MEDFORD/SOMERVILLE, Mass. – A proposal to develop adjustable prosthetic liners for amputees and a non-profit that offers computer programming classes for high school students in low-income districts earned top honors in Tufts University's tenth annual $100k New Ventures Competition. Prizes included over $100,000 in cash and in-kind sponsor contributions.
The two projects were among 12 finalists in the competition. Six finalists competed in the Classic Ventures track and six competed in Social Ventures track. Coordinated through the Entrepreneurial Leadership Program at the Tufts University's Gordon Institute, the $100k New Ventures Competition includes students, alumni and faculty from schools across the university including Arts & Sciences, Engineering, Dental, Fletcher, Medical and Sackler,
Corporate sponsors for the competitions included: Allied Minds, Burns & Levinson, The Capital Network, Cooley LLP, Cummings Properties, MassChallenge, LaunchPlan, Loupe Consulting, and Lowenstein Sandler LLP.
Benevolent Technologies for Health, a startup presented by Tufts alum Jeremy Jo along with Jason Hill won the first place award in the Classic Ventures track. Their company, Benevolent Technologies, has developed a patent pending adjustable, custom fit prosthetic liner aimed at increasing amputee comfort.
In the Social Ventures track, Rebecca Novak, Tufts alum, along with Maurya Couvares, represented ScriptEd. Their venture provides classes, mentorships, and internships to students from low-income high schools interested in computer programming. They plan to launch their program in Boston in the coming months.
The Audience Choice Award went to Clair de Lune-Solar Light Distributors, presented by Tufts Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy students Andrew Lala and Tommy Galloway. The social startup also won the Fletcher School's inaugural, D-Prize, which is focused on funding proven poverty interventions.
Clair de Lune is a solar light distribution platform that uses private bus networks in West Africa to deliver lights to rural customers without electricity.
Tufts President Anthony Monaco delivered opening remarks, commending the innovation that's spread across disciplines. He said that Tufts seeks to elevate entrepreneurship programs across the university.
Inge Milde, manager of the $100k competition and an Entrepreneurial Leadership faculty member, said, “Many of this year’s finalist teams offered ideas and solutions that are an expression of active citizenship – something Tufts prides itself on teaching its students."
In addition to showcases from all the finalist teams, the 10-year celebration event on April 8 included exhibitions from many of the student entrepreneurial groups from across the university including the Fletcher International Business Club, Tufts Innovation Club, Archimedes Project, Tufts Biomedical Business Club and Tufts Entrepreneurs Society.
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Tufts University, located on three Massachusetts campuses in Boston, Medford/Somerville, and Grafton, and in Talloires, France, is recognized among the premier research universities in the United States. Tufts enjoys a global reputation for academic excellence and for the preparation of students as leaders in a wide range of professions. A growing number of innovative teaching and research initiatives span all Tufts campuses, and collaboration among the faculty and students in the undergraduate, graduate and professional programs across the university's eight schools is widely encouraged.
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