SipSafe wins Investor Sharks Northwest 2022!!!

I’m incredibly excited to share that SipSafe won First Place at the 2022 Investor Sharks Northwest competition, hosted by the Kirkland Chamber of Commerce!

When I started this project, I had one goal: make public water fountains safer and more hygienic by turning them touchless—without replacing the whole unit. After more than 50 prototypes and over 15 months of work, I'm excited to get here. I cannot believe how many models I tested and rebuilt so many versions, starting with cardboard boxes, and eventually landed on a design that could actually snap onto a real water fountain and press the button reliably.

Presenting at the competition was honestly nerve-wracking. I had to explain everything—from the technical parts to the market opportunity—but I felt confident because I knew the problem, the solution, and the numbers. The judges asked tough questions, but I was ready. I think they saw how much thought and work went into SipSafe - not just the idea, but the product, the business plan, and the vision behind it.

You can check out my pitch here.

Anika Joshi at the Kirkland Investor Sharks

Winning this competition was a huge moment for me - it’s not just a win for SipSafe, but for what’s possible when schools give students space to build real solutions to real problems.