Navigating your first year of college is both exciting and daunting. For freshmen at Boston University, the First-Year Innovation Fellowship (FYIF) program at Innovate@BU offers a unique opportunity to ease into university life and the realm of entrepreneurship and innovation. Through the reflections of several FYIF students, you’ll get an inside look into how this fellowship can shape your freshman year, spark ideas, and help you foster meaningful connections.
What Is the First-Year Innovation Fellowship Program?
The First-Year Innovation Fellowship is a year-long fellowship designed for first-year students who want to explore the world of entrepreneurship. We created this program to help students develop their skills, test ideas, and build meaningful networks on campus.
Through FYIF, students aren’t just immersed in a community of like-minded innovators—they actively begin designing ventures that reflect their passions and tackle real-world challenges. First-year students from various backgrounds, majors, and interests are brought together in the FYIF program through opportunities such as workshops, mentorship, and access to events like pitch competitions and networking mixers.
Now, let’s hear from the students themselves.
Dora Liao: BioMed and Beyond
“This program has really set the stage for the rest of my college experience.”
For Dora Liao (ENG’28), a biomedical engineering major with a passion for problem-solving, joining the FYIF cohort was a chance to expand her horizons in her first year at BU. She applied to the program to explore her budding interest in creating solutions that merge technology and accessibility, and her initial venture idea was focused on designing mobility devices. However, as she became more immersed in the program, she pivoted to a venture addressing a personal challenge she faced as a high school cross-country runner—iron deficiency testing.
“I realized it was such a hassle to go to a lab every time I needed to check my iron levels,” she shared. “What if there were a rapid at-home test similar to a COVID-19 test to provide an estimate of iron ferritin levels?” With the support of her FYIF mentors and her cohort, Dora has been refining her idea to make testing more affordable, accurate, and accessible.
Beyond developing her venture, Dora emphasizes the community she’s found through FYIF. From social mixers to events like pitch competitions, she’s built a support network of peers who share her enthusiasm for entrepreneurship. “It’s comforting to walk around campus and know 30 more people I wouldn’t have met otherwise,” she said. “This program has really set the stage for the rest of my college experience.”
Anderson Blanco: The Future of Fitness
“I didn’t just want to end my career working as a developer for a company—I want to be the company.”
Anderson Blanco (CAS’28) entered BU with a clear vision—to not only excel academically as a computer science and physics major, but also to cultivate his entrepreneurial spirit. Even before arriving on campus, Anderson was researching programs that would align with his goals. When he found FYIF, he knew it was the perfect starting point.
“I didn’t just want to end my career working as a developer for a company—I want to be the company,” Anderson explained. His venture, FitTech, is an AI-powered fitness application designed to teach complex boxing techniques while incorporating broader fitness coaching. What began as an app focused solely on boxing has now grown into an expansive platform addressing various fitness needs.
Anderson credits FYIF with giving him the tools and support to refine his ideas early in his college career. “Time is the most valuable resource,” he said. “Starting now allows me to tackle challenges while still having the resources of BU at my fingertips.”
The fellowship has also connected Anderson with like-minded peers across disciplines. “When you’re surrounded by people who think differently, it pushes your own ideas further,” he noted.
Taylor Wynn: Community and Connection
“FYIF helped me see that my passions don’t have to be directly tied to my major.”
When asked about her initial impressions of FYIF, Taylor Wynn (Pardee’28) shared that she was drawn to the program from the moment BU introduced it during the summer. “FYIF was advertised as being for people who want to make a change—people who are passionate about entrepreneurship and creating impact. That really resonated with me; and it’s been inspiring to be surrounded by so many people who wanted to create change in their own unique ways.”
Taylor initially entered BU with plans to major in human rights, envisioning a career as a lawyer. However, as the semester progressed, she became a Psychology major and Political Science minor. Through it all, FYIF encouraged her to think beyond her potential career path. “FYIF helped me see that my passions don’t have to be directly tied to my major. The program taught me that any passion—no matter how unrelated it seems—can be meaningful to others and can create an impact.”
Taylor references the strong sense of community at FYIF as one of the standout aspects of her experience. “I was nervous at first that I wouldn’t connect with people outside of the structured meetings, but that wasn’t the case at all. I ended up making friends who shared common interests, and it was so encouraging to walk around campus and see familiar faces saying hi.”
Samruddh Singh: From Mentorship to Friendship
“It’s a community where you build your own business, but it’s also about the people you meet and connect with.”
From moving countries to shifting entrepreneurial direction, Samruddh Singh (CAS’28) is no stranger to adapting to changes. He explained how his goals in FYIF changed as he moved through the program, stating, “I started with an idea to help people who were displaced by AI find new jobs. But then I realized there was a need for internships for freshmen and sophomores, so I tweaked my idea again.”
Samruddh emphasized how the helpfulness of the coaches contributes to the sense of community and flexibility within the FYIF program. “The coaches at FYIF are super nice people. They really help you with anything,” he said. “It’s a community where you build your own business, but it’s also about the people you meet and connect with.” This is representative of one of the main goals of the FYIF program: building relationships and networking in order to be a well-rounded entrepreneur.
When asked to provide advice for incoming students, Samruddh stressed the importance of attending information sessions during the first weeks of college.
He shared his own experience of changing his mind after attending an FYIF information session and encouraged others to keep an open mind and explore different opportunities on campus. “Go to as many information sessions as possible,” he advised. “It sets you up for the entire semester and helps you find your place at BU.”
Sopriala Benibo: Pioneering Women’s Health
“Just because you think there’s a certain solution to a problem that’s needed doesn’t mean that’s what everyone needs.”
Sopriala Benibo (CAS’28) came across the FYIF program during her first semester through an FY 101 class. “I had an idea that I’ve had for a really long time, and I thought, ‘why not?’ So I applied,” she said.
In addition to discovering the FYIF program, Sopriala was also able to find an outlet for her passion for social impact. She shares her experience of creating a nonprofit surrounding Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). “Just because you think there’s a certain solution to a problem that’s needed doesn’t mean that’s what everyone needs,” Sopriala reflects on one of the biggest lessons she learned through the FYIF program, emphasizing the importance of understanding and listening to the needs of others.
Sopriala had not experienced any form of entrepreneurship before joining FYIF. However, after pushing herself out of her comfort zone by conducting interviews for her nonprofit, she now feels more confident about pursuing her entrepreneurial endeavors.
Sopriala encourages other students to take advantage of programs like FYIF that not only provide valuable skills, but also foster a supportive community on campus. “I’m so grateful for the opportunities and experiences I’ve had through this program,” Sopriala said.
Learn more about the First-Year Innovation Fellowship Program here.
