November 2023 News
Apply to Spark
Applications Open on November 20
Do you have an idea for a startup, social impact enterprise, or creative project? Do you need mentorship, training, and potential funding to make your idea a reality? Apply to the Brandeis Innovation Spark program. Every year, Spark provides training, mentorship, and the chance to pitch for up to $5,000 in funding.
Spark trainings take place in the Spring semester. Applications for Spark open on November 20 and are due at midnight on December 19. Stay tuned next week for a notification that applications are open. In the meantime, check out details on the Spark program here.
The 2023 Heller Startup Challenge a Success
The annual Heller Startup Challenge took place this past weekend on campus in its traditional and highly successful format. The two and a half day intensive business plan event brings together innovators committed to social change and social justice to develop solutions to some of the world's biggest problems, to provide localized solutions to global issues, or innovate ethical products to meet consumer needs - and often, do a combination of all these things, all in just 3 days.
Over the years, the Heller Startup Challenge has gained recognition and prestige as it continues to push the boundaries of social entrepreneurship. With each passing year, more and more individuals turn their ideas into reality, creating a positive impact in communities around the world. This year’s winners, representing industries as diverse as rural women’s healthcare to antibullying, will all be fast-tracked to the Spark program. Learn more about this year’s Heller Startup Challenge.
Virtual Incubator Alumni News
Eric Moyal in front of the Project Insulin billboard in Massachusetts. His startup, Project Insulin, is working on affordable insulin and was a Spark participant.
Brandeis Innovators continue to make strides with their startups long after they complete a training or funding program. We are so proud of these past innovator alumni making news: Former Brandeis Innovation Champion Peter Thabet and his team won the 16th Annual Brandeis International Business School Case Competition. The team conducted market research for a fintech startup, putting together a set of networking connections and identifying potential collaborators for the case organization.
SparkTank winner Eric Moyal continues to see progress with his social impact startup, Project Insulin, which aims to make insulin more affordable to patients worldwide. He recently was selected to pitch at the Venture Cafe Elevate Your Pitch event. In addition, Project Insulin was featured on a billboard in Massachusetts for National Diabetes Awareness Month.
Alison Elliott’s startup, The Farmer Foodie, maker of cashew-based vegan cheese, has expanded their flavor offerings and is now available in select Whole Foods stores.
Online Infrastructure Manager and Heller MBA Marketing Lecturer Christina Inge was featured in the Massachusetts Business Network’s article on what local entrepreneurs feel are the benefits of owning a business.
Upcoming Local Innovation Events
DeisHacks, the 48-hour social good hackathon, will take place on January 26-28. Apply now for one of the limited spots to work in a cross-disciplinary team to solve local social challenges, make new friends, and work on your tech skills.
A Cross-University Student Innovators Mixer, one of the largest student entrepreneurship events in the region, bringing together students from schools across the state, will take place on December 7, 5pm-7pm in Brookline. Refreshments will be served. Register here.
The Brandeis Entrepreneurship and Tech Association (BETA) will be hosting an Impactful Entrepreneurship event on November 30. For more information on this and other upcoming BETA Club events, join the club on CampusGroups.
Brandeis I-Corps National Team NDICloud Exhibits at Neuroscience 2023
NDICloud, a data startup in the neurology space founded by Prof. Stephen Van Hooser, was selected to exhibit at Neuroscience 2023, the main global conference for neuroscientists. NDICloud, which participated in the Brandeis Innovation I-Corps program and won a coveted spot in the NSF National I-Corps, aims to make neuroscience research more efficient and facilitate collaboration among neuroscientists with their groundbreaking data-sharing platform. NDICloud was also the focus of a recent article in the journal eNeuro.