ABAL Therapeutics, a business started by three University of Iowa students that designs software providing therapy for children with autism, recently won the grand prize at Texas Christian University’s prestigious Values and Ventures business startup competition.

The business is owned by co-founders Logan Grote, ’18; Shamus Roeder, ’19; and Max Salinger, ’20.

The ABAL software replicates Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy normally provided by therapists that help children with autism learn to look, listen, imitate, read, converse, and understand another person’s perspective. But the therapy is often difficult to access for many families. Wait lists with therapists can last up to 18 months, and costs can exceed $100,000 a year.

ABAL’s software automates the exercises so that children can access the therapy from an app downloaded to a tablet.

The students are members of the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center’s Founder’s Club, and ABAL Therapeutics has its office in the Bedell Entrepreneurship Learning Lab (BELL). The competition winner was announced April 7.

The team won $25,000 in the competition that champions socially conscious student startup businesses and is sponsored by TCU’s Neeley Entrepreneurship Center. Student entrepreneurs from 55 universities competed.