Enlight Fellowship Opens Doors for Political Science Major Hannah Martin
When Hannah Martin (CAS’25) first stumbled upon the Enlight Fellowship application, she had little knowledge of entrepreneurship or innovation. A political science and English major with pre-law aspirations, Hannah viewed social impact primarily through a policy lens. Yet that random online discovery would change not only her summer plans but her entire career trajectory. “My […]
Communiti Connects Students to Campus Life Through Innovative Platform
Finding your community on a college campus can be challenging. With hundreds of clubs, events, and activities scattered across multiple platforms, many students struggle to discover opportunities that align with their interests. This is the problem that Communiti, founded by Uzochi Nzerem (MET’26), Ananya Agarwal (CAS’25), Eugene Jung (CAS’26), Venessa Maduka (ENG’26), and Jacky Lin […]
Leon Lin is Bringing Juiceless Juice to the Bartending Scene
Leon has been recognized as the 2025 School of Hospitality Administration Student Innovator of the Year! When Jiayou “Leon” Lin (SHA’24) was working as a bartender both in the United States and abroad, one task consistently dampened his enthusiasm for the job: juicing citrus before each shift. That frustration sparked an idea that would eventually […]
Luca Pungan’s Biosensors are Driving the Future of Reproductive Health
Luca has been recognized as the 2025 Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program Student Innovator of the Year! When Luca Pungan (ENG’25) transferred to Boston University as a sophomore, he found himself playing catch-up with his peers. Originally a molecular biology major, he switched to biomedical engineering and spent his early years at BU taking freshman-level classes […]
Prianna Sharan (CAS’25) Named Student Innovator of the Year for Social Connection App
Computer science student Prianna Sharan (CAS’25) never planned to become an entrepreneur when she arrived at Boston University from California. Yet her desire for creative autonomy and a chance meeting with Remi Chester (Questrom’25) during her first week at BU Splash would change that trajectory entirely. Now the co-founder and CTO of Popple—a social media […]
Orobor is Recycling Tennis String into a Stylish Solution
When Jakob Esterowitz (ENG’27) noticed his clothing manufacturer overseas was reluctant to disclose where materials came from, he began investigating on his own. What he discovered was startling: 10% of global carbon emissions come from polyester clothing production, and more than 24 million pounds of polyester tennis strings end up in landfills annually—where they remain […]
Agrinova Combats Heavy Metal Contamination In Soil
A disturbing headline about heavy metals in baby food prompted Meritxell Ortodo (ENG’26) to investigate a serious public health concern. Meritxell and Trinity Olander (CAS’25), uncovered a troubling connection between contaminated soil and the food supply that affects children’s neurological development. Their research led them to found Agrinova, a startup developing technology that addresses this […]
Clueless By Design is Addressing Fast Fashion with an AI-Powered Smart Closet
When Rey Dwivedi (COM’25) finds herself running late for an important interview, she knows exactly how the day will end—returning home to a chaotic explosion of rejected outfits covering every surface of her bedroom. This all-too-familiar scenario inspired her to develop Clueless by Design, an innovative AI-powered closet automation app designed to transform how […]
Udayaa Platform Transforms Student Social Entrepreneurship in India.
When Tanya Shizan (Questrom’26) was in high school, she witnessed firsthand the challenges students face when trying to create sustainable social impact. After successfully raising $600 to build a primary school for children in a tribal village near a tiger reserve, Tanya recognized that many student-led projects struggle due to limited resources, funding barriers, and […]
Culinary Commons is Reimagining Community Through Food
In kitchens across Boston, new connections are simmering. Pots and pans are just part of the cooking process; the secret ingredient is the sense of community that comes from the simple act of preparing food together. This is the vision of Culinary Commons, a nonprofit initiative founded by Andrea Catania (MET’24) and Mark Araujo that’s […]