Atlantic Sea Solutions is a start-up company developing edible coatings from seaweed that can extend the shelf life of fresh produce.
Another startup, Webquity, is working to ensure that students with disabilities and neurodiverse learners have equitable access to online content.
Yet another startup, Happy Dinosaur, is growing and expanding its line of sustainable, handcrafted dinosaur stuffed animals that have traditionally been individually handcrafted by the startup’s founders.
These three companies, and the seven others participating in UConn’s signature summer startup accelerator program, could not be more different, but they share a common goal. It’s about acquiring the new skills you need to deliver your product, service, or technology. To the market.
“The members of this year’s Summer Fellowship are very diverse in terms of the types of startups selected and the backgrounds of the participants,” said Assistant Director of Brand and Venture Development at UConn’s Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CCEI). director Alicia Krosniak says. .
Launched in 2016, the Summer Fellowship is an 8-week immersive experience each year. Participants meet three times a week and receive funds. One-on-one mentorship from industry experts and experienced entrepreneurs. Free legal, accounting and branding services. Workshops and master classes. And there’s a chance they’ll advance to the Wolff New Venture Competition, where startups compete for more than his $50,000 in funding.
Krosniak said this year’s summer fellowships received a record number of applications. Cohort startup participants are limited to 10 participants each year, and participants are selected by a selection committee comprised of instructors, mentors, and industry experts.
“This accelerator is open to students, faculty, staff, and alumni from all UConn schools and colleges, so we receive a truly impressive mix of applications each year,” Chrosniak said. “We have faculty who are experts in their fields, alumni who are pivoting their career paths, and students who are taking charge of their futures.”
Participants should expect the program to be challenging, she said, adding that the summer fellowship is redesigned each year based on feedback from previous participants and the unique needs of new students.
“Participants will spend time working with our core instructors on pitch coaching, financial analysis, and go-to-market strategy,” Krosniak explains. “They then have weekly mentor hours with members of our network, hear from a panel of entrepreneurs, attend masterclasses with industry experts who are experts in their fields, and meet with our program partners. You will receive free services from a digital surgeon, Wiggin and Wiggin, Dana, Fiondealla, Milone, and LaSaracina CPAs.
This is a challenge that the participants in the cohort seem eager to face.
“We are excited to begin scaling up Happy Dinosaur this summer,” said Laila Andrik ’24 (CAHNR), an undergraduate majoring in animal science. A self-described serial entrepreneur, she launched her startup in 2020, initially as a fundraiser for coronavirus relief. “The biggest impediment to the growth of my company over the past four years is that I have been handcrafting all my dinosaurs, and as a solopreneur, it is very difficult to grow when you wear all the hats. is.
“We’re expanding our team with an operations manager and a product manager, so I can focus on being CEO and building our brand through marketing.”
“We are excited to partner with Webquity,” said Kianjai (Kia) Huggan ’20 (ENG), Founder and CEO of Webquity. “Summer Fellowships provide mentorship and resources to further our efforts to leverage technology to bring about positive change. As a UConn graduate, we offer opportunities to participate in programs such as the CCEI Summer Fellowship UConn is truly a gift, and I am personally grateful for the support provided to accomplish this impactful work.”
“Our team will utilize the resources provided by the Summer Fellowship to develop a persuasive pitch deck and learn how to communicate with various stakeholders in the broad farm-to-fork supply chain associated with agriculture. We aim to improve this,” said Anuj Purohit, a researcher at the institute. He talks about Atlantic Sea Solutions, a startup he co-founded with Mingyu Qiao, assistant professor of innovation and entrepreneurship in the UConn College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources’ Department of Nutritional Sciences.
Additional participants in this year’s Summer Fellowship are:
Vamos Co., Ltd. – Nico Zurita ’10 (CLAS) and Luciano Diaz ’08 (CLAS)
“Vamos is a group planning and booking tool that makes it easy to find the best time and place for your group trip. Our goal is to understand your preferences and suggest the best trip for you, reducing the mental strain. Our diverse team is made up of engineers, innovators, and product enthusiasts with experience working in early-stage companies. We are passionate about building disruptive technology and are grateful for the opportunity to participate in the CCEI Summer Fellowship.”
transcend bicycle – Ethan Witko ’24 (English), Alexander McLeod ’24 (English), Zach Wisnewski ’23 (Bass)
“Transcend Bicycles is a student-founded startup that makes bicycles smarter by inventing innovative transmissions. We are very excited to be participating in CCEI’s Summer Fellowship. and one of the top entrepreneurship programs offered across the state. The opportunity to learn from the experts and our fellow startups is truly invaluable.”
Trivio Lab Co., Ltd. – John Toribio Doctoral Candidate, CLAS. Kyle Mahoney PhD Candidate, CAHNR. and Dr. Josué Martinez Martinez.candidate, english
Toribio Labs develops wearable continuous health monitoring systems based on smart wear and AI that provide actionable insights for athletics and healthcare.
Optimu – Alaa Selim, engineering graduate student and research assistant in UConn’s CREATE Lab, Intisar Rouabhia
Agritech startup Opti-moo leverages cutting-edge technology to optimize irrigation operations.
Alevia Pharma – Sophie Takmopoulos ’25 (IMJR); Sam Nanayakkara, adjunct faculty member in the School of Business’ Boucher Department of Management and Entrepreneurship.Rajesh V. Lala, Associate Dean for Research, University of Condensation School of Dental Medicine
Alevia Pharma is focused on pain management with its product Oraspray, which is specifically designed to reduce the pain of oral ulcers that occur after cancer treatment, known as oral mucositis.
“This formulation development represents an innovative collaboration between the School of Dentistry and the School of Pharmacy, as the product formulation was developed in collaboration with the laboratory of Distinguished Professor Diane Burgess at the University School of Pharmacy.” Currently, Sam and With Sophie’s involvement and participation in the CCEI Summer Fellowship, the Business School is also committed to driving this towards commercialization. ”
end spain – Dr. Lakshmi Naar and Dr. Yusuf Khan, UConn Health Associate Professor of Orthopedics and members of The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering
Endospain is working to commercialize long-acting local anesthetics for medical, dental, and veterinary applications.
“The Summer Fellowship will provide valuable insight into how promising clinical research gets into the hands of physicians and patients.”
wheel price – Wally Namane ’13 (BUS), ’18 MBA; Kyle Mayers ’13 (BUS); and Kirk Vanderheiden ’15 (SFA)
“WheelPrice is a marketplace designed for enthusiasts to buy and sell auto parts. We connect auto enthusiasts through a strong community, build trust, and provide a seamless user experience. Our The founding team came together at UConn and we are very proud to be joining the program in the coming years.”
This year’s summer cohort officially begins on June 3rd.
To learn more about the venture building and entrepreneurial support opportunities available through CCEI, please visit: ccei.uconn.edu.
If you would like to participate in the Summer Fellowship as a mentor or program partner, or apply to next year’s cohort, please contact us via email. alycia.chrosniak@uconn.edu.
