Top winners turn everyday challenges into practical products spanning teen apparel, urban mobility and infant care

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Alibaba.com, a leading global business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce platform, announced the winners of the U.S. portion of CoCreate Pitch 2026, its AI-powered product innovation competition, held at CoCreate 2026 in Los Angeles. This year's top winners reflect a common focus on designing intuitive products around real, everyday needs.

The competition drew nearly 50,000 global applicants, with 20 entrepreneurs selected to pitch live in the U.S. final for a share of the $1 million+ global prize pool. As the U.S. edition wrapped up on September 10, one winner received the $200,000 grand prize, while the second-place winner received $100,000, the third-place winner received $50,000, and the 17 other finalists were each awarded $10,000. Each award consists of 50% cash and 50% Alibaba.com credits.

This year's U.S. Grand Prize Gold Award winner is Apricotton, represented by Co-Founder Chloe Beaudoin. Apricotton creates bras designed to grow with girls through every stage of puberty, using moisture-wicking, high-stretch fabrics and adjustable designs to address the physical and emotional discomfort many girls experience with their first bra. The company has built a viral "older sister" community of more than 300,000 followers.

The Second Place Silver Award winner is FEND, co-founded by Sujene Kong and Christian Heifner. Designed for urban commuters, FEND's patented, safety-certified helmets fold by 50% to fit easily into a bag or backpack and feature integrated front and rear lights.

The Third Place Bronze Award winner is HoopDee Hoops, founded by Roxie Alsruhe. HoopDee is an infant health-tech brand whose reusable, battery-free NFC silicone rings fit any bottle and sync with a companion app to digitally track breast milk and formula in real time.

In addition to the top three winners, the other 17 finalists who advanced to compete in the U.S. final were (listed alphabetically by product name):

• Natasha Syed of Bio-Pod – A patent-pending, multi-compartment organic fertilizer system for indoor houseplants using pre-measured, drop-in pods.
• Dillon Rosenthal of Bounceback Pickle – A closed-loop recycling system that collects cracked pickleballs and remolds them into 100% recycled pickleballs.
• Paula Velilla of DryPoint – A courtside grip-restoration device using battery-powered precision airflow to restore racquet handles in under 60 seconds.
• Ethan Gao of gao.lab – A collapsible, industrial-grade portable 3D printer designed for on-site engineering and field repair.
• Georgia Grace Edwards of Gnara GoFly® Zipper Technology – Patented GoFly® Zipper Technology integrates into high-performance apparel to enable discreet and convenient bathroom access.
• Nic Lamb of IceBeanie – A reusable cold-compression wearable designed to provide relief from migraines, headaches, hangovers and concussions.
• Jeff Latham and Kristi Latham of Icy Light – A multifunctional automotive ice scraper and emergency survival tool.
• Jake Miller and Evan Slezak of NoKnot Fishing Company – Knot-free fishing rigging systems designed to simplify setup and improve efficiency on the water.
• Titilope Olotu of PADÍ – A biodegradable banana-fiber menstrual pad embedded with biosensors that detect reproductive health biomarkers.
• Max Qiu of Plantiemoji – An AI-powered plant companion using IoT sensors and multimodal AI to provide personalized plant-care guidance.
• Sebastian Velmont and Rashon Velmont of ReCIRC – A patented reusable packaging platform designed to reduce both product and container waste.
• Zach Mohr of Roto Toilet Paper Holder – A patent-pending holder designed for effortless, one-handed roll replacement and improved accessibility.
• Helya Mohammadian of Slick Chicks Adaptive Intimates – Patented adaptive intimates designed to make dressing easier for people with disabilities or limited mobility.
• Riz Nwosu and Raphael Hamilton of Splitflask – A patented dual-chamber insulated tumbler that carries two separate beverages in one bottle.
• Rima El Brouzi of syp – A clip-on hydration-intelligence platform that measures fluid intake in real time and syncs data to a coach dashboard.
• Franke Alexander of Wearable Water – A patented bottle label with a hidden sling that turns a standard water bottle into a hands-free accessory.
• Ann Zhang of Welove Earplugs – Reusable ergonomic earplugs paired with a portable UV-sanitizing case.

"This year's CoCreate Pitch offered a clear window into how entrepreneurs are turning real-world needs into viable products," said Liz Wang, Global Head of Commercial Strategy at Alibaba.com. "We congratulate all 20 finalists who took the stage in Los Angeles. Their creativity and resilience reflect the entrepreneurial spirit Alibaba.com has always championed. With our AI capabilities, global sourcing resources and entrepreneur network, we look forward to continuing to support their growth long after the competition—and to welcoming the next group of founders at CoCreate Pitch Europe in London this November."

The CoCreate Pitch European final will take place November 19–20 in London, giving additional entrepreneurs the opportunity to compete for prizes as part of the competition's $1 million+ global prize pool. More information about CoCreate Europe is available at: https://www.alibabacocreate.com/

About CoCreate

CoCreate is the world's leading sourcing event, connecting global e-commerce sellers, retailers, and wholesalers with top manufacturers and industry experts. By fostering face-to-face collaboration, the summit empowers businesses to discover innovative products, optimize supply chains, and build partnerships that drive long-term growth.

About Alibaba.com

Launched in 1999, Alibaba.com is a leading platform for global business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce that serves buyers and suppliers from over 200 countries and regions around the world. It is engaged in services covering various aspects of commerce, including providing businesses with tools that help them reach a global audience for their products and helping buyers discover products, find suppliers and place orders online fast and efficiently. Alibaba.com is part of Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

ALIBABA.COM DOES NOT ENDORSE, RECOMMEND, OR REPRESENT THE PRODUCTS, SERVICES, OR ACTIVITIES OF ANY COMPETITORS, PARTICIPANTS, OR THIRD PARTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS EVENT. THE SELECTION OF WINNERS AND FINALISTS IS SOLELY BASED ON ON-SITE PERFORMANCE AND IS NOT INFLUENCED BY ANY EXTERNAL FACTORS, AFFILIATIONS, OR BIASES. IF ANY CONTENT OR ACTIVITY IS SUSPECTED OF INFRINGING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS OR OTHER LEGAL PROTECTIONS, PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR CONCERNS VIA [email protected].

CONTACT: Mike Hong, [email protected]