2025 Invent Oregon Finals Recap: Innovation, Energy, and a Statewide Celebration of Ideas

Each year, the Invent Oregon Finals bring together the brightest student innovators from across the state — and 2025 was truly one for the history books.

Hosted this summer at Portland State University, the 2025 InventOR Finals showcased Oregon’s next generation of changemakers: 20+ finalist teams, over 200 attendees, and a community of entrepreneurs, mentors, and investors all gathered to celebrate bold ideas that make a difference.

From sustainable materials and medical breakthroughs to mental health tech and wildfire safety innovations, this year’s cohort stood out for its creativity, diversity, and drive. Over 20 industry judges volunteered their expertise, evaluating projects that pushed the limits of what’s possible — and reminding everyone that innovation thrives when ideas are given room to grow.

The energy in the room was electric. Students pitched, demonstrated, and shared their prototypes with excitement and confidence, showing how much impact can come from student-led innovation. From early sketches to real-world prototypes, every project reflected months of passion, persistence, and teamwork.

🏆 Highlights included OHSU’s EEGonaut, which earned both First Place and the People’s Choice Award for their groundbreaking brain-powered VR headset, as well as ColdConnect from Southern Oregon University, winner of the Visionary Award, and Fire Stoppers from Klamath Community College, which took home Third Place.

🎥 Our official recap video captures every moment — the pitches, the energy, the laughter, and the proud faces of students seeing their hard work come to life.

👉 Watch the full 2025 Invent Oregon Finals Recap on YouTube and relive the energy, collaboration, and innovation that define Oregon’s statewide student innovation competition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22VMweA6bx0&list=PLzI8p8YSTABxeqIoBasbY7fBn_32AOwZs&index=8