Xavier alumna Amber Bonner (‘07) took home the top prize in IDEAinstitute’s semi-annual Pitch Night Competition. Bonner, the CEO and co-founder of Zokyo Products LLC, competed against five finalists in the 10-week-long pitch event with 60 original contenders vying for the top prize. The Idea Village, a New Orleans nonprofit founded to support startups, presented the event. 

“The emotions I felt when it was announced that Zokyo won the IDEAinstitute 2024 Spring Pitch Competition are indescribable,” said Bonner, “This moment reminded me that after every challenge my team and I faced, there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel.” 

Bonner won for Zokyo’s automated toilet paper dispenser designed for toddlers. In her pitch, Bonner explained how the technology teaches children the appropriate amount of paper to help reduce toilet clogs and water usage and, therefore, end high monthly spending on both. 

Read more here.