Meet the Fall 2026 Skandalaris Venture Competition Finalists

The Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship is excited to announce the 16 finalist teams advancing in the Fall 2026 Skandalaris Venture Competition (SVC)!

Following a competitive semifinal round, these student-led ventures have been selected to compete for up to $25,000 in non-dilutive funding. Representing schools across Washington University in St. Louis, the finalists are developing innovative solutions, launching businesses, and turning their ideas into action.

The competition will culminate on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at the Danforth University Center (DUC), where finalists will pitch their ventures to a panel of judges.

Meet the Fall 2026 SVC Finalists

Apara

Yogvid Wankhede (EN ’26)

A platform designed to make Windows programs and games easier to run on Mac computers through a simple, guided experience.

Cloud Cowboy

Chris Long (EN ’26)

An operations platform that helps agricultural service businesses manage quoting, scheduling and fieldwork while keeping farmers informed.

Cuddle Clip

Jetta Vaughn (MBA ’27)

An adjustable infant burping aid designed to support safe, upright positioning while reducing physical strain for caregivers.

FRCtees

Beckett Miller (BU ’28)

Software that helps local print shops manage quoting, sales, approvals, orders and invoicing while competing more effectively with national brands.

Ignite Performance

Reagan Swatosh Walker (BU ’26)

A mental-performance coaching platform that pairs high school athletes with coaches and digital tools for developing confidence, resilience and healthy habits.

Legal Linking

Amuka Shrestha (EN ’27)

An AI-supported platform that connects commercial drivers and trucking companies with traffic attorneys in the appropriate jurisdiction.

Myorenova

Dominic Begora (EN ’26)

A biotechnology venture developing an injectable hydrogel scaffold designed to support healing following acute muscle injuries.

Netty’s Juicery

Ginette Rhodes (MBA ’26)

A wellness brand offering handcrafted cold-pressed juices, loose-leaf teas and herbals through a convenient subscription model.

Orgaden LLC

Lilly Ortiz (LA ’27)

A smart protective epinephrine auto-injector case that monitors location, temperature and expiration information and can alert emergency contacts during a reaction.

ParamAI

Anish Bagga (ME ’29)

A machine-learning platform that estimates difficult-to-measure drug properties, helping pharmaceutical developers model dosing decisions and advance promising medicines more efficiently.

Proximity

Benjamin Flicker (BU ’28)

An AI-enabled student-housing platform that helps students find suitable rentals using personalized matching and verified reviews.

Realize to Act

Tanya Keskar (LA ’27)

A technology platform that connects schools with nonprofit organizations and donors to help students access educational resources and essential support.

Steady State

Emily Ortmann (EN ’27)

A wearable chest patch and companion app that combine heart-rate, ECG, posture and movement data to help people with dysautonomia better manage exertion.

Tickette

Ingeborg Adomako (PH ’27)

A portable tick-removal device with an integrated storage chamber designed to support safe removal, specimen preservation and potential citizen-science research.

Waggy Days

Alisa Rosenblat (MBA ’26)

A pet-safety leash designed to release automatically if it becomes trapped in an elevator door or other moving urban infrastructure.

Written

David Mok (ME ’30)

A dating platform that uses information about users’ interests and digital activity to create personalized introductions, identify shared experiences and make potential matches more meaningful.

Final Round

The Fall 2026 Skandalaris Venture Competition concludes on November 18 at the Danforth University Center, where the 16 finalist teams will present their ventures and compete for funding to help advance their businesses.

The Skandalaris Venture Competition supports WashU students as they explore entrepreneurship, develop their ideas, and gain valuable experience pitching to business leaders and industry experts.

Congratulations to all of our finalists! We look forward to seeing their presentations and celebrating the next generation of WashU entrepreneurs.

SVC Awards

Join the Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship on Wednesday, November 18, at Crowder Courtyard as we celebrate the winners of the Fall 2026 Skandalaris Venture Competition (SVC)!

Following a competitive final round, 16 student-led ventures will have competed for up to $25,000 in non-dilutive funding to support their entrepreneurial journeys.

Enjoy an evening of food, drinks, and networking with WashU founders, students, mentors, and members of the entrepreneurial community, followed by the announcement of this fall’s SVC award winners.

Come celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of WashU’s student entrepreneurs and connect with the people helping bring their ideas to life!

RSVP