
CFANS students shine at Tinker @ the Toaster Innovation Challenge

Pictured above (left to right) Liz Novak, APEC junior; Robert McKee, AFBM senior; Ryan Horton, General Mills; Maxwell Ketecki, AFBM junior; Jeffrey Stamp, CFANS Department of Applied Economics; Morgan Kerfeld, Carlson School of Management; Jon Stavig, Carlson School of Management.
The Tinker @ the Toaster Innovation Challenge, held on November 8, 2024, at the University of Minnesota’s Toaster Innovation Hub, showcased the creativity and ingenuity of 53 students across multiple colleges, including CFANS, CSOM, CLA, and CSE. This exciting event, sponsored by Google Cloud, General Mills, the Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship and CFANS, invited participants to use AI as a catalyst for innovation in the food and beverage industry. CFANS students stole the show, sweeping all three top honors with their inventive ideas that seamlessly blended AI technology with food innovation:
1st Place: Maxwell Ketecki, an Agricultural and Food Business Management (AFBM) junior, won for WaffleEgg, a protein-packed breakfast sandwich that combines health, convenience, and deliciousness.
Runner-Up: Robert McKee, an AFBM senior, earned second place with Chef’s Select Meal Helper, a premium alternative to traditional meal kits designed to simplify cooking while elevating taste.
Crowd Favorite: Lia Novak, an Applied Economics (APEC) junior, captured the audience’s hearts with Jelly Bites, a guilt-free dessert crafted without added sugars or artificial flavors.
At the heart of the competition was Jeff Stamp, CFANS Teaching Professor of Department of Applied Economics and an inspiring mentor for the students. Stamp, who designed and led the challenge, emphasized the significance of early-stage ideation and bold thinking. “This competition is about creativity with purpose,” he shared. “I enjoy seeing the light in students’ faces when they have something (an idea) and are proud of it.”
The participants’ concepts were evaluated by a panel of industry experts from General Mills and the Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship, who commended the students for their innovative applications of AI paired with human creativity. With CFANS students excelling in the challenge, the event highlighted the college’s commitment to fostering innovation, hands-on learning, and leadership in the agri-food business space.
Congratulations to Maxwell, Robert, and Lia on their remarkable achievements, and to Jeff Stamp for his visionary guidance and dedication to empowering students!