The Graduate Entrepreneurship Fellowship Program empowers UConn engineering graduate students to develop their entrepreneurial mindsets, launch startups, and lead innovative research with real-world impact. Below, we celebrate the achievements of our Fellows from the 2024–2025 academic year.

Featured Milestones

Major Highlights

•  6 startups launched by Fellows this year

•  Multiple Fellows secured funding or investment

•  7 Fellows presented and/or pitched at national conferences

“One of the most valuable skills I developed was the ability to communicate business ideas clearly and confidently to a non-technical audience, a critical skill for engaging investors and stakeholders outside my field.” –   Adaeze Maduako (Fellow AY 2024-2025)

Fellow Spotlights

Fellow Spotlight: Nicholas Nguyen

Program: PhD in Mechanical Engineering
Startup/Project: Goldilocks Smart Solutions – a User-friendly Smart Shower System for Elder Care
Achievements: Received Prototyping Grant Approval ($2,500), accepted in CCEI Summer Fellowship Program ($15,000), accepted into NSF-I Corps Program (UConn Accelerate), received pro bono prior arts search and NDA after meeting with IP Attorney, and accepted and participated in the VentureWell Pioneer Workshop ($5,000).

“This has been one of the most transformative experiences of my graduate career. It has helped me build confidence and connect with like-minded peers. I would absolutely recommend this program to anyone considering entrepreneurship.” –   Nicholas Nguyen (Fellow AY 2024-2025)

Fellow Spotlight: Soroush Vahedi

Program: PhD Candidate in Electrical & Computer Engineering
Startup/Project: Powerbid – a user-friendly app enabling solar homeowners to sell excess energy to neighbors, saving both money while optimizing usage
Achievements: Selected for the 2025 ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit Student Program and the John Lof Leadership Academy (2023–2025). PowerBid was named one of fourteen finalists in UConn’s 2025 Innovation Quest (IQ) competition. Also presented two conference papers at the 2025 IEEE PES General Meeting, earning both the 1st Place Award in Electrical and Computer Engineering and the IEEE PES Technical Committee Prize Paper Award.

Events & Conferences

• VentureWell Pioneer Workshop 2025 – Nicholas Nguyen

• InnovateHealth Pitchfest PILLGUARD Pitch – Md. Zakir Hossain

• 2025 UConn IQ Competition Finalist & 2025 ARPA-E Energy innovation Summit Program – Soroush Vahedi

• The 13th Annual International AIDS Society Conference  – Md. Safaet Sujan

• IEEE Energy & Policy Forum – Alaa Selim

• 2025 SECAC Conference in Atlanta – Nooshin Farashaei

• Technical AI Safety Conference 2025 & AI Safety Entrepreneurship Hackathon 2025 – Aidan Kierans

  

Fellowships, Grants, & Awards

• Nicholas N. – Prototyping Grant, CCEI Summer Fellowship Program + $15,000 seed funding

• Safaet S. – Fully funded International AIDS Society Scholarship & 2025 Wood/Raith Gender Identity Conference Fellowship

• Alaa S. – Prototyping Grant

• Aidan K. – 3rd Place Prize in the 2025 AI Safety & Assurance Entrepreneurship Hackathon

• Soroush V. – Powerbid one of 14 finalists in the 2025 UConn Innovation Quest Competition

• Md. Zakir H. – Completion of the NSF I-Corps Propelus Program with HypoAI

“I used to see commercialization as something separate from academic science. Now I see it as an extension of impact. The Fellowship showed me how to bridge that gap without compromising the science.” –  Program Year 2025

Startup Launches & Prototypes

• Goldilocks Smart Solutions – User-Friendly Smart Shower System

• SmarThyCheck – a digital health startup designed to support healthcare providers in the early detection and management of thyroid disorders

• Safety Assurance Index – An open-source framework that allows AI companies to collaborate on safety standards while protecting their intellectual property

• Powerbid – a user-friendly app enabling solar homeowners to sell excess energy to neighbors, saving both money while optimizing usage

• Flexapy – Gamified, and personalized physical therapy at home

• OptiEnerX – A smart energy manager using adaptive charging via RHLF technology

Want to Join?

Interested in becoming a Fellow? Learn more about the Graduate Entrepreneurship Fellowship Program.

Deadline to Apply: July 31st, 2025. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible.