On September 18, 2024, WPI's i3 Lab hosted its inaugural Student Demo Day, with awards totaling nearly $50,000 made possible by the generous donations of the Kalenian Award setup by Aram Kalenian WPI class of 1933 and represented by his son Paul Kalenian, the Strage Innovation Award setup up by Henry Strage WPI class of 1954, and represented by his son Geoffrey Strage, WPI class of 1985, Auxilium Venture Studios and Cornerstone Bank. This event highlighted the passion, ingenuity, and entrepreneurial spirit of WPI students across three categories: Ideation, Innovation, and Incubation.
Standout Projects and Winners
In the Ideation Category, Samhitha Bodangi took home the $1,500 prize for Pipsa, an AI-driven model designed to predict organ rejection risks.
The Innovation Category was awarded to Jackie Edwards '25 and her SkyFall team for their innovative solution to combat space debris.
In the Incubation Category, we saw impressive startups taking shape:
- 3rd Place: Russell Hertel '27 with Quickest, a tool to help landscaping companies streamline quoting through aerial mapping.
- 2nd Place: Nick Gronda '24 and Croi, an app to guide high schoolers through college financial planning.
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1st Place Grand Prize: Antonio Marzoratti '27 and Ivan Zou '27 with PAWE, a device that turns standard wheelchairs into electric-powered mobility aids.
The event was attended by over 150 participants, including students, faculty, and members of Worcester’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Partners like Mass Biotech Initiative, Mass Challenge, Mass Ventures, Rucker Investment, The Cornerstone Bank and Wire Group were present, showing the power of collaboration in supporting young innovators.
We were honored to have President Grace Wang and Provost Andrew Sears in attendance, and special thanks go to Dr. Debora Jackson, Dean of WPI Business School, for her opening remarks on the critical role of entrepreneurship in education. Professor Rosanna Garcia the Beswick Endowed Chair of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at WPI followed with an inspiring keynote, sharing her own entrepreneurial experiences and the rewards of overcoming the challenges of building a startup.
The evening’s energy was contagious, and it’s clear that WPI’s i3 Lab is fostering a culture of innovation and creativity. Ardian Preci, Director of the i3 Lab, perfectly summed it up: "This event shows the incredible interest from students in entrepreneurship. The i3 Lab is here to help turn those dreams into reality."
Congratulations to all the winners, and a huge thank you to the Beswick Family Endowment and Joe Klimek and our other sponsors for contributing to the startup journey of WPI students.