AUCI hosted the second annual Startup and Standout event that brought together over 100 aspiring student entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurs included incoming first-year students, current undergraduates and graduate students from academic disciplines across AU educators, alumni, and experienced entrepreneurs. The series culminated with The Meaningful Change Video Pitch Challenge which engaged American University students by identifying problems that need “meaningful change” with an impactful solution. Congratulations to the winning teams – which split $10,000 in prize money!
2021 New Ventures
American University Innovation Center Welcomes Four New Ventures This Semester
Chikyu
Chikyu, founded by Taisuke Fox (SIS ’22) and Erika Linke (SPA ’22), is a sustainability management platform that simplifies the process of applying and obtaining green certifications.
La Punta
La Punta, founded by Daniel Noriega (KSB), offers a unique way of traveling and living tourism through a large sustainable community.
Greater Works
Greater Works, founded by Darla Davenport-Powell (SOE), serves as a multimedia children’s company that represents all children in books, toys, games, and on TV.
Ziefah Health
Ziefah Health, founded by MaBiniti Yillah (KSB), provides access to faith-based mental services and providers.
We are excited to see these startups develop their ideas and grow during their time in the incubator!
Graduating Ventures
Congratulations to our graduating ventures!
Congratulations to our graduating ventures, MEANS Database, Casting Depot, and Celise Bioproducts! While their successes go far beyond these, we’d like to highlight these recent achievements.
Food insecurity
In 2020-2021, MEANS partnered with Grubhub under a multi-million dollar grant to provide over 325,000 meals to six communities across the US.
Entertainment
Casting Depot recently launched Version 2.0 of their talent matching platform, raising funds of $1.2 million venture capital funds.
Our current ventures have been hard at work as well!
Media
The Extraordinary Library Adventure was selected to be showcased in the DC Black Film Festival, which took place this past August.
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
As a recipient of the Black Founders Fund from Google for Startups, Sign-Speak was granted $100,000 to continue supporting the deaf and head of hearing communities and won $15,000 first prize in the LatinX pitch competition in Los Angeles.
sustainability
Hydronomy is currently in the process of building its second prototype for using solar energy to create potable water.
Hospitality
Honeymoon Brewery was awarded 2nd in a local Best of Businesses competition and featured in numerous articles, including Vine Pair, IMBIBE, UPROXX, The Santa Fean, and the AU Alumni Magazine, for best craft alcohols.
NSF-ICOPRS Updates
The American University I-Corps innovation program welcomes its eighth cohort of student innovators from across campus.
The nine fall 2021 venture teams are tackling the fields of biotechnology, sustainability, food insecurity, science communication, education access, and data science. Professor Bellows and Walters-Conte are thrilled to welcome this strong new cohort. We also congratulate our spring venture team: Aquator Learning and summer venture team: Chikyu, for their formal acceptance into the AUCI. Several 2020 I-Corps graduates who have excelled even in the face of the pandemic include Phantom Hound Studios, 17minds, and The Bridge Network.
Second Annual Hack-for-a-Change 2021 – 2022
Mark your calendars for our second annual Hack-for-a-Change. Student teams identify a customer problem and solution in one of five areas: FinTech, MedTech, EdTech, MediaTech, and CleanTech, and pitch to judges for $10,000.
We’re kicking off this series with an information session on Friday, November 12th. The AUCI will also be hosting a more general information session to welcome everyone interested in joining our community of prospective student entrepreneurs, educators, experienced entrepreneurs, and alumni.
