A team of New Mexico State University students recently took the national stage at the 2026 Hult Prize West Nationals, hosted by the University of Arizona's W.A. Franke Honors College in Tucson, to present "Hormona", their innovative startup focused on accessible hormone health tracking.
After winning NMSU's local Hult Prize Pitch Competition in October 2025 as part of the Bold Idea Conference, Team Hormona advanced to the national round of this globally recognized social entrepreneurship challenge. Team members Sydnee Johnson, a business major, Alyssa Hernandez and Melissa Torres, both biology majors, pitched their venture – an at-home device that enables individuals to conveniently monitor and track key hormonal changes. Their solution empowers users to identify potential health concerns early, better understand their bodies, and make more informed decisions. It brings together biology-driven research with a clear market need.
Competing at the national level provided the team with a valuable opportunity to engage with some of the country's brightest young innovators. The experience offered meaningful insights and inspiration that will continue to shape their entrepreneurial journey.
"It was an incredible experience to pitch alongside teams from across the country. We learned so much about what it takes to build a startup that truly makes an impact, and we're coming back to NMSU more motivated than ever," said Johnson.
"Competing at nationals showed me how biology and business can work together to solve real health challenges. It was humbling and inspiring at the same time," said Hernandez.
"Standing in front of judges from across the country and presenting something we built from scratch was an experience I will never forget. It pushed me to grow not just as an entrepreneur, but as a person," said Torres.
The team's participation was supported by the Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship at NMSU's Arrowhead Center through the Studio G program and the Mike Hunt Construction Sprint. These programs empower students to develop business acumen, explore entrepreneurial ventures, and address global challenges through innovation. Hormona exemplifies this mission by demonstrating how students can translate technical knowledge into scalable, socially impactful ventures.
"Seeing the Hormona team compete at the national level was a proud moment for Studio G and for NMSU. They walked into a room full of exceptional student entrepreneurs from across the country and held their own. That kind of experience is transformational. It shapes not just their startup, but who they are as innovators and future leaders," said Carlos Cuesta, director of Studio G.
"Pitching at the Hult Prize West Nationals gave our students a front-row seat to what's possible when passion meets purpose. They gained insight from peers across the country, received feedback from global mentors, and experienced firsthand the caliber of ideas being built by the next generation of entrepreneurs. We couldn't be more proud of Sydnee, Alyssa, and Melissa for representing NMSU on the national stage," said Carlos Murguia, director of the Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship.
The Hult Prize, often called the "Nobel Prize for students," is one of the world's most prestigious student entrepreneurship competitions. Each year, it challenges university students to build mission-driven startups aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, with top performers advancing to the Hult Prize Digital Incubator and the Global Accelerator at Ashridge House near London, where finalists compete for a $1 million prize in seed funding.
Fellow Aggies interested in entrepreneurship are encouraged to take advantage of the resources available through the Arrowhead Center and the Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship.
For more information about the Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship, contact Carlos Murguia at
The full article can be seen at https://newsroom.nmsu.edu/news/nmsu-students-showcases--hormona--innovation-at-hult-prize-west-nationals/s/026d70b6-3a97-45b9-b2ed-d9e4f0d74d54
