We’re proud to celebrate 32 VentureWell program alumni recognized on the 2026 Forbes 30 Under 30 list.
This year’s honorees represent startups supported through VentureWell programs, including Aspire, the VentureWell Ocean Enterprise Accelerator, and the E-Team Program, as well as National Science Foundation (NSF)–funded programs such as Visionary Interdisciplinary Teams Advancing Learning (VITAL), I-Corps™, and the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Bootcamp.
These founders are transforming research into real-world innovations that improve lives and strengthen communities across fields including energy, healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, and more.
Join us in congratulating these inspiring innovators and explore the work that is defining the next wave of meaningful change:
Education
Dieumerci Christel founded Enlightapp, an AI-powered platform that helps teachers gain insights into dynamic student data. Enlightapp participated in NSF VITAL Spring 2023.
Energy & Green Tech
Caroline Comeau and Tamas Kereszy, co-founders of FNN, developed an AI-powered wildfire-detection system that uses lightning sensors to alert firefighters and utilities early. FNN participated in NSF I-Corps™ and the NSF SBIR Bootcamp in 2023.
Jason Gibson co-founded Quantum Formatics, a company using AI to help scale advances in nuclear fusion and power transmission. Quantum Formatics participated in NSF I-Corps™ in 2025.
Ian Goodine and Ethan Walko, co-founders of rSteam Recycling, have built an autonomous, robotic sorting system installed on a loading dock that can extract any recyclable material. rStream participated in the E-Team Program in 2021 and 2022, Aspire Climatetech in 2022, OPENminds in 2022, and the NSF SBIR Bootcamp in 2023.
Joe Sleppy is co-founder of Capacitech Energy, which develops power-resilient solutions to address critical challenges in power grids, microgrids, data centers, and industrial facilities. Capacitech Energy participated in NSF I-Corps™ in 2016 and the E-Team Program in 2018.
Sophia Xu founded CarbonBridge, which converts waste gases into valuable fuels and chemicals. CarbonBridge participated in NSF I-Corps™ in 2024.
Healthcare
Courtney Cavin, co-founder of Astek Diagnostics, developed a rapid diagnostic device that detects bacterial infections in urine and determines whether they can be treated with antibiotics. Astek Diagnostics participated in NSF I-Corps™ in 2023.
James Hu, co-founder of Illuminant Surgical, built software that turns patient data into on-skin projections that guide operating surgeons. Illuminant Surgical participated in the NSF SBIR Bootcamp in 2024.
Casey Qadir, the founder of Hubly Surgical, developed a bone drill designed to prevent brain injuries during surgery. Hubly Surgical participated in the E-Team Program in 2019 and 2020, NSF I-Corps™ and Aspire Medtech in 2020, and OPENminds in 2021.
Manufacturing & Industry
Nick Callegari is the founder of Verustruct, a public benefit corporation developing robotic construction technologies to deliver affordable, sustainable housing. Verustruct participated in the E-Team Program in 2025.
Teresa Liu is the co-founder of Ouros Materials, which uses carbon dioxide to produce extremely durable composite materials for affordable construction. Ouros Material participated in NSF I-Corps™ and Aspire Climatetech in 2024.
Patrick Michel, Mason Mincey, and Derek Saltzman co-founded Soarce to turn underutilized plant resources into a material eight times stronger than steel. Soarce participated in NSF I-Corps™ in 2021, the NSF SBIR Bootcamp in 2024, and the VentureWell Ocean Enterprise Accelerator in 2025.
Nooralhuda Saleh is co-founder of Continuum Infrastructure Solutions, a company that uses contactless sensors and software to forecast asphalt cracking. Continuum Infrastructure Solutions participated in NSF I-Corps™ in 2024.
Becca Segel, founder of FlowCellutions, developed predictive diagnostics and sensors for grid-scale batteries to help data centers, hospitals, and the electrical grid operate more efficiently over time. FlowCellutions participated in NSF I-Corps™ in 2023.
Katherine Sizov founded Strella, a biotech company that uses machine learning models and wireless sensing to monitor food supply chains and reduce waste. Strella participated in the E-Team Program in 2018 and 2019 and NSF I-Corps™ in 2018.
Joshua Yang co-founded Brightlight Photonics, which developed the world’s first chip-scale titanium device, delivering performance equal to or exceeding traditional systems at a fraction of the size and cost. Brightlight Photonics participated in the E-Team Program in 2020 and the NSF SBIR Bootcamp in 2025.
Science
Alexis Applequist, co-founder of Humimic Biosystems, is developing organ-on-chip devices that help researchers predict human responses to new therapies. Humimic Biosystems participated in NSF I-Corps™ in 2024.
Ana Cornell founded Acorn Genetics to create an affordable, at-home DNA test for genetic conditions. Acorn Genetics participated in NSF I-Corps™ in 2021, the E-Team Program in 2022, Aspire Medtech in 2022, and OPENminds in 2023.
Skye Lam and Vienna Sparks, co-founders of MabLab, developed affordable, easy-to-use test strips that detect five common drugs often added to drinks or other substances. MadLab participated in NSF I-Corps™ in 2023.
Mark Robertson co-founded RebornC to repurpose plastic into efficient, customizable electric heaters that reduce manufacturing emissions. RebornC participated in NSF I-Corps™ in 2022 and the NSF SBIR Bootcamp in 2025.
Social Impact
Sarika Bajaj, co-founder of Refiberd, developed novel AI technology that sorts textiles for reuse and recycling. Refiberd participated in NSF I-Corps™ in 2021 and the NSF SBIR Bootcamp in 2024.
Kelly Pan is the co-founder of Impact Food, which develops plant-based seafood that delivers the taste of fish without contributing to overfishing. Impact Foods participated in the E-Team Program in 2021.
Transportation & Aerospace
Isaac Struhl and Alex Wulff co-founded Distributed Spectrum, a defense tech company that builds software and sensors to identify critical radio signals. Distributed Spectrum participated in the NSF SBIR Bootcamp and NSF I-Corps™ in 2022.
Jonathan Lord, co-founder of Flux Marine, is building high-performance electric motors and battery systems for small boats. Flux Marine participated in the E-Team Program in 2019 and 2020 and OPENminds in 2020.
About VentureWell
VentureWell supports the cultivation of science and technology inventors and the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems critical to their success. Since its founding in 1995, VentureWell has funded or trained over 19,000 early-stage science and technology inventors and innovators, resulting in the emergence of more than 6,100+ ventures with groundbreaking technological advancements in fields like biomedicine and healthcare, sustainable energy and materials, and solutions for low-resource settings. The ventures it has supported have raised subsequent funds totaling more than $7.8 billion and are reaching millions of people globally.