The Aftermath and My Thoughts

I think I was in a lab room with one of my partners when I got the email. It said 'Competition results available now!' I frantically logged into my account while looking at it with one of my partners. We found that we had received three prizes: second place in Europe+Russia+Central Asia, second place nationally, and a merit award. I later discussed the results with the rest of the members of the pitch and we were thrilled with our results.

Looking back, the competition was a great opportunity to collaborate with my peers and strengthen my teamwork skills. I also feel like it was a great opportunity for me to demonstrate my knowledge regarding electronics and apply it by designing a product. I learned essential pitching skills and how small presentation details can have a big impact. On the other hand, I would have to note that sometimes the competition details felt a bit vague regarding certain specifications and the extent of freedom in the pitch made it difficult to know what was expected. However, the Algoed support team was very helpful and provided a sample pitch that clarified what the judges were looking for.

The start of AquaSave

It began with a group of 4. We all had diverse backgrounds and specialisations that contributed to the pitch. We had two students that took biology, three that took economics and one that took business and management. I also specialised in programming an Arduino microcontroller and, with the help of a friend, designed a device to precisely measure how much water a plant needs. We used a water moisture sensor and an LCD screen to display information. The goal of AquaSave was to create products that reduce plant waste and improve water-use efficiency, as freshwater scarcity is becoming an increasingly serious problem. We designed one model tailored to individual plant enthusiasts and another for farmers. Furthermore, we planned it to be equipped with software utilising advanced features on a subscription-based model called Aqua+. Most of the images presented in our pitch deck were AI-generated, but overall depict the idea for the design. Our aim was to significantly reduce the cost of modern farming equipment while maintaining quality.

From Idea to Pitch

The other members of my group worked on a plan to enter the market and compete against larger firms. They strategised about which audience to target, how they would promote the product, and how earnings would be used. In our pitch deck we tried to add small elements that elevated the pitch as a whole. We tried to make our brand look more established and professional for the judges. For example, we created a logo and a motto to reflect our product's core values. The logo featured a plant, and the motto read: "AQUASAFE - For what are we without water." On another note, our presentation also had a clear and organised layout, with simple-to-read text. This made it easier for us to communicate our ideas and was an important part in the marking criteria. However, there was still room for improvement when we presented our pitch to one of our school's business teachers. He said that a lot of it was great, but that we needed a bigger emphasis on what makes our products stand out. It was all about how we marketed ourselves, and our strategy focused on promoting a cost-effective way to stay efficient. After a few days of collaborative effort we submitted our final draft and waited anxiously for our results.