Global Impact Award Recognizes Ventures Driving Scalable Impact

The Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship has announced the Spring 2026 Global Impact Award (GIA) winners, recognizing ventures that combine innovation with the potential for meaningful, large-scale impact.

Founded in 2013, the Global Impact Award supports the vision and passion of WashU students, postdoctoral researchers, and recent alumni who are building scalable, sustainable, for-profit, quick-to-market ventures with clear proof of concept for broad impact.

Backed by the generosity of WashU alumnus Suren G. Dutia and Jas K. Grewal, the program invests in founders who are not only building companies but also addressing complex challenges through an interdisciplinary approach to entrepreneurship.

From Idea to Impact

The Global Impact Award is designed to go beyond funding. Finalists engage in a structured process that includes mentorship, training, and preparation ahead of their final pitch, thereby strengthening both the sustainability of their ventures and their potential for long-term success.

This model reflects the Skandalaris Center’s broader mission: to support founders as they move ideas forward from concept to real-world impact.

2026 Global Impact Award Winners

This year’s winners reflect the breadth of innovation emerging from the WashU ecosystem, spanning healthcare and advanced manufacturing.

NeuroFore

Winner: $25,000
Founder: Hamasa Ebadi (PhD ’32)

NeuroFore has developed a patent-pending machine learning algorithm that analyzes non-motor symptoms to detect Parkinson’s disease earlier than ever before. By identifying early indicators that are often overlooked, the venture could significantly improve patient outcomes and reshape how neurological diseases are diagnosed.

uFab

Winner: $50,000
Founder: Tyler Richards (EN ’22)

uFab is transforming hardware manufacturing with its etchant-free, laser-based circuit board printing system, compressing an entire factory line into a single machine. The technology enables ultra-fast, on-shore production, creating a new pathway for domestic manufacturing to compete globally on both speed and cost.

Building the Next Generation of Founders

The Global Impact Award continues to serve as a cornerstone of the WashU entrepreneurship ecosystem, supporting founders who are building ventures designed to scale and create lasting impact.

By combining funding with mentorship and community, the program helps ensure that promising ideas don’t just remain concepts — they become companies capable of addressing real-world challenges.

As the 2026 awardees move forward, they represent what the Skandalaris Center is built to support:
bold ideas, strong execution, and ventures designed to make a difference.