Harvard
innovation labs
innovation labs
THE ROAD TO THE PRESIDENT’S INNOVATION CHALLENGE
The President’s Innovation Challenge (PIC) is an invitation to Harvard students and select alumni & affiliate-led ventures to propel their ideas forward. The PIC is also an opportunity to win a share of $510,000 in non-dilutive funding, made possible by a gift from the Bertarelli Foundation.
Throughout the seven-month process, teams develop their ventures with robust support from the Harvard Innovation Labs.
01. Application
Eligible ventures prepare and apply for the President’s Innovation Challenge.
TIMELINE: November 18 - January 5
02. Selection
Accepted Semi-Finalist teams refine and drive their ventures forward.
TIMELINE: January - March
03. Celebration
Selected Finalists pitch to judges. Awards are presented live at the Awards Ceremony on May 5.
TIMELINE: April - May 5
ACT I
The President’s Innovation Challenge is an opportunity to move toward a future that’s more connected, more creative, more human. It’s an invitation to develop solutions that can change the narrative. It’s also an invitation to our wider community to discover what’s possible when we lead the work of making life better for the next generation.
Apply by January 5, 2022 to join the PIC this spring!
How can we create space for new leaders to come to the front? How can we create space for new leaders to come to the front? How can we create space for new leaders to come to the front? How can we create space for new leaders to come to the front? How can we create space for new leaders to come to the front? How can we create space for new leaders to come to the front?
What might we discover with curiosity and compassion as our guides? What might we discover with curiosity and compassion as our guides? What might we discover with curiosity and compassion as our guides? What might we discover with curiosity and compassion as our guides? What might we discover with curiosity and compassion as our guides? What might we discover with curiosity and compassion as our guides?
How can we design products, systems, and services that reflect how we truly want to live? How can we design products, systems, and services that reflect how we truly want to live? How can we design products, systems, and services that reflect how we truly want to live? How can we design products, systems, and services that reflect how we truly want to live? How can we design products, systems, and services that reflect how we truly want to live? How can we design products, systems, and services that reflect how we truly want to live?
As possibilities expand, our futures brighten.
01. The Application
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE PIC?
Student Teams That Have Made Substantive Progress on Their Venture
When you apply to the 14-week Spring Venture Program at the Harvard Innovation Labs, you can also opt to apply to the President’s Innovation Challenge. Teams that qualify for the PIC have made progress on their venture beyond the initial ideation stages. They likely have gained market traction such as customers, users, signed partnerships, and/or funds from professional investors.
Student ventures are placed in one of three tracks:
- Social Impact Track
- Health & Life Sciences Track
- Open Track, for ventures that transcend categories
Teams in Launch Lab X GEO and the Pagliuca Harvard Life Lab
Venture teams currently in LLX GEO and the Pagliuca Harvard Life Lab are automatically eligible to participate in the President’s Innovation Challenge. A selection of these Harvard alumni and affiliate-led ventures will be invited to apply for the PIC. For more information, please see your program administrator.
WHY JOIN THE PIC?
Experience
Teams accepted to the President’s Innovation Challenge benefit from all the resources at the i-lab, including 1:1 staff advising tailored to your industry, matched mentorship, expert office hours, and networking opportunities. Finalist teams also gain valuable experience pitching to judges.
Visibility
Throughout the spring, we will showcase many of our teams through social media and other editorial outlets. Teams chosen as Finalists will be invited to participate in the Awards Ceremony attended by the global innovation and investment communities.
Prize Money
The President’s Innovation Challenge is an opportunity to win a share of $510,000 in prize money, generously provided by the Bertarelli Foundation.
- The grand prize award for each track is $75,000
- The runner-up award is $25,000
Community
The conversations you have and the relationships you build are vital toward your progress as a team. Participating fully in a community of passionate entrepreneurs facing similar challenges can buoy you through successes, help you through frustrations, and support you well beyond the PIC experience.
WHAT ARE THE PIC TRACKS?
Accepted venture teams are placed into the track that is most appropriate for their venture. Each track awards $100,000 total in Bertarelli Foundation prize money.
Social Impact
The Social Impact Track is open to teams that want to make our planet safer, more equitable, sustainable, and beautiful. The critical issues they address include social equity, the depletion of finite resources, helping artists and cultural traditions thrive, and more.
Sub-categories include but are not limited to: arts, equity, education, environment, economic development, food, and sustainable agriculture.
Sub-categories include but are not limited to: arts, equity, education, environment, economic development, food, and sustainable agriculture.
Health & Life Sciences
The Health & Life Sciences Track is open to any team improving the efficacy of healthcare services, including therapeutics, devices, health systems, health IT, and data analytics. Projects may address a wide range of issues, from improving access to care to realizing the potential of personalized therapies.
Open
The Open Track recognizes that great ideas can transcend categories and may include commercial enterprises, including both business-to-consumer and business-to-business models. Greater economic opportunity also requires improvements in connectivity, infrastructure, and resource optimization.
Sub-categories include but are not limited to: sports, technology, security, consumer products, food and beverage, and virtual and augmented reality applications.
Sub-categories include but are not limited to: sports, technology, security, consumer products, food and beverage, and virtual and augmented reality applications.
Launch Lab X GEO
Harvard’s Launch Lab X GEO supports alumni-led ventures across the globe that disrupt and reimagine their industries. LLX GEO participants in the President’s Innovation Challenge are automatically accepted as Semi-Finalists.
Pagliuca Harvard Life Lab
This category includes groundbreaking biotech and life sciences startups founded by Harvard students, alumni, faculty, and postdoctoral scholars. Pagliuca Harvard Life Lab participants in the President’s Innovation Challenge are automatically accepted as Semi-Finalists.
WHEN IS THE PIC?
| January | 1. You apply! PIC applications for students are due by 11:59 pm EST on January 5, 2022. 2. The PIC selection committee evaluates which stage your venture has reached. |
|---|---|
| February | 3. PIC Semi-Finalist and Venture Program acceptances are sent out to teams. 4. Semi-Finalists update their applications with new milestones and traction for the Finalist selection. |
| April | 5. Judges select 15 student Finalist teams (five in each track) to pitch for the awards. 6. Finalists pitch live in front of a judging panel who will determine the grand prize and runner-up awards for each track. |
| May | 7. At the President’s Innovation Challenge Awards Ceremony on May 5, 2022, grand prize and runner-up awards are announced for the $75K and $25K Bertarelli Foundation prizes in each track. |
Have questions about the PIC?
Schedule a 15 minute appointment with an i-lab advisor to ask application questions, determine which track is best for your team, understand the application process, and chat through anything else PIC!
You can also…
TAKE PART IN THE PIC!
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The PIC is an opportunity to build something necessary and new, and be inspired by what’s possible. It’s also a chance to join an inspired and inspiring community of innovators who care as much about the questions as the solutions. Take the challenge to discover how more human futures are possible!
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I’m ready to apply! |
Apply by January 5 to be considered for the 2022 President’s Innovation Challenge.
STUDENT APPLICATION DETAILS
The President’s Innovation Challenge is a call to action for matriculated, degree-seeking Harvard students across all 13 Harvard schools—including undergraduates, graduates, postdoctoral fellows, and clinical fellows.
Applications are due January 5, 2022 at 11:59 pm EST.
Who Is Eligible?
For Students
The President’s Innovation Challenge is open to venture teams led by at least one matriculated, degree-seeking Harvard student, including undergraduates, graduates, postdoctoral fellows, and clinical fellows. While we encourage collaboration with entrepreneurs, scientists, and industry executives—and welcome participants outside of the Harvard community—we require that a Harvard student be a founder, committed leader, and integral part of each venture team.
- Teams may only submit one (1) application.
- Applicants may only be on one (1) application and not be part of multiple teams.
- One of the venture’s founders must graduate in May 2022 or after.
- For ventures with non-Harvard affiliates, the application must be submitted by the Harvard affiliate.
- Use of the i-lab and its resources will be subject to the i-lab’s Terms of Use.
- Teams or team members can be removed from an i-lab program and/or the President’s Innovation Challenge at the discretion of the i-lab staff team.
- The limit for capital raised is $750,000 or less in dilutive funding. Teams who have raised more than $750,000 by the application deadline of January 5, 2022, are ineligible to participate.
- Venture teams that have won a $75,000 or $25,000 prize within the past two years across any PIC track are ineligible to participate in the 2022 PIC.
- All ventures MUST submit an application by January 5, 2022 in order to participate.
Qualifying ventures for the PIC have made progress on their venture beyond the initial ideation stages. Doing so may mean they have gained market traction, such as customers, users, signed partnerships, and/or funds raised from professional investors. We understand that all teams are in the growth stage, and as a part of that process, we recommend that students look at past winners to see examples of teams that have been successful in the President’s Innovation Challenge.
Student teams accepted into the President’s Innovation Challenge will be supported in their journey by the i-lab’s Venture Program, which provides 1-1 advising, expert resources, and help with pitch coaching, as well as a vibrant community of entrepreneurs. Ventures at an early stage (who have not yet gained market traction) are still invited to apply for the Venture Program, which provides tailored resources to help launch and advance your venture.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Got questions about the President’s Innovation Challenge? Look no further! If your question isn’t answered below, please contact us at i-lab@harvard.edu.
If I am selected to participate in the President’s Innovation Challenge, am I also in the Spring Venture Program?
Yes, teams selected for the President’s Innovation Challenge develop their ventures throughout the spring within the Venture Program, which is designed to support you as you grow your venture.
What happens if I apply for the President’s Innovation Challenge and my venture is not selected to be a semi-finalist?
If your venture is not selected for the PIC, it doesn’t mean that your idea isn’t incredible, or that you aren’t likely to succeed. The PIC is for venture teams that have made a certain amount of progress. If you don’t have enough traction yet to join the PIC, we encourage you to participate in our Spring Venture Program to take advantage of our tailored programming and office hours, which can help take your venture to your next milestone.
What if I only want to apply to the Spring Venture Program?
We encourage you to apply to the i-lab Spring Venture Program by January 5, 2022. It’s all one application. Just indicate that you are not interested in the PIC and complete the other sections of the application. If your venture is still too early in its development (e.g., you are focused on defining your offering and validating your customers), we are still eager to support you!
If my venture is selected to participate in the President’s Innovation Challenge but ultimately doesn’t get chosen as a finalist, what happens then?
You remain in the Spring Venture Program and can continue developing your venture with the enthusiastic support and resources of the i-lab community.
If I win an award at the President’s Innovation Challenge celebration, does the money have to be used in any specific way?
You decide what to do with your prize money! It is also non-dilutive, which means you don’t have to give up any equity in your venture to accept the award.
Do I have to attend the Awards Ceremony in May to receive a Bertarelli Foundation Award?
It’s highly encouraged, but not mandatory, to attend the awards ceremony on May 5 to receive a grand prize or runner-up prize.
ACT 2
Innovation depends on connection. And true connection happens when we get comfortable with being uncomfortable, reaching out, and tapping into the collective power of the people around us. When you connect with a community of passionate, diverse, creative people, you can build much, much more than you could have imagined alone. The President’s Innovation Challenge is an invitation to move the world forward together.
What problems can we solve when we work across silos and disciplines? What problems can we solve when we work across silos and disciplines? What problems can we solve when we work across silos and disciplines?
What does a more caring, supportive innovation ecosystem look like? What does a more caring, supportive innovation ecosystem look like? What does a more caring, supportive innovation ecosystem look like?
What collective experiments do we need to run? What collective experiments do we need to run? What collective experiments do we need to run?
Our interdependence
is our strength.
President’s Innovation Challenge 2022 Semi-Finalists
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
| January | • Students apply! PIC applications for students closed on January 5, 2022. • PIC student Semi-Finalists are selected, notified of their acceptance and track, and announced. |
|---|---|
| February | • Semi-Finalists work on their ventures and update their application with new milestones and traction for the Finalist selection. |
| March | • External judges review applications. The judges help select 5 Finalists in each PIC track. • PIC Finalists are selected and announced. |
| April | • Finalists refine their pitches, work on their pitch decks, and prepare to pitch live to a panel of judges. • Judges determine which teams will receive the $75,000 and $25,000 Bertarelli Foundation Awards in each track. |
| May | • At the President’s Innovation Challenge Awards Ceremony on May 5, 2022, we will announce the $75K and $25K Bertarelli Foundation awards for each of the five tracks. |
WHO QUALIFIES AS A SEMI-FINALIST?
Current full-time Harvard students were invited to opt into the President’s Innovation Challenge when they applied for the 14-week Spring Venture Program. Teams selected as Semi-Finalists had made progress on their venture, meaning that they likely have paid customers or partners, recruited a user base, or have mapped out a path for commercialization. From over 400 applications this year (our highest number ever!), less than 1/3 of the teams were selected to become Semi-Finalists by the PIC selection committee.
Successful teams frequently apply to the PIC multiple times, using the feedback they receive from this process to make meaningful progress during the following year. If you were not selected as a Semi-Finalist in 2022, we encourage you to apply next year!
MEET THE SEMI-FINALIST TEAMS
Semi-Finalist teams are judged by a panel of over 200 PIC Semi-Finalist judges, a diverse mix of entrepreneurs, operators, investors, nonprofit experts, and specialists. The judges evaluate applications based on their experience, specialty, and industry expertise. In addition to scoring and helping to select the Finalist teams in each track, PIC judges also provide critical feedback, which many past teams have found invaluable toward refining their offering and iterating on their venture.
STUDENT TRACKS
Social Impact (59)
.Cambio
An app that enables the unbanked to cash in & out, receive wages, and more within 200 meters of their homes, + a network of vendors offering training.
School: Harvard Business School
Afya Pamoja
An SMS patient feedback service providing performance management data for public healthcare managers in Tanzania to improve service quality.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: afyapamoja.com
AkademiX.ai
Helping teachers build digital skills faster with artificial intelligence.
School: Harvard Graduate School of Education
Web: akademi.al
Arda
Providing a delivery service for critical medical supplies, using drone fleets which operate within existing healthcare supply chains.
School: Harvard College
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/ardagroup
Barefoot Edu Foundation
Coaching principals so that they can find quick and creative ways to overcome school challenges & provide children with quality 21st century education.
School: Harvard Graduate School of Education
Web: barefootedu.com
BUILD Nigeria INC.
Creating pathways for low-income and/or first generation Nigerian students to study and thrive at world-class colleges globally.
School: Harvard College
Web: buildng.org
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/build-nigeria
CassVita Inc.
A novel technology for increasing the shelf-life of cassava -- a nutritive but rapidly deteriorating tuber -- from 3 days to 18 months.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: cassvita.com
CBOH, Inc.
Empowering users to control their digital health identity and share verifiable health statuses with whom they choose.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: cboh.info
Cequest
Capturing CO2 from the air and ocean via seawater electrolysis while producing the world’s greenest hydrogen gas.
School: Harvard College
Web: getcequest.com
Climate & Health Equity Practice Fellowship
Training physicians representing historically marginalized communities in the Global South on the health effects of climate change, advocacy, and communications.
School: Harvard Divinity School
Web: publichealthsociety.org
Code Your Chances
Introducing young girls to the creative uses of computer science and how they can apply their unique creativity to tech.
School: Harvard Law School
Web: codeyourchances.com
Creative Bamboo
A creativity and development center for children from 0-12 that delivers enrichment programs and theater productions.
School: Harvard Graduate School of Education
Web: creativebamboo.mn
Dear Loneliness
A crowdsourced art exhibit, research study, and COVID-19 archival effort collecting thousands of letters on loneliness from around the world.
School: Harvard College
Web: dearloneliness.com
Debate Spaces
Connecting and empowering middle schoolers worldwide, teaching debate to foster critical thinking, cultural empathy, and civic engagement.
School: Harvard Kennedy School
Web: debatespaces.org
Earthacre Incorporated
Using remote sensing and proven regeneration techniques to restore indigenous owned lands and create differentiated carbon credits.
School: Harvard Kennedy School
Electric Rehri
Affordable, electric, modular and sustainable carts for street vendors in Indian cities.
School: Harvard Graduate School of Design
Web: gaurinagpal.com/rehri
Flame Bearers: The Women Athletes Blazing the Trail to Beijing
Elevating the voices of unsung, diverse women Olympians and Paralympians.
School: Harvard Kennedy School
Web: flamebearerspodcast.com
Flare Education
High-quality professional training, paid workforce opportunities, and career development for high school students.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: flare-education.org
Freedom Cups
Getting reusable menstrual products to women through a buy-1, give-1 model that allows us to work with underprivileged communities.
School: Harvard Kennedy School
Web: freedomcups.org
GarboCarbo
Capturing carbon dioxide from power plant emissions by creating a long-term carbon storage byproduct (limestone).
School: Harvard College
Generation Girl
A non-profit organization in Indonesia that equips young women with hard and soft skills to become future leaders through STEM-based programs.
School: Harvard Graduate School of Education
Web: generationgirl.org
Jamii Life
Providing home-based care for people that can't help themselves and training family caregivers to become accredited health workers.
School: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Web: jamiilife.com
Kia Kia Health
A hybrid, tech-driven intervention aimed at creating access to reproductive health information and services for girls and young women.
School: Harvard Kennedy School
Web: kiakiahealth.com
Klara
Building an Indonesian mental health & wellness ecosystem by providing on-demand access to healthcare professionals & personalized self-care resources.
School: Harvard Medical School
Web: klara.id
Knowledge to Enable Your Success (KEYS)
Developing C'bbean youth into change agents & leaders through innovative programs geared at achieving collective literacy and a sustainable region.
School: Harvard Kennedy School
Web: yoursuccesskeys.org
Mandala
A DEI platform for people of color that focuses on the intersection of inclusion & well-being.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: mandalaforus.com
MiKashBoks
A digital social finance platform designed to support self-help, peer-based group saving and lending.
School: Harvard Kennedy School
Web: mikashboks.com
MyCode
A coding academy that aims to bring quality computer programming education to K-12 students across the Philippines.
School: Harvard Graduate School of Education
Web: mycode.ph
Narratio
Activating, supporting, and highlighting the creative expression of refugee youth through fellowships, workshops, publishing, and partnerships.
School: Harvard Graduate School of Education
Web: Narratio.org
National Environmental Solutions Company (NESCO)
Specializing in the development of environmental-friendly biological products and technology by means of bacteria cultivation.
School: Harvard College
Web: nesco-me.com
Net3allem
A nonprofit that provides Montessori pre-schooling for low-income students, and employment opportunities and sponsorships for our alumni student network.
Novustack
Creating and investing in the next generation of African innovators through training, community, and opportunity to work at startups.
School: Harvard Kennedy School
Web: novustack.com
Pinpoint Donation
Streamlining the in-kind donation process by matching donors of households goods with charities or families that need those goods.
School: Harvard College
Web: pinpointdonation.org
PODEROSAS
A sexual education program to strengthen low-income communities' youths' power of decision over their body, sexuality & life with innovative methodology.
School: Harvard Graduate School of Education
Web: poderosascolombia.org
Project Us
Using AI and bio-signal processing to unveil emotional dynamics of interactions, helping people become more inclusive leaders.
School: Harvard Graduate School of Education
Web: media.mit.edu/projects/project-us/overview
ProtectED Solutions LLC
Providing furniture that protects against domestic terrorism and active shooter violence in schools, government buildings, and offices.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: protectedrooms.com
Puentes Community Translators
Training young adults from low-income immigrant areas to become professional translators and help bridge language barriers in their communities.
School: Harvard Kennedy School
Web: puentestranslators.com
Purple Point Neurodiagnostics LLC
Using an innovative approach to address the gap in epilepsy diagnosis in low and middle income countries.
School: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Web: purplepointneurodiagnostics.com
RegenerateLand
Providing a software technology platform for low-cost, transparent monitoring and reporting, and verifying (MRV) land based carbon credits.
School: Harvard Kennedy School
Residents Abroad
An online platform facilitating international rotations for doctors around the globe.
School: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Web: residentsabroad.org
Rhymes with Reason
An e-learning app that helps students learn important English words by showcasing their existence in widely known music lyrics.
School: Harvard Graduate School of Education
Web: rhymeswithreason.com
Root
A gamified educational intervention that promotes learning, feedback, and regular assessment of developmentally appropriate math milestones.
School: Harvard Graduate School of Education
Web: learnwithroot.mystrikingly.com
Roundtable
Building the preeminent social and expert network for state/local government, starting with those in Child Welfare & Election Security.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: roundtable-gov.com
SCRIPTern Program
Selecting minority students from Boston College, pairing them with a physician at Boston, and teaching them to scribe notes at clinic visits.
School: Harvard Medical School
Web: childrenshospital.org/about-us/health-equity/fenwick-institute
Skew The Script
Providing free, socially relevant math curriculum to teachers.
School: Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Web: skewthescript.org
Slam Out Loud
Using the visual and performing arts to enable children from disadvantaged backgrounds to find their voice.
School: Harvard Graduate School of Education
Web: slamoutloud.com
Soulsmile Club
A tech nonprofit that donates up to 20% of online purchases to charities of the users' choice at no additional cost.
School: Harvard Graduate School of Design
Web: soulsmile.club
Stuttering Scholarship Alliance
Offering the first framework to provide affordable and effective stuttering therapy.
School: Harvard Medical School
Web: stutteringalliance.org
Synses Designs
Providing 3D printed models perceptible by the sense of touch to improve access to STEM education for students with disabilities.
School: Harvard Medical School
Web: synsesdesigns.com
The Equity Network
Helping Black, Latinx and Native American candidates book free 1-on-1 conversations with professionals in their dream jobs.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: theequitynetwork.com
The Yappie
A leading publication dedicated to tracking the rise of political power in Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.
School: Harvard College
Web: theyappie.com
Thrive Industries Incorporated (THRIVE!)
Helping local governments budget for equity and economic mobility.
School: Harvard Graduate School of Education
Web: equitywillthrive.com
Todaydream
Providing an online platform for schools, nonprofits, and families to enlist diverse leading professionals who share their stories, and empower youth.
School: Harvard Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
Web: todaydream.com
UCSF Health and Human Rights Initiative
Supporting asylum seekers by offering forensic medical evaluations, performing research, training clinicians, and participating in advocacy.
School: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Web: humanrights.ucsf.edu
UpstartED
Building programs at the intersection of SEL, civic education and STEM to elevate the potential of at-risk and equity-seeking children and youth.
School: Harvard Graduate School of Education
Web: upstarted.org
Vaiven
Democratizing access to finance by connecting borrowers with the best credits available in the market. Fast. Simple. Free.
School: Harvard Kennedy School
Web: vaiven.mx
WeUnlearn
We aim to reduce the gender gap by addressing harmful gender norms using an AI based chatbot for teens using cognitive and behavioral psychology.
School: Harvard Kennedy School
Web: weunlearn.org
yas
A language learning app that uses AI to create brain-friendly and adaptive learning experiences.
School: Harvard Graduate School of Education
Web: sayyas.co
Youth International Summit
Creating impactful, accessible leadership opportunities to students in over 100 countries through virtual programs on career skills and debate.
School: Harvard College
Web: yismun.com
Health & Life Sciences (26)
Acurasset Therapeutics
Developing a cure for Hepatitis B that could rid patients of the virus within months.
School: Harvard Medical School
Apoth
A behavior change platform that improves mental health outcomes by facilitating client engagement, tracking behaviors, and analyzing trends.
School: Harvard College
Web: apoth.app
A-SEP
Providing an affordable, accessible, and accurate point-of-care diagnostic kit for sepsis.
Blue Ocean Therapeutics
Developing personalized neoantigen-targeted diagnostics and cell therapies for Focal Cortical Dysplasia Type II.
School: Harvard Medical School
Cache DNA
Providing indefinite storage and access to nucleic acid samples, reducing the space, costs, and energy for biorepositories and archival data storage.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: cache-dna.xyz
Canopy Innovations, Inc.
Seeking to eliminate the language barrier in healthcare by offering tech-enabled solutions that go beyond medical interpreters.
School: Harvard Graduate School of Education
Web: withcanopy.com
CardioPhi
Providing AI solutions for interpreting electrocardiograms (ECG/EKGs), especially the detection and prediction of heart arrhythmias.
School: Harvard Medical School
CareList
A HIPAA-compliant, AI-enabled platform for building care plans, collaborating on tasks & automating follow-ups.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: carelist.io
Coprata
A smart toilet company that offers automated technology to analyze human waste.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: coprata.com
Dear Mémé
A date-driven, semi-customized activity subscription kit service for seniors with dementia and their caregivers.
School: Harvard Kennedy School
Web: dearmeme.com
Dominant mRNA Therapies
Creating genetically dominant mRNA therapies to combat viral evolution/infection by incorporating proteins into them & destroying them from the inside.
School: Harvard Business School
DoriVac
Developing therapeutic cancer vaccines and preventive infectious disease vaccines using a DNA nanotechnology platform called DNA origami.
School: Harvard Business School
FIXUS
Detecting orthopaedic diseases using the AI-based FIXUS and learning orthopedics by playing games.
School: Harvard Medical School
Web: advances.massgeneral.org/ortho/video.aspx?id=1171
FollowUp Health, Inc.
Ensuring that patients understand their visit and discharge plan.
School: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Web: redscales.github.io/followup-static
HealthDeck
A mobile-first platform that makes capturing, understanding, and sharing one’s complete medical history as simple as using Instagram.
School: Harvard Graduate School of Design
Web: healthdeck.app
Ilios Therapeutics
Leveraging proprietary therapeutics molecules with strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to prevent and counter neurodegenerations.
School: Harvard Kennedy School
Kiikter
Creating a low-cost edible gel fortified with key micronutrients to reduce malnutrition anemia.
School: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Web: kiikter.com
Limax Biosciences
Limax has developed a degradable adhesive hydrogel to augment vascular reconstruction and serve as a hemostatic agent in advanced bleeding scenarios.
School: Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Web: limaxbiosciences.com
Melanin Doc Connect
A platform connecting people of color to culturally competent providers and minority-specific health information.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: melanindocs.com/connect/
MyoExo
Developing a wearable system to monitor the cardinal signs of Parkinson’s Disease, without a clinician, and from the comfort of a person’s home.
School: Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
One Therapeutics
A digital therapeutic for insomnia. Patients install a mobile app that guides them through a multi-week clinical program for better sleep.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: slumber.one
Trial Atlas, Inc.
Making clinical trials more patient-centered by helping sponsors recruit, engage, and retain trial participants.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: trialatlas.com
Vacuum-Assisted wound Therapy Affordable foR All (VATARA)
Dedicated to providing an effective, low-cost negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) alternative to traditional NPWT devices.
School: Harvard Medical School
Web: ortho.hms.harvard.edu/harvard-global-orthopaedics-collaborative
Vita
An entrant solution that will save many lives through a digital system for real-time matching of the supply of blood products to demand.
Vitally Health
We are the Google Maps for heart disease, using several layers of clinical and molecular data to map early diagnosis and digital therapies.
School: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Web: vitally.health
ZircoPlant
Developing innovative technologies enabling clinicians to predictably perform autogenous therapies for dental tissue regeneration.
Open (63)
Bemlo
A healthcare recruitment platform.
School: Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Blend
A mobile app that helps you create groups with your friends and meet new people the way you do in real life: together.
School: Harvard College
Candelytics
Building the digital infrastructure to support the visualization, analysis, and sharing of 3D data.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: candelytics.io
Capsula
A nostalgic technology company; our app changes how people live and relive by creating a home for personal, family, and social memories.
School: Harvard College
Web: capsula.xyz
Cardinal LCA
An early-stage digital tool for architects that analyzes the environmental impacts of design decisions.
School: Harvard Graduate School of Design
Web: cardinallca.com
CashEx
A currency exchange platform that leverages AI to help migrants transfer money with zero fees.
School: Harvard Kennedy School
Web: cashex.ai
Chord
Making online communities more real, more impactful, and more valuable to their members while saving community leaders time & effort.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: thechord.io
Compass
An SMS platform designed to streamline patient intake, scheduling, and follow-up through asynchronous automation.
School: Harvard Medical School
Web: compass-sms.com
Crimson Coach
A full-Harvard team providing creative academic and career exploration programs for Chinese students who plan to study abroad.
Crimson Tech
Educating doctors about data science in a less technical way.
School: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Web: i-lab-harvard-edu.ilab.staging.wpengine.com/current-team/healthdatarecipe-ai
Current Electric Incorporated
Manufacturing and providing smart, fast-charging products to build out an open EV charging network supporting the transportation of tomorrow.
School: Harvard Extension School
Web: current-electric.co
Cyphr
Building real-time collaboration software for music creators.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: cyphrmusic.com
dData
Providing real-time, granular economic maps using AI for governments to make better policy decisions.
School: Harvard Kennedy School
Web: ddata.tech
Dil Internship Project
Reshaping the narrative surrounding developing countries and making them natural destinations for skills and talent by plugging competency shortages.
School: Harvard Law School
Web: dilinternshipproject.com
Elf
A wellness app connecting body health & indoor environment by offering personalized suggestions about environmental improvements and behavioral change.
Even Cargo (ELPL)
India's first women-led, last mile logistics company, catering to clients like Amazon and Walmart.
School: Harvard Kennedy School
Web: evencargo.in
Flow
Coffee engineered for optimal thinking—twice the energy, no jitters or caffeine crash, and improved brainpower with every sip.
School: Harvard College
Web: flowcoffee.us
Fluna Corp
Working capital financing + treasury analytics tools for African businesses.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: fluna.co
FORAY bioscience
Creating a future where wood-based products can be generated without cutting down a single tree.
School: Harvard Business School
FYVO - Find Your Voice
Helping language learners struggling with pronunciation to improve speaking skills through personalised exercises based on immersive media.
School: Harvard Graduate School of Education
Web: Fyvo.co
Garage Mobility
An online marketplace for auto parts & servicing in Africa.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: garagemobility.com
Goo, Inc.
Developing a bio-based, biodegradable 3D printing filament and running a 3D printing recycling program.
School: Harvard Graduate School of Design
Web: gooventures.com
Green Alpha
Developing autonomous last mile delivery electric vehicles.
School: Harvard Business School
HarvestHaul
Building a digital marketplace for local farmers to sell direct-to-consumer, creating a fresher and more sustainable food shopping experience.
School: Harvard College
Web: harvesthaul.com
Helthy
Helping people with prediabetes and diabetes grocery shop smarter.
School: Harvard Medical School
Web: shophelthy.com/signup-1
Hibiscus Monkey
A DTC venture on a mission to become India's first body specialist brand, one that is powered by plants and ancient wellness rituals.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: hibiscusmonkey.com
HiHome
The first Instant Home Matching platform, delivering the fastest and most personalized home search experience ever. Here, the home finds you!
School: Harvard Business School
Web: gohihome.com
Hive Health
Digital health insurance for SMBs in the Philippines, providing simple, affordable, quality health plans through a data science-powered platform.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: ourhivehealth.com
Hue
A beauty tech platform that recommends the best makeup products for shoppers’ skin tone.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: tryhuebeauty.com
Jasper Cocktails, Inc.
A maker of zero-proof cocktails intended for drinkers and nondrinkers alike.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: jaspercocktails.com
Kern Tutoring
Providing tier 2 and tier 3 intervention services to school districts and private tutoring for our community.
School: Harvard Graduate School of Education
Web: kerntutoring.com
Keto Kind
A clinical nutrition brand making science-backed products to support metabolic health in patients.
School: Harvard College
Web: ketokind.com
La Huerta de Elisa
Creating nutritious baby food for children in Mexico by working with local farmers and cold-pressing our products to preserve nutrients.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: lahuertadeelisa.mx
Larsen
Facilitating feedback between coworkers and delivering a dashboard for managers to gain visibility into their teams' wellbeing.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: larsen.ai
LINK
Enabling individuals to meet new people, discover events, and have great IRL experiences with their friends.
School: Harvard College
Web: link.social
Lit
Language proficiency through digital stories.
School: Harvard Graduate School of Education
Web: learnlit.online
Low Fuel
An app-based company that delivers gas directly to you.
School: Harvard College
Web: low-fuel.com
Mineral Forecast
A drill hole targeting solution that dramatically improves drilling success for mining exploration teams using the data they’re already producing today.
School: Harvard Kennedy School
Web: mineralforecast.com
Mission: Mentor
Using data to empower people to make better decisions, starting with college admissions.
School: Harvard College
Web: missionmentor.org
MOVZ
The first app that uses pose estimation computer vision to provide a game-like experience when learning popular dances.
School: Harvard Extension School
Web: anybodymovz.com
Northwood Space
Supplying interoperable low-cost satellite communication links between earth and space.
School: Harvard Law School
Oak Systems
A personalized shopping experience; we recommend products by Black-owned brands tailored to your personal care/grooming goals.
School: Harvard College
Web: myoaksystem.com
Pathlight
Building an AI-powered hiring platform that helps jobseekers break into tech and helps companies source and vet that diverse talent.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: joinpathlight.com
Patient First.AI
Developing a digital health card just like your bank vCard.
School: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Web: patientfirstai.com
Phu’s Phone Emporium
We buy, sell, and repair phones & other electronics at an affordable price with a focus on superior customer service, quality work, & integrity.
School: Harvard College
ProDream Education
Improving access to higher education for community college students.
School: Harvard Graduate School of Education
Web: prodreamedu.com
Quidio
A short-form knowledge marketplace where users can ask a question, put a bounty on it, and get a great answer.
School: Harvard College
Web: quidio.co
Raho
A hospitality chain that provides quality space and service by renovating and managing homes/apartments that have been leased from property owners.
RESE
Letting you invest in real estate just like in stocks – buy property shares from your phone with as little as $25, earn from rent and appreciation.
School: Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Web: rese.us
Sellwithotto.ai
Automating personalized cold outreach by finding the intersection points between the sender and receiver.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: sellwithotto.ai
Shi & Lewis
A PhD network that helps investors and industry practitioners access cutting-edge academic resources.
School: Harvard Graduate School of Education
Web: shilewis.com
Stochastic
Making the best AI accessible to everyone.
School: Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Web: stochastic.ai
Syzygy Space
Seeking to clear small, hard-to-track debris out of Earth's crucial orbits in order to make space safer and more accessible to all.
School: Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
The NRI Nation
A news network catering to the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) population worldwide, covering the local and international NRI community.
School: Harvard Extension School
Web: mynrination.com
Think and Speak Academy
Offering world-class online debate and argumentation training to young people all around the world.
School: Harvard Graduate School of Education
Web: tasacademy.pl
Tomo Labs
Engineered to restore balance and function to your body after drinking with ingredients that help attack the underlying causes of discomfort.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: tomolabs.co
Toppings: Free Food w/ Friends
Solving the delivery problem of high fees by empowering local members of the community to deliver when they are going out for food/groceries.
School: Harvard College
Web: toppingsapp.com
Trove Market (Formally Impeccable Wate)
Diverting excess shelf-stable, packaged food away from landfills and into consumers' homes.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: troveshop.co
Tutu
Helping high school and college students in China effectively explore majors and career pathways that fit them best.
School: Harvard Kennedy School
tys, llc
For time-pressed women in need of a manicure, we provide the easiest way to book an appointment.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: experiencetys.com
UCNLEARN
Empowering teachers to deliver reading intervention effectively using a tablet for learning one-on-one, in groups, and independently.
Zesti
A social application that helps college students connect with each other, find things to do near campus, and save money at the same time.
School: Harvard College
Web: zestiharvard.com
ALUMNI & AFFILIATE TRACK
All Alumni & Affiliate Ventures (20)
Adaptilens
Revolutionizing vision correction by restoring the eye's ability to focus.
School: Harvard Medical School
Web: www.adaptilens.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/adaptilens
Agency
Enterprise-grade cybersecurity for individuals and growing companies.
School: Harvard Extension School
Web: GetAgency.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/getagency1
Artus Therapeutics
Developing first-in-class oral therapeutics for barrier dysfunction diseases.
School: Harvard Medical School
Web: artustx.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/artus-tx
Aurie
Partnering with the disabled community to redesign essential medical devices.
School: Harvard College
Web: www.livewithaurie.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/aurie-catheters
BioDevek
Developing next generation, material-based surgical solutions.
School: Harvard Medical School
Web: biodevek.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/biodevek
Burq
Making it easy for businesses to offer delivery to their customers.
School: Harvard Extension School
Web: burqup.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/burq
CaviSense
Improving oral health through early intervention and at-home monitoring.
School: Harvard School of Dental Medicine
Web: www.cavisense.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/cavisense
Delfina
Using the power of data to improve maternal and child health outcomes.
School: Harvard College
Web: delfina.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/delfinacare
Empowered Homes
Making it easy for households & businesses to get solar & storage energy solutions.
School: Harvard Kennedy School
Web: www.empowered.homes
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/empowered-homes-solar
Holistick Medical
Developing a flexible device for atraumatic treatment of common cardiac defects.
School: Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Web: www.holistick-medical.com/home
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/holistick-medical
Imago Rehab
A robot-assisted virtual clinic for stroke recovery.
School: Harvard Graduate School of Design
Web: imagorehab.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/imago-rehab
Kern Systems
Using enzymes and cutting-edge software to store digital data in DNA.
School: Harvard Medical School
Web: www.kernsystems.com
Kiwi Biosciences
Helping the 15% of the population with IBS enjoy food without pain.
School: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Web: www.fodzyme.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/kiwi-biosciences
M13 Therapeutics
Delivering any gene to any cell with our unique phage-derived particle.
School: Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Web: m13tx.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/m13-therapeutics
Metric
Providing software to measure, benchmark, and improve ESG performance.
School: Harvard Business School
Web: www.metric-esg.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/metric
Naya Studio
The Figma for phygital product design.
School: Harvard Graduate School of Design
Web: naya.studio
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/studio-naya
Promakhos Therapeutics
A therapeutics platform for curing inflammatory disorders.
School: Harvard Faculty of Arts & Sciences
Web: www.promakhos.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/promakhos-therapeutics
Rentdrop
Facilitating rent payments between renters & landlords.
School: Harvard College
Web: getrentdrop.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/rentdrop
Snapi Health
DTC gut microbiome tests for the first 3 years of life.
School: Harvard Graduate School of Design
Web: getsnapi.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/snapi-health
Stratagen Bio
Transforming treatment planning in oncology with quantitative oxygen sensing.
School: Blavatnik Fellow in Life Science Entrepreneurship
Web: www.StratagenBio.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/stratagenbio
What’s Coming Up for This Year’s Semi-Finalists?
Check out last year’s Finalists & award recipients to see where the road leads next!
ACT 3
The entrepreneurial journey is always asking us to look up, around us, and beyond ourselves. It is not linear. The ventures that we see every day here at the Harvard Innovation Labs reflect the courage, nimbleness, and playfulness it takes to innovate.
When we bring a more human approach to venture creation and to our lives, everything opens up. During our 10th anniversary year, we are reminded that we are surrounded by the potential for more creativity, more goodness, and more humanity with each other. The opportunity to create new worlds and ways of being is all around us.
Join us on May 5, 2022, as we celebrate the President’s Innovation Challenge Finalist ventures and announce which teams will be awarded a share of $510,000 in Bertarelli Foundation Awards!
What possibilities emerge when we explore beyond our comfort zones? What possibilities emerge when we explore beyond our comfort zones? What possibilities emerge when we explore beyond our comfort zones?
When is play the right process toward a serious solution? When is play the right process toward a serious solution? When is play the right process toward a serious solution?
What unexpected doors open when we let our vision lead? What unexpected doors open when we let our vision lead? What unexpected doors open when we let our vision lead?
Let’s create the future together.
2022 President’s Innovation Challenge
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
| April | • Finalists refine their pitches, work on their pitch decks, and prepare to pitch live to a panel of judges. • Judges determine which teams will receive awards. |
|---|---|
| May | • At the President’s Innovation Challenge Awards Ceremony on May 5, 2022, we will announce the $75,000 and $25,000 Bertarelli Foundation Awards for each of the five tracks. |
Get to Know This Year’s Finalists and Winners!
