Connecticut Invention Convention: Inspiring the Next Generation of Inventors

In 2025, more than 70 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. More than 400 young inventors progressed to the state finals. Here are the details on the winners of the Travelers-sponsored awards:

• Travelers Safe Auto Award. Two students, one in fourth grade and the other in fifth, came up with “Seat Belt Fun” – a Velcro-secured pillow for seat belts designed with loops and carabiners to hold toys and other small items. This invention prevents toys from falling, reducing distractions for parents and making travel safer and more enjoyable for children.
• Travelers Safe Home Award. An eighth-grade student sought a way to easily replace smoke detector batteries. The “Safe Swap Smoke Detector” features an improved mounting system and a tool that allows for easy device removal and battery replacement from the ground. By removing the need for ladders, the tool encourages more frequent testing and battery changes.

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.