No Templates Needed: Tailoring KANU to a 275-Student Research & Entrepreneurship Competition
FAU's applied research and entrepreneurship competition piloted KANU to bring structure and gamification to 275 students—customizing the platform from the ground up to fit their unique format.
Florida Atlantic University
Public University in Boca Raton, FL • 30,000+ students
Regina Thompson
Assistant Director of Strategic & Economic Initiatives, Division of Research
275
Students in Competition
$500
Award Per Winner (10–12 Recipients)
Custom
Tailored Journey Built from Scratch
April 2026
Formal Student Feedback
Executive Summary
Flexible Infrastructure for a Unique Competition
An applied research and entrepreneurial competition serving 275 undergraduate and graduate students wanted a more structured and engaging way to guide participants—without squeezing its distinctive format into a generic platform. After a trusted recommendation, the team chose to pilot KANU, drawn to its gamified approach and the ability to customize it to reflect their own program. Working closely with the KANU team, they built a tailored student journey that mirrors their competition's unique structure.
275 Students
Undergraduate and graduate participants guided through a single complex competition
Built-to-Fit
Platform tailored to the program's unique structure and applied research focus
Active Pilot
Formal student feedback planned for April 2026 to inform next steps
The Challenge
Structure Without Sacrifice
This undergraduate and graduate applied research and entrepreneurial competition brings approximately 275 students into a single, complex program where 10–12 participants ultimately receive $500 to develop innovative ideas targeting societal problems.
Before KANU, communication depended heavily on emails and reference materials. Even with orientation content available, students often missed key information and returned with questions that had already been addressed—creating an ongoing operational strain on a small team.
Communication Overhead
Staff found themselves repeating the same information across a 275-student cohort, with students missing key details despite existing orientation materials.
Email Dependency
Communication relied heavily on email threads and static reference materials with no guided path
Information Gaps
Students frequently missed orientation content and returned with already-answered questions
Operational Strain
Staff repeatedly addressed the same questions across a large, complex cohort
No Structured Journey
No clear path to guide students through the competition's unique stages and expectations
The Solution
Custom by Design, Not by Default
Rather than forcing their applied research and entrepreneurship competition into a pre-set mold, the team worked closely with KANU to build a tailored student journey that mirrors their competition's unique structure and applied research focus on solving societal problems.
Gamified Competition Journey
Turned the competition into a structured, gamified experience where students move through defined stages aligned with program expectations.
Built-to-Fit Customization
Collaborated with the KANU team to shape the platform around their unique program—not the other way around.
From Email to Structure
Replaced scattered email threads and static documents with a defined path that proactively guides students through the competition.
Pilot Timeline
Program Launch
Custom Journey Built
Active Pilot
Students Progressing
April 2026
Formal Feedback & Evaluation
THE TRANSFORMATION
Operational Efficiency & Program Continuity
FAU implemented a streamlined, remote-capable onboarding and engagement system designed to reduce administrative burden and minimize reliance on in-person coordination.
From Manual Coordination to One-Link Intake
Before
- In-person onboarding sessions
- Repeated explanations across cohorts
- Manual tracking in spreadsheets
- Staff-dependent activation
After
- Single shared intake link
- Standardized onboarding process
- Students activated in approximately 15 minutes
- Centralized data capture from day one
Less Hand-Holding, More Leverage
- Fewer one-on-one onboarding meetings
- Reduced repetitive instruction across cohorts
- Automatic tracking of student progress
- Consistent messaging across programs
- Less manual follow-up and troubleshooting
Built to Operate Without Constant Oversight
Voices of Proof
Straight from the Program Lead
Early impressions from the team driving FAU's applied research and entrepreneurship pilot.
For student entrepreneurship it's worth trying.
Regina Thompson
Assistant Director of Strategic & Economic Initiatives, Division of Research, FAU
It seemed like a fun gamified way to run our program and it was customizable.
Regina Thompson
Assistant Director of Strategic & Economic Initiatives, Division of Research, FAU
Working with the team to make it my own for the purposes of what our program offers.
Regina Thompson
Assistant Director of Strategic & Economic Initiatives, Division of Research, FAU
We are still studying student response; we are currently in our pilot phase with our program.
Regina Thompson
Assistant Director of Strategic & Economic Initiatives, Division of Research, FAU
Replicate the Success
How to Run a Custom Competition Journey with KANU
Programs running applied research or entrepreneurship competitions with unique formats can use FAU's approach to bring structure and gamification without sacrificing what makes their program distinctive.
Map Your Competition's Stages
Document the unique phases of your program before building in KANU—this becomes the backbone of your customized student journey.
Replace Email with Guided Paths
Shift from reactive, email-based communication to a proactive experience that anticipates student questions before they arise.
Collaborate on Customization
Work closely with the KANU team to shape the platform around your program—not the other way around.
Pilot, Observe, and Iterate
Treat the first run as a learning experience. Observe how students engage and gather formal feedback before scaling.
Explore How This Model Could Work at Your Institution
Schedule a conversation to discover how this approach could enhance your program.