Manvi Kottakota, Khoury’26

Jot

Manvi Kottakota is co-vice president of Northeastern’s Entrepreneurs Club, takes part in co-op, and attends classes as a data science student. With so many responsibilities, she observed that she and her busy classmates lacked a streamlined, singular tool to take notes, keep them organized, and share among each other. This inspired Kottakota to create Jot, an AI-powered, personalized, notetaking and task management platform that helps users organize their notes and thoughts effortlessly. “I noticed that brilliant ideas and important information get lost due to inefficient sorting,” she says.

Aleena Jacob, BHS’24

HMS MEDscienceLAB Forensics

For Aleena Jacob, attending Harvard Medical School’s MEDscience summer program in high school was life changing. It exposed her to learning opportunities in science, prompted her to pursue a career in medicine, and led her to work as an EMT and medical assistant. Her latest venture was creating and launching a forensics medicine-centered curriculum within the same MEDscience summer program. The HMS MEDscienceLAB Forensics course immerses students in engaging theoretical murder mysteries, and combines clinical and laboratory work to provide a simulated case experience. “I’m committed to merging scientific knowledge with practical experience,” Jacob says. “And I’m eager to promote health awareness, and contribute to innovative approaches in both healthcare and education.”

Nicole Guadagno, E’25

Remetra

For a decade, Nicole Guadagno lived with constant pain stemming from an autoimmune disease. It took over her life until just a year and a half ago, when her medical team was able to control the disease in remission. Upon reaching this milestone, she knew that she wanted to help other people in similar situations. Her venture, Remetra, is a wearable device that provides autoimmune disease symptom management by measuring inflammatory markers and transmitting the collected data to a mobile platform for analysis. “I wonder what today might look like if people could be liberated from disease and be empowered by their new health,” Guadagno says. “This is what inspires me daily.”

Mukki Gill, E’26

Zor!

Mukki Gill began her entrepreneurial journey with the personal mission of helping her brother, who suffers from epileptic seizures. As a child, she learned that dogs could be trained to predict seizures, which led her to question how she could take this special canine ability and make it more accessible for humans. Her solution was to develop Zor!, a non-invasive, portable device that can predict seizures through a patient’s breath analysis. “The venture I’m building is a commitment to make seizure prediction technology accessible, affordable, and life-changing by putting the power into the patient’s hands,” Gill says.

Naomi Rajput, S’26

CareWallet

Naomi Rajput has an extensive background the healthcare sector. Not only is she a pre-med student, but she’s also worked as a medical assistant, phlebotomist, and pediatric researcher. These experiences led her to notice the workflow inefficiencies in the American healthcare system, including communication gaps between administration staff and physicians, overly complex electronic health record portals, and more. Rajput’s venture, CareWallet, is a point-of-sale system that aims to resolve these issues by restructuring administrative workflows for medical practices, leading to more effective patient documentation, an increase in patient care time, and a decrease in burdens on staff.

Kat Tse (Cheuk Yan Tse), AMD’24

Terms and Conditions

Kat Tse, a Hong Kong-based lifestyle blogger, entrepreneur, and communications major, wanted to create a safe place for authentic and meaningful conversations surrounding self-care and mental health. Through her fashion and wellness magazine, Terms and Conditions, she’s achieved just that. Tse’s magazine was inspired by her journey to overcome various physical and mental health challenges, and the women who helped her along the way. “Meeting a group of empowering women online has turned my life around. It’s inspired me to innovate and believe in myself,” Tse says. “I believe that influencing just one person in society to feel better about themselves is already life changing.”

Samantha Asprelli, DMSB’26

Give n’ Glow

Samantha Asprelli has spent her entire life giving back to her community. She’s led food pantry drives, volunteered with nonprofit organizations, and built a network of connections along the way. After volunteering with the Wonderfund to pack feminine hygiene kits, Asprelli launched Give n’ Glow, which repurposes secondhand beauty products for women in need while also minimizing makeup waste. “This endeavor is fueled by the belief in the transformative power of beauty products for confidence,” Asprelli says. “The journey has just begun, but the vision is clear: Give n’ Glow wants to ensure that every woman facing adversity can experience the joy that beauty products bring.”

Kadesh Simms, DMSB’01, MBA’08

Wishing Well

A managing director at the Wellspring Group, Kadesh Simms, DMSB’01, MBA’08, is also the founder of Wishing Well, a mobile app currently in development that provides financial resilience through group economics in underserved communities. Early in life, Simms recognized that despite hard work and ambition, her community was vulnerable to economic uncertainty because it lacked access to traditional financial institutions. Simms’s app enables people to pool their resources, creating a financial safety net for each other, as well as facilitating interest-free loans, giving community members a sense of security and increasing their economic opportunities.

Ashley Cummings, DMSB’08, MS’09

Natural ASH

A registered nurse and former accountant, Ashley Cummings is the visionary founder behind Natural ASH, crafting an all-natural skincare line tailored for women in their maternal and reproductive years. Her dedication to motherhood and holistic wellness next led her to establish nurASHed, a lactation wellness counseling service focused on empowering breastfeeding success among Black women. With a bachelor’s and master’s in accounting and finance from Northeastern University, Cummings blends her financial acumen and healthcare expertise to elevate women’s health and tackle healthcare disparities in society.

Meaghan St. Marc, AMD’10

Rev’d

Meaghan St. Marc is the founder and CEO of Rev’d Indoor Cycling, and the newly launched Rev’d Franchising LLC. As the founder of two successful startups, she has demonstrated a unique ability to identify market opportunities and build successful business strategies. St. Marc is characterized by her strategic vision, strong communication skills, and commitment to fostering a positive work environment. Passionate about empowering others, she is actively involved in mentorship programs for aspiring entrepreneurs. When not on the podium or in the boardroom, St. Marc spends time with her husband and their two kids in their Boston neighborhood.

Marissa Mullen, AMD’15

That Cheese Plate

Marissa Mullen is a Brooklyn-based, two-time best-selling author, entrepreneur, food stylist, and content creator. She is the founder of That Cheese Plate—a global community for cheese plate inspiration, pairings, recipes, and tutorials. Featured on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Rachael Ray Show, Live with Kelly + Ryan, Business Insider, and Food + Wine, among many others, Mullen is known for pioneering the cheese and charcuterie trend in popular culture today through her signature Cheese By Numbers method, educational classes, and compelling storytelling.

Kaitlin McCarthy, E’09

Ionic Development Co.

As the founder of Ionic Development Co.—one of the first women-owned development firms in Boston—Kaitlyn McCarthy has worked in the real estate development, engineering, and construction industries for over 15 years. She has grown Ionic to three people (all women) and works on life science, office, retail, and affordable housing projects, always with an eye toward improving the communities they are in. McCarthy completed her BS in Civil Engineering from Northeastern University, her MBA at Harvard Business School, and consulted for several Fortune 100 companies during her time at the Boston Consulting Group.

Rama Doddi, CPS’24

RegPulse

When Rama Doddi pivoted her career from human resources to regulatory affairs—a specialty that ensures health-related products meet regulatory agency guidelines—she grappled with understanding FDA regulations and guidance documents. Doddi realized she could simplify this complex set of challenges by creating RegPulse, a thorough, user-friendly database that can be shared with entrepreneurs as well as small- to mid-sized organizations. “This toolkit holds the potential to serve as comprehensive guidance for the safe production of drugs, biologics, and medical devices,” says Doddi, “not only in the United States but for global citizens at large.”

Linh Dinh, CPS’25

ATURE

Linh Dinh observed that small- and medium-scale enterprises in her native Vietnam lack access to strategic marketing and established retailers, resulting in consumers missing out on unique, locally sourced, and culturally rich goods. Through ATURE, Dinh plans to elevate these commodities, as well as the artisans and farmers who generate them, by using storytelling to transform merchandise into valued belongings—while also boosting economic opportunity for creators and building authentic connections with buyers. “I understand the market, the cultural nuances, and most importantly, the heart and soul behind the products ATURE will represent,” she says.

Kerrian Johnson, DMSB’25

Fruit Juice Studio

Kerrian Johnson observed that in the creative sphere, the contributions of Black women are often undervalued and the women themselves are frequently undercompensated. Enter Fruit Juice Studio, an accessible design firm for Black women entrepreneurs and creatives where they are seen, heard, and receive support in raising their brand visibility through contemporary, yet nostalgic influences. “My journey alongside my business partner, Kyra Marshall, has been about answering a clear need in our community for a place where creativity, opportunity, and resources intersect,” says Johnson.

Hannah Kim, BHS’28

Bok Bok

Hannah Kim is determined to better peoples’ health and wellness by improving food practices and decreasing their reliance on external supplements—and she’s doing that by combining her pharmacy and business acumen with her entrepreneurial mindset. She’s created Bok Bok, a naturally fermented K-balsamic vinegar that delivers health benefits in additive-free forms such as liquids, pearls, blocks, and powders that support the body’s homeostasis. “Contributing positively to global health, especially at a time when the world is more health conscious than ever, drives me to continue innovating and pushing the boundaries of what my venture can offer,” says Kim.

Mary DeVega, CPS’22, L’25

MPowered

Mary DeVega aims to elevate women in underserved communities who seek employment or are re-entering the workforce by arming them with career training, education, and development opportunities. After surmounting her own personal and professional challenges early in life, DeVega’s dedication to social responsibility spurred the creation of MPowered, her staffing venture that provides women with professional tools, resources, and support to help them succeed. “My relentless pursuit of education and continuous learning underscores my commitment to fostering positive change in society,” she says.

Emily Zeledon, DMSB’26

Las Mujercitas

Drawing on her passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and social responsibility, Emily Zeledon aspires to empower women coffee producers in Nicaragua, her home country. Las Mujercitas was born in 2021, after Zeledon observed the lack of economic opportunities for rural women in Nicaragua’s lucrative coffee industry, including restricted access to the land, credit, and training essential for farming. Las Mujercitas aims to open pathways to global markets and sustainable agricultural practices, and to promote recognition of and certification to women coffee producers.

Sofia Urrutia, DMSB’24

Palmarosa

A first-generation Panamanian American, Sofia Urrutia spent her formative years immersed in the two cultures, an experience that today inspires her to make a positive impact in the world. With her jewelry brand Palmarosa, Urrutia not only recognizes that accessorizing is a key to an individual’s self-expression, but she also partners with and uplifts Panamanian artisans. “It is important to create social change through whichever career path I choose,” says Urrutia. “I have been working on every facet of Palmarosa for almost two years now, iterating and pivoting as I go.”

Fatema Janahi E’22

Palm

Fatema Janahi has a background in engineering and a passion for technology and entrepreneurship. So it’s not surprising that she wants to build a bridge—and a community—with her e-commerce platform, Palm. Janahi recognizes that Bahraini women like her want to express themselves through unique fashion but don’t have access to local designers in the MENA region. Building on a venture she first created as part of the Women’s Interdisciplinary Society of Entrepreneurship, she is developing Palm to amplify artisans across the Middle East and empower women with access to clothing that honors both traditional and modern sensibilities.

Dominique Schreiner, Khoury’22

Cake Denim

Cake Denim cofounder Dominique Schreiner integrates her cutting-edge tech skills with her commitment to inclusive design and sustainable denim industry solutions. She and sister Darrel launched their innovative brand in 2019 to upend denim design and empower women with jeans that fit well. Both sisters obtained master’s degrees in computer science to evolve Cake Denim into a brand that honors the diversity of women’s bodies and contributes to a cleaner, fairer, and more sustainable world. Together, the Schreiners are leveraging technology to reduce waste, improve working conditions, and lead the way in stylish and ethical fashion.

Darrel Schreiner, Khoury’22

Cake Denim

As cofounder and CEO of Cake Denim, Darrel Shreiner pairs her technological expertise with a passion for sustainability and inclusivity. She and sister Dominique launched their innovative brand in 2019 to upend denim design and empower women with jeans that fit well. Both sisters obtained master’s degrees in computer science to evolve Cake Denim into a brand that honors the diversity of women’s bodies and contributes to a cleaner, fairer, and more sustainable world. Together, the Schreiners are leveraging technology to reduce waste, improve working conditions, and lead the way in stylish and ethical fashion.

Claudia Tobar, EdD’20

Kamina

Claudia Tobar, EdD’20, wanted to address inequality and gender gaps in the financial industry by offering innovative products designed to assist women and non-banked individuals in managing their financial stress and enhancing their economic wellbeing. So she co-founded Kamina, teaming up with financial institutions and together developing an inclusive financial wellness platform to help people manage their money. In addition to her role at Kamina, Tobar contributes articles on education, innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship to local and international media. She is a social activist and has spearheaded campaigns like #Liberenalosniños, advocating for children’s rights.

Becky Mashaido, Khoury’22

KiAsili Naturals

As a Black woman engineer, Becky Mashaido, Khoury’22, is passionate about science, technology, and leveraging her knowledge to better the experiences of marginalized Black communities worldwide. When she moved from Africa to go to college in the U.S., Mashaido struggled with finding oils for her natural hair. Her answer: launching KiAsili Naturals, products for Afrotextured hair made from plant-based oils indigenous to African communities. Now she plans to reimagine an inclusive beauty industry using AI, empowering Black girls and women with the technical and social tools needed to collectively launch their own innovations around the globe.

Mariana Charakapoulou Travlou, S’19

Nous Health

From an early age, Mariana Charakapoulou Travlou has felt a strong call to care for others.  While pursuing a doctorate in clinical psychology, she experienced serious injuries following a horseback riding accident, which halted plans to start her own professional practice. Charakapoulou Travlou’s challenging recovery led her to reimagine how she could make a positive impact in her community, and from this experience, she launched Nous Health. This women-led digital health venture aims to bridge the gap between mental health services and accessibility, reduce stigmas, and leverage AI to enhance therapy outcomes.

Hayley Oleksiak, SSH’18

Open Space Sandbox

Driven by a passion for smart, sustainable development, Hayley Oleksiak aspires to create public spaces that nurture economic growth and community wellness. While working as an urban planner and analyst in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, she saw firsthand the gaps in how communities engage with park planning and design—often with limited tools to advocate for their needs. Oleksiak was inspired by her childhood love of the video game SimCity to found Open Space Sandbox, a public design tool that empowers communities to develop equitable and vibrant open spaces through gamification.

Calypso Newman, NCH’21

Rock Badger

On a mission to unite technology and creativity to empower global, social, and commercial change, Calypso Newman believes that “innovation starts with art.” She founded Rock Badger in 2022 to help clients harness the immersive power of digital technology and art to tell their stories, visualize their impact, and take on issues like climate change. Rock Badger has recently developed Web3 concepts for an international motor sports team and a Premier League football club. Since launching her start up, Newman has been busy growing her business, implementing an internship program, and teaching workshops on commercial art and innovation.

Debbie Madueke, DMSB, SSH’19

Replast

Debbie Madueke is an experienced financial analyst and problem solver with a dual mission of inspiring economic and environmental impact in her home country of Nigeria. Madueke launched her recycling venture, Replast, to decrease pollution in Nigeria by providing high-quality material for reuse, creating income opportunities for local communities. Madueke is determined to harness the adaptability and resilience she has honed since coming to the U.S. at age 17 to contribute to a more sustainable, prosperous future for Nigeria. She also looks forward to inspiring other women to lead and launch businesses that tackle global challenges.

Violetta Skittidi, NCH’19

Formulaw

Violetta Skittidi is a law school graduate, legal technology entrepreneur, and committed advocate for women in the tech sector. Her dedication to innovation, sparked by an undergraduate course, ignited when she observed firsthand that legal technology was not keeping pace with digitization, and that effective legal management systems were out of reach for many small and midsize enterprises. As cofounder and COO of Formulaw, Skittidi’s mission is to offer innovative legal management solutions that reduce costs, improve efficiency, and increase access to critical legal tools for small businesses. Skittidi is also dedicated to mentoring and supporting other women entrepreneurs.

AJ Addae, S’20

SULA LABS

AJ Addae is a chemist, clinical researcher, published author, and doctoral student in chemical biology. She is also the founder and CEO of SULA LABS, an innovative research and development lab that creates and tests skincare products for Black-owned beauty brands and melanin-rich consumers. Her vision for the venture sprang from Addae’s desire to close the inclusivity gaps in R&D and clinical testing that she observed as a post-graduate cosmetic chemist. She is dedicated to using science as a tool for social impact and aspires to empower other women of color to envision and pursue careers in research and cosmetic science.

Melissa LaCasse, Roux Institute Founder Residency

Tanbark Molded Fiber

Motivated to transform her climate concerns into tangible action, Melissa LaCasse drew upon her husband Christopher’s expertise in molded fiber packaging and her background in media and sales to bring Tanbark Molded Fiber to life in 2022. This manufacturing startup looks to replace single-use plastic with bio-based solutions, innovating the pulp and paper heritage industry in their home state of Maine. As CEO and co-founder, LaCasse upholds the values that led her to entrepreneurship: perseverance, empathy, and a deep-seated belief in making a positive impact on the world. Tanbark Molded Fiber stands as a testament to her commitment to sustainability and her drive to leave a positive legacy for future generations.

Michelle DeBlois, Roux Institute Founder Residency

ReMo

As a public school teacher with a specialty in literacy, Michelle DeBlois experienced firsthand the struggle of meeting her students’ diverse reading needs. After two decades in the classroom, she launched her venture, ReMo, to center readers’ identities, celebrate community, and empower educators to embrace learner variability. This web-based application connects young people with books that they’ll love, while allowing educators to foster a passion for reading on a wider scale. DeBlois is passionate about providing students of all ages with the opportunities to grow into the best versions of themselves. “My north star is building with community through service,” she says.

Rachel Cossar, Roux Institute Founder Residency

Virtual Sapiens

As a former rhythmic gymnast and professional ballet dancer, Rachel Cossar is fluent in the language of physical expression and communication. After retiring from the Boston Ballet in 2016, she quickly realized that her skills in presence and body language were in high demand in the business world. Fascinated by how people communicate in professional environments off the stage, Cossar started a consulting practice to provide personalized feedback and coaching that would eventually become Virtual Sapiens. Her AI startup aims to help teams master their presence and communication at scale, empowering more people in a remote world.