Rachel Circelli and Mark Van Den Avont have created a startup called HexNest that is challenging standards in sports safety

HexNest is a startup company brought to you by two Illinois undergraduate students. Rachel Circelli (chemistry and political science) and Mark Van Den Avont (mechanical engineering) are working to create a safer yet affordable sports mat. Their goal is to create a mat that will reduce injuries to athletes in schools and private clubs. Their main focus is a gymnastics mat that will more effectively absorb impacts. HexNest won the $10,000 second place prize in the Cozad New Venture Challenge, and won the EnterpriseWorks Incubation Space Prize, the Research Park I-Start Prize, the Meyer Capel Prize, and the mHUB Prize.