ANNUAL STUDENT COMPETITION
NourishTank is a student competition intended to foster innovation, collaboration, and sustainable solutions to combat hunger. The goal is to provide a platform for emerging entrepreneurs and change-makers to showcase and support groundbreaking ideas that tackle food insecurity and malnutrition. Through a SharkTank-style event, NourishTank hopes to inspire, empower, and invest in hunger solutions that create lasting impact. Together, we can achieve a food secure future for all.
Contest Rules:
The USU Hunger Solutions Institute is looking for proposals to combat food insecurity that are unique, innovative, and sustainable. Proposals should be able to be implemented in two years or less. Solutions should be designed for a specific population (immigrants, single mothers, ex-convicts, etc.).
Teams can be made up of 1-5 students. All team members must be USU students (undergrad or graduate students) during the Spring 2025 semester.
The theme for this year’s competition is Policy, Systems, and Environmental change.
Applications will be reviewed by the USU Hunger Solutions Institute administration and outside reviewers. Five teams will be chosen to present their idea to the NourishTank panel on the afternoon of April 17, 2025. Panel members will be announced soon. One grand prize winner will be selected by the NourishTank panel. Winning ideas may be implemented by the USU Hunger Solutions Institute.
If a team from a USU statewide campus is chosen, funds will be provided to transport the team to the main campus in Logan to present their idea at the NourishTank Event on April 17, 2025.
Reward:
Each of the five teams chosen to present will be awarded a cash prize. First place $1000; second place $500; third, fourth, and fifth receive $200 each.
Deadlines:
Submit completed application by midnight on March 16, 2025 via the Qualtrics form found on the NourishTank website. The winners will be notified by March 28, 2025, and invited to present to the panel and live audience on April 17, 2025.
NourishTank 2025 Application
(to be completed via the application form)
Project name:
Team name:
Team members and A#s:
Area of study of each team member:
Describe the specific population your proposal will focus on. (200 words maximum)
Literature Review: Briefly share data or information showing the need for your solution for your chosen population. What factors may contribute to hunger or food insecurity within your chosen population? (500 words maximum)
Share a summary of your proposed solution. (100 words maximum)
The goal of NourishTank is to foster innovation, collaboration, and sustainable solutions to combat hunger. What is the goal of your proposal and how does it support the objective of NourishTank? How will you evaluate these goals? (200 words maximum)
Budget: What are the anticipated costs (direct and indirect) of your solution?
Direct costs to consider include (but are not limited to): personnel salary/wages, fringe benefits (30% of salary), equipment, supplies, transportation, travel, building rental, etc.
Indirect costs (which are 20% of direct costs) Indirect costs do not need to be discussed in detail but do need to be factored into your budget, include estimate of unintended costs).
Provide a narrative on the anticipated costs. Please also include a brief narrative on potential funding options for your solution. (200 words maximum)
Are there any previous or current efforts to fight hunger that have been done within the population your solution focuses on? If yes, please describe. (200 words maximum)
How is your solution sustainable? (i.e., What partnerships, funding, policy/organizational changes, etc. are necessary to create lasting change). (200 words maximum)
What impact do you expect your solution to have? (200 words maximum)
How is this an innovative idea? (200 words maximum)
If your solution is chosen, what timeline (up to two years) do you anticipate for this project? (200 words maximum)
Why should your idea be chosen? (200 words maximum)