The Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Washington University in St. Louis has announced the creation of the WashU Innovation & Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame, a new initiative recognizing individuals who have helped shape the university’s culture of innovation and entrepreneurship The Hall of Fame will honor alumni, faculty, founders, and leaders whose ventures, ideas,…
On Monday, March 23, the Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship brought the WashU community together for another high-energy IdeaBounce®. At the Skandalaris Center’s IdeaBounce® event, WashU students pitched early-stage ideas, received feedback from judges, and built connections to advance their ventures. Held in Seigle Hall, Room L006, the room quickly filled with students, founders,…
Tuesday, March 17th, the auditorium at Bauer Hall was packed with students and members of the WashU community, and the energy in the room was unmistakable. Pencils moved quickly. Fingers flew across keyboards. Questions came fast and thoughtful. At the front of the room was WashU alumnus and founder Luke Saunders, whose entrepreneurial journey began…
Students, alumni, and ventures from the Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship at WashU will play an active role in the new Third Coast Foundry initiative, participating in programming, investor engagement, and venture showcases in the Bay Area. The center looks forward to helping connect WashU’s growing community of founders with this new platform…
Joseph Steensma has been installed as the inaugural E. Desmond and Mary Ann Lee Professor at Washington University. The Skandalaris Center celebrates his interdisciplinary work connecting research, entrepreneurship and public health.
Sixteen ventures founded by students and recent alumni of Washington University (WashU) have been selected as finalists in the Spring Skandalaris Venture Competition (SVC). This semester, the competition received an impressive 107 entries, with 31 teams advancing to the semifinal round. On March 4, the semifinalists pitched their ideas to a panel of expert judges,…
The Washington University community recently lost a remarkable scholar, leader, and mentor with the passing of Ralph S. Quatrano on February 24, 2026. He was 84. To many, Ralph was an internationally renowned plant scientist — a pioneer in applying molecular biology to plant gene expression and a corresponding author on a landmark 2008 Science…
On the evening of February 24, students and members of the WashU community gathered at Whitaker Hall to announce the establishment of the Mayfield AI Garage. The Mayfield AI Garage is a collaboration between Mayfield, Silicon Valley’s leading venture capital firm in the AI sector, the Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship at WashU, and the…
IdeaBounce®: AI Ideas and More brought an exciting mix of creativity and community to Washington University’s Whitaker Hall Auditorium on February 17, 2026. Undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, alums, and innovation leaders from across St. Louis gathered to share ideas, cheer each other on, and celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship. Whitaker Hall was buzzing with…
Thirty-three promising WashU startups have been named semifinalists in the fall 2026 Skandalaris Venture Competition (SVC). Each venture, founded by students or recent alumni, is competing for a chance to win a share of a $25,000 prize pool. This semester saw a record-breaking 131 entries into the competition, with seven schools and Beyond Boundaries represented…
The Customer Discovery for Startups workshop was a hit! Aspiring entrepreneurs poured into the Skandalaris Center to participate in an engaging and hands-on workshop led by designer, educator, and entrepreneur Kate Edgar Owen. Kate brought a wealth of experience to the room, drawing from more than fifteen years in product design, research, and innovation across…
The Skandalaris Center recently hosted its first ever Whopathon, bringing together more than 40 bright minds to explore entrepreneurship through creativity, collaboration, and plenty of late-night snacks. From first ideas to live launches, teams built digital products on the Whop platform throughout the weekend, then shared their work with judges for a chance to win…
