The Innovation Pathway gives BU students and Class of 2024 alumni mentorship and funding to take their ventures to the next level. Open to all schools, majors, and education levels, participants progress through milestones at their own pace, unlocking resources and opportunities along the way.
Popple is a new kind of social media and events platform that is being developed in the Innovation Pathway.
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 […]
When Ben Gardiner (CAS'25) was interning at a mid-sized tech company, he witnessed firsthand a problem that plagues modern hiring: a single job posting attracted thousands of applications over a weekend, leaving his hiring manager overwhelmed with the impossible task of reviewing them all. "The way we hire is a little broken," Ben explains. "Three […]
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 […]
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 […]
Most Boston University students see the Charles River winding through campus, and consider it little more than a scenic waterway. Noah Robitshek (ENG'25) on the other hand, sees an untapped opportunity for data collection. The senior computer engineering major from Traverse City, Michigan has combined his technical expertise with environmental impact through an innovative […]
During her first year at Boston University, Riya Shukla (CAS’25) faced a common challenge among college students – the logistical nightmare of moving out for summer break. Amid finals, booking flights home to California, and emptying her dorm room, Riya realized there had to be a more efficient solution to this expensive and time-consuming […]
When Ethan Brown (COM/CAS'21) first encountered the idea of climate change in middle school, he found himself paralyzed by the scale of the problem. "I found it really scary and really overwhelming to the point where I wasn't even interested in it," Ethan recalls. During his time at Boston University, he discovered something that would […]
What started in a Massachusetts garage with two high school friends has grown into a promising startup. Arav Tyagi (ENG'27) and his co-founder Antonio Marzoratti are revolutionizing mobility solutions for wheelchair users through their company Technotonin, which provides Portable Affordable Wheelchair Enhancers (PAWE) that motorize standard wheelchairs in seconds. Their inspiration came from observing the […]
The Innovation Pathway supports ventures with sustainable business models, such as startups or nonprofit organizations. If you’re seeking support for a one-off or short-term project, please consider applying to Project Action instead.