Programs

WashU Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame

The WashU Innovation & Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame honors the individuals who have helped build and define the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship at Washington University in St. Louis.

Launched in 2026 by the Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the Hall of Fame recognizes alumni, faculty, founders, and leaders whose work reflects the creativity, initiative, and impact that drive innovation at WashU and beyond.

Nominations Now Open

Nominations are open until May 4, 2026, and can be submitted at any time before that date.

Submit a nomination

Inaugural Ceremony

November 5, 2026, 5:00 pm
Holmes Lounge, Ridgley Hall
Washington University in St. Louis

About the Hall of Fame

Throughout WashU’s history, members of our community have been starting companies, advancing new technologies, mentoring founders, and shaping industries.

The Hall of Fame exists to recognize those contributions and to tell those stories in a way that inspires the next generation.

It is both a celebration of what has been built and a signal of what is possible.

Inductees into the Hall of Fame reflect the full range of innovation and entrepreneurship at WashU. They may be:
– Founders who have built and scaled companies
– Faculty who have translated research into real-world impact
– Alumni who have shaped industries or created new ones
– Leaders who have supported and strengthened the WashU entrepreneurial ecosystem

There is no single path. What connects each inductee is meaningful impact and a clear connection to WashU.

Hall of Fame inductees are selected based on a combination of:
– Achievement: demonstrated success in building ventures or advancing innovation
– Impact: measurable outcomes such as growth, adoption, jobs created, or societal benefit
– Influence: contributions to the WashU innovation ecosystem and support of others
– Trajectory: a body of work that reflects sustained or growing impact over time

Nominations are open annually to individuals with a connection to WashU who have demonstrated significant achievement in innovation and entrepreneurship. Individuals have the option to nominate themselves or someone else.

We welcome nominations from across the WashU community, including alumni, faculty, students, and partners.

Nominations for the inaugural class open March 30 and close May 4, 2026.

All nominations are reviewed by a selection committee composed of leaders from across the WashU and entrepreneurial communities.

The committee evaluates candidates based on their accomplishments, impact, and connection to WashU, and selects inductees.

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