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.
Spring 2026 Skandalaris Venture Competition Finalists Announced 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…
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…
The Skandalaris Center is excited to announce six finalists for the 2026 Global Impact Award. The Global Impact Award was founded in 2013 to support the vision and passion of Washington University in St. Louis students, postdoctoral researchers, and recent alumni who are creating ventures that are scalable, sustainable, for-profit, and quick-to-market with proof of…
On Friday, October 31, BearCuts celebrated its grand opening on the South 40. As the mostrecent addition to the Student Enterprise Program (StEP), BearCuts aims to provide an easier andconvenient way to getting your next stylish haircut on campus. As part of the StEP businessprogram, students are able to own a business on campus and…
ASL Aspire, co-founded by Mona Jawad (PhD ’27), brings a game-based approach to teaching American Sign Language for STEM concepts through interactive lessons. The startup won funding through the Skandalaris Venture Competition in 2023, received an Arch Grant in 2024, and recently partnered with the St. Louis Science Center for its first-ever Deaf Day event….
Acera Surgical, a privately held bioscience company co-founded by WashU alumnus Dr. Matthew MacEwan, has been acquired by Solventum for $725 million plus up to $125 million in contingent cash payments based on the achievement of certain future milestones. MacEwan is the co-inventor of Acera’s technology platform and is responsible for managing Acera’s IP and…
