palos Heights, IL & Richard Lee, 4th grade, Palos Park, IL
Most Engaging — Sponsored by Crazy Aaron’s
- Senior Winner: Ultramons Board Game by Palash Bhasin, 6th grade, Issaquah, WA
- Junior Winner: Calming Cuddlees by Maria Schwartze, 4th grade, Saint Charles, MO
Most Original — Sponsored by The Op
- Senior Winner: Wizard Quest by Andrew Hebdon, 9th grade, Forest, VA
- Junior Winner: Spladder by Hyacinth Speropolous, 4th grade, Palos Hills, IL
Most Marketable – Sponsored by Jill & Tom Barad
- Senior Winner: Battle Blox by Bella Mulligan, 6th grade, Rolla, MO
- Junior Winner: Chopstick Chef by Nate Tellone, 4th grade, Palos Park, IL
Best Potential — Sponsored by People of Play
- Senior Winner: Tenball by Alex Kirsch, 11th grade, Scarsdale, NY
- Junior Winner: Smack It! by Olivia Scheetz, 4th grade, Palos Park, IL
For more information about the Young Inventors Challenge, visit peopleofplay.com.
