Connecticut Invention Convention: Inspiring the Next Generation of Inventors

In 2024, more than 120 Travelers employees across the nation served as volunteers and judges for the Connecticut Invention Convention (CIC), an entrepreneurial competition among innovative students in grades K-12. Travelers sponsored the Safe Home and Safe Auto Awards, which representatives from our Claim organization presented at the CIC State Finals. Participating employees logged more than 300 volunteer hours. More than 50 young inventors progressed to the state finals, winning 18 different prizes and awards. Here are details on the Travelers-sponsored awardees:

• Travelers Safe Auto Award. A fourth-grade student sought to address the dangers of sun glare for drivers. To solve for the fact that current sun shields don’t align with drivers’ eyes, the student invented the “Improved Visor Sun Shield,” which moves with drivers and consistently shields their eyes from sun glare. By improving visibility while driving, this invention is a significant innovation in auto safety.
• Travelers Safe Home Award. Two siblings in fourth grade saw how existing carbon monoxide (CO) alarms detect danger but don’t avert it. That’s why they invented “Safety CO” to do both. When the device senses high CO levels, it automatically opens the window for proper, life-saving ventilation – important for people (or pets) who couldn’t otherwise escape to fresh air.

Since 2021, the CIC has brought innovation programs to more than 30,000 students statewide. In 2024, it had the most diverse class of inventors in nearly 40 years of operation. In addition, more than 92% of CIC inventors came from below-average-income communities.

Community benefits

• Invention provides students with a unique means to discover new skill sets and creatively apply these skills in real-life settings.
• Our partnership with CIC encourages students to innovate and develop products that could positively affect their community in the future.

Travelers benefits

• Our partnership with CIC provides employees with opportunities to leverage their professional capabilities, such as team building and presentation skills, which helps further develop Travelers’ talent base.
• Through our partnership with CIC, employees are exposed to the innovation mindset; innovation is essential to our business, helping us experiment, learn and create exciting new solutions that make Travelers stand out in the market.
• Employees have expressed satisfaction with the company making investments in the next generation, which deepens engagement and boosts retention.