Connecticut Invention Convention: Inspiring the Next Generation of Inventors

In 2023, more than 150 Travelers employees across the nation served as volunteers and judges at the Connecticut Invention Convention (CIC), an entrepreneurial competition among innovative students in grades K-12. Travelers sponsored the Safe Home and Safe Car Awards, which our Claim organization presented at the CIC State Finals – an event in which more than 11,000 young inventors participated.

• The Travelers Safe Car Award was given to a sixth grader for her “Forget Me Not” invention, which uses a hair scrunchie with a sensor to alert parents that a child is still in the car.
• The Travelers Safe Home Award was given to an eighth grader for her “Lucas System” invention, named after a classmate who died with his grandfather in a house fire. The student created a device to illuminate an entire exit, and the trim leading up to it, facilitating evacuation in case of a fire.

Since 2021, the CIC has brought innovation programs to more than 30,000 students statewide. In 2023, it had the most diverse class of inventors in 40 years of operation, with more than 38% of students identifying as inventors of color, and more than 55% identifying as female. In addition, more than 85% of CIC inventors came from below-median-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.