Introducing the Semi-Finalists of the 2026 New Venture Competition!
Boston University’s New Venture Competition has selected its 2026 semi-finalists, advancing one step closer to determining which student-led ventures will share in this year’s $80k prize pool. The semi-finals include 20 teams — 10 on the social impact track and 10 on the general track.
The annual New Venture Competition gives current BU students and alumni within a year of graduation to showcase their entrepreneurial concepts while competing for funding that can transform ideas into viable businesses. Participants receive valuable feedback from industry experts, build their professional networks, and gain visibility in Boston’s innovation ecosystem.
The 2026 semi-finalist teams span diverse fields, including biotech, healthcare, education, and robotics, all of which address real-world challenges. The semi-finalists represent a variety of BU’s schools and colleges, including the College of Engineering, Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences, and Questrom School of Business.
The competition will conclude at Innovators’ Night on April 15, with finalists pitching to a panel of judges and an audience of more than 500 for their share of $80,000 in funding.
Social Impact Track Semi-Finalists
Antioch Technologies
Antioch Technologies is a medical device startup developing a dual-wearable system that uses machine learning and targeted mechanical compression to detect and suppress debilitating tremors in real time for people with neurological disorders. The MULExNeuroBrace system provides a non-invasive, affordable alternative to medications and surgery, helping patients regain independence in daily activities like eating, dressing, and writing. Antioch Technologies is led by Mark Lucas (ENG’26).
DesignMy Education
DesignMy Education is an equal-access entrepreneurship platform delivered through public libraries that provides patrons with a free, structured pathway from idea to tangible business outputs while giving libraries a program with resources, repeatable formats, and measurable outcomes. DesignMy Education is led by Aryan Jain (CAS’26).
Farms for Thought
Farms for Thought is a sustainable grocery store model for low-income communities that implements autonomous vertical farms in schools and community centers, integrating agricultural technology education while establishing local distribution systems to provide fresh produce to food desert residents. Farms for Thought is led by Emma Ekua-Bedua Hudson (ENG’27) and Maryam Bellakbira.
GrantWare AI
GrantWare AI is an agentic platform that automates the entire grant funding workflow—from discovery and eligibility analysis to proposal drafting and submission—for K-12 school districts, nonprofits, universities, and government agencies. GrantWare AI is led by Ryan Rodriguez (CAS’26), Gabriel Levi Ramos (CAS’26), and Adrian Dybacki (CAS’26).
HerPower Collective
HerPower Collective is an internationally operating nonprofit that addresses school absenteeism caused by menstruation by installing Menstrual Corners—school-embedded spaces stocked with sustainable menstrual products and supported by peer-led management and medical professional-led education seminars. HerPower Collective is led by Kusum Aryal (SAR’26), Jessica Utomo (SAR’29), Nailah Charles (QST’26), Alessia Jones (SAR’26), Caroline Donohue (CAS’25), Angeliris Cabrera (ENG’27), and Anna Goswami (SAR ‘28).
JoHil eKlinics
JoHIL eKlinics is a peri-urban hospital chain in Ghana that combines telemedicine through its eDok platform with rotating specialist clinic days to deliver continuous chronic disease care to rural and underserved communities. JoHIL eKlinics is led by Samuel Amoako-kusi (SPH’27).
Melodie
Melodie is a personalized period-wellness kit that combines menstrual products with age-specific education, affirmations, and emotional tools to address the psychological realities of menstruation for girls ages 9-18. Melodie is led by Isabella Chang (CAS’28).
My Wealth, My Power (MWMP)
My Wealth, My Power (MWMP) is a tech-bridge platform that modernizes traditional savings models through USSD technology, leadership training, and health and rights education to help rural women in Ghana’s Upper West Region build verifiable digital financial histories and transition from subsistence laborers to bankable asset owners. My Wealth, My Power (MWMP) is led by Patricia Porekuu (SPH’27), Winifred Brobbey (SPH’27), and Linz N. Owor (SPH’27).
Safe Space
Safe Space is an AI companion that intervenes at the loneliness stage before it becomes a mental health crisis, helping college students recognize they’re struggling, process their feelings, and prepare for therapy. Safe Space is led by Tim Laux (CAS’28).
Valen VR
Valen VR is a neuroscience-based virtual reality platform that provides K–12 schools with short, self-guided stress-regulation sessions to support student mental health and improve attendance. Valen VR is led by Jackson Collins (CAS’28) and Kamyar Anwer (Harvard College).
General Track Semi-Finalists
AttorneyAlert
AttorneyAlert is a platform that connects criminal defense attorneys with defendants in need of legal representation, streamlining client acquisition for attorneys and providing defendants with quick, reliable access to qualified counsel. AttorneyAlert is led by Brian Namnoum (MET’26).
BearisterAI
BearisterAI is an AI-powered legal research and document analysis platform specifically designed for criminal defense attorneys, public defenders, and small law firms, offering case law research, police report analysis, body camera footage review, and motion drafting capabilities — addressing the justice gap caused by severe resource constraints and overloaded public defense attorneys. BearisterAI is led by Apoorva Gupta (CAS’25), Pratham Kabra (MET’26), and Avneet Chattha.
FumiTranslator
FumiTranslator is an AI-powered translation platform for manga, manhua, and manhwa comic books, using machine translation and OCR technologies to efficiently transform these works into English and other languages while preserving artwork and dialogue. FumiTranslator is led by Achuthan Menon (ENG’28) and Chiebuka Onuoha (University of Virginia).
Heliqon
Heliqon is an ontology-based AI-native manufacturing intelligence platform that unifies fragmented factory systems into a single, adaptable operational model, enabling real-time visibility into production, scheduling, and costs while reducing firefighting and improving margins through zero-code configuration and AI that learns from historical jobs. Heliqon is led by David Rouse (Questrom’28), Evan Gouzie, and Corey Wainwright.
Magnesis Robotics
Magnesis Robotics has developed a squid-inspired electromagnetic propulsion system that silently moves underwater vehicles and pumps water without propellers, using minimal power and requiring almost no maintenance. The bladeless design eliminates noise and mechanical wear while dramatically extending battery life and can be scaled for various applications from small pumps to large underwater vehicles. Magnesis Robotics is led by Pranav Sultania (ENG’27) and Isabella Santarpia (ENG’27).
Mirra
Mirra creates natural, biodegradable food colorants that are made from plants rather than petroleum. As a replacement to white food colorants, their technology delivers the brightness, opacity, and stability brands need while enabling clean-label reformulation and regulatory resilience as artificial food additives face increasing scrutiny. Mirra is led by Christa Campbell (Questrom’25), Elizabeth Bridges, and Leila Deravi.
Naya
Naya is a company that creates sustainable, reusable tampon applicators designed for the American market, making it easier for women to access eco-friendly period products both at home and while traveling. Naya is led by Julia Yusupov (Questrom’25).
Nervara
Nervara addresses the current limitations of neuromodulation devices with their miniature wireless neuromodulation implant, which is small, simple, and injectable, making the procedure quick to implement and mitigating potential for malfunction. Nervara is led by Carolyn Marar (ENG’25) and Yueming Li (ENG’24).
Spectral Autonomy
Spectral Autonomy creates a universal software layer that allows electronic warfare capabilities to run on any platform—from advanced aircraft to low-cost sensors—without expensive custom development, enabling faster and more widespread protection against jamming, drones, and missile threats. Spectral Autonomy is led by Anton Njavro (CAS’27) and David Neary (Questrom’20).
Vectro Labs
Vectro Labs provides training data for robotic manipulation by crowdsourcing egocentric video from humans doing everyday tasks via consumer smart glasses, then using AI to extract hand poses, object trajectories, and depth maps. Vectro Labs is led by Zulal Akarsu (MET’26) and Sloane Sambuco (Massachusetts Institute of Technology).
