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 […]
Epoch Labs, an AI Tennis Analytics Platform, is Bringing Actionable Insights to Athletes.
Betty Zhao (Questrom’25) and Farida Abdelmoneum are bringing data-driven insights to the tennis court with their startup, Epoch Labs. As co-founder and CEO, Betty handles the business side—finances, sales, marketing, and business development—while leveraging her background in finance and strategy from Questrom. “Epoch Labs is trying to help bring more actionable insights to athletes, specifically […]
Announcing the 2025 Summer Accelerator Cohort of Student Ventures!
From smart soil testing to reinventing umbrellas, the 2025 cohort tackles real-world challenges with innovative solutions Boston University’s Innovate@BU Summer Accelerator program kicks off this summer with a lineup of student-led ventures poised to make a significant impact across various industries. The 10-week intensive program provides participating teams with $10,000 in funding, dedicated mentorship, and […]
Vipo.AI Transforms Parenting Support with AI-Powered Therapy Assistant
For the millions of parents struggling with children’s behavioral issues, help often seems out of reach. Amr Zaid (Questrom’26) is working to change that through Vipo.AI, an innovative application that brings professional-level parenting guidance directly to families’ smartphones. “The problem is parents can’t find ways to help their children,” explains Amr. “You probably see […]
CollegeBuddy is Reimagining College Applications for India’s 140 Million Students
When Joy Prashant Mehta (Questrom’25) applied to colleges in the United States, United Kingdom, and India, he noticed a stark contrast in the application processes. While the US and UK had streamlined systems like the Common App and UCAS, applying to Indian institutions meant visiting each college’s website individually and repeatedly entering the same information. […]
Idori is Making Sustainability Second Nature Through Early Childhood Education
From a simple cardboard box for reusing paper to nationwide partnerships with environmental nonprofits, Noah Sorin (Questrom’24) is transforming how children learn about sustainability through his startup, Idori. “Teaching children about sustainability is a real issue because most parents and educators find sustainability too complex, anxiety-inducing, and time-consuming to teach children at a young […]
BrightBook is Turning the Page on Teacher Burnout with Help from AI
In a time when American teachers face unprecedented burnout rates, Tommy Ross (Questrom’24) is developing a solution that aims to transform the educational landscape. As founder and CEO of BrightBook, Tommy has identified what he calls “the dual crisis in education.” “Teachers are now the most burnt-out profession in the United States, with 80% of […]
Meet the Finalists of the 2025 New Venture Competition!
Innovate@BU is proud to announce the finalists for the 2025 $80K New Venture Competition. After a competitive selection process, ten student-led ventures have advanced to the final round where they will pitch for their share of $80,000 in non-dilutive funding. The competition features two distinct tracks: The General Track showcases ventures with innovative business models […]
Behind the Scenes with the Hosts of Innovators’ Night 2025!
Every year, Innovators’ Night, hosted by Innovate@BU, brings together Boston’s brightest minds and creative thinkers. From New Venture Competition pitches to immersive tabling events, it’s more than just a conference—it’s a celebration of entrepreneurship, community, and innovation. Hear from this year’s dynamic emcees of Innovators’ Night 2025, Riya Shukla (CAS’25) and Remi Chester (Questrom’25), about […]
Innovate@BU Selects a Diverse Cohort for the 2025 Enlight Fellowship Program
The 2025 Enlight Fellowship cohort brings together ten passionate students from six different BU schools, each receiving a $10,000 stipend to intern at Boston nonprofits while developing their own social ventures. From combating human trafficking to enhancing healthcare literacy, expanding financial education access to sustainable art supply redistribution, these Fellows are addressing crucial community needs through innovative approaches and entrepreneurial thinking.