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Please join us in welcoming the newest members of the NYU Female Founders Circle community!
The NYU Female Founders Fellowship provides community support, training, mentorship, networking, and grant opportunities to entrepreneurs at NYU building scalable, differentiated ventures who are committed to advancing gender equity in entrepreneurship. Fellows get fully plugged into NYU’s ecosystem of resources, and are invited to apply for student loan alleviation grants of up to $30,000 each following their graduation from NYU. These grants help to reduce financial burdens, which can be significant barriers to starting a startup. The financial assistance is made possible through the generous support of the program’s lead donor: Entrepreneur and NYU alumnus Mark Leslie (WSC ‘66, Trustee), and his wife, Debra.
In addition to the Fellowship, we run a sister program for founders whose ventures are at an earlier stage: The Female Founders Circle. The Circle comes with several benefits, including:
- Invite-only monthly peer group events with other members of the Female Founders Circle
- Invites to special social and networking events
- 1:1 mentorship with external mentors and priority office hours with Entrepreneurial Institute coaches
- Automatic interviews for the next Summer Launchpad Accelerator or Tech Venture Accelerator
- Automatic interviews for the Max Stenbeck Venture Equity Program
- The opportunity to apply for up to $30,000 in grants to help pay down their student loans after graduation from NYU
We're looking for extraordinary entrepreneurs to join our Female Founders Community! Interested in joining the Circle or Fellowship's Fall ‘24 cohorts? RSVP for an info session on 4/10 or 4/19, and submit your application by May 13 at 6pm ET.
This spring, we're thrilled to welcome the following members into the Circle:
Binyan (Michelle) Xu (Tisch ‘23)
Founder of OPlay
OPlay is an AR-based video app that helps family members (particularly the elderly) who do not physically live together to create shared family experiences through reading, learning, and playing. This is possible by making customized story-time videos using Augmented Reality effect, animation and sound.
Michelle is a researcher at Tisch ITP and the NYU Ability Project who is working to improve well-being through XR storytelling.
Catherine Zhao (GSAS ‘24)
Co-Founder of InsightFlow
Insightflow is an AI-driven user video analysis platform that saves users time by analyzing their interviews and allowing them to present their research findings with quantified evidence, supporting quotes, and videos to other stakeholders in a compelling manner. Insightflow revolutionizes the user research process for software companies by providing an AI-driven user insight platform. The platform is designed for qualitative UX researchers and product designers, streamlining their workflow and saving valuable time. By automating the analysis of user interviews, Insightflow empowers researchers to present their findings with quantified evidence, supporting quotes, and videos to cross-functional teams. This enables teams to make informed decisions and create compelling user experiences.
Catherine is currently pursuing her master's in Experimental Psychology and acting as a UX researcher. While previously working as a mixed-methods UX researcher at a software company in San Francisco, she noticed shortcomings in existing UX tools and was inspired to create a more robust solution to address these pain points and empower UX researchers.
Charlotte Zhang (Steinhardt ‘24)
Founder & CEO of SpaceDog Tattoo
SpaceDog Tattoo provides stories with temporary tattoos to uplift children's creativity. By integrating storytelling with uniquely designed temporary tattoos, the startup aims to provide a fun and engaging learning experience in the arts for children.
Christina Borao (CAS ‘24)
Co-Founder & CEO of Synaptrix Labs
Synaptrix Labs is a neurotechnology company committed to empowering paralyzed individuals and improving lives through the development of novel, non-invasive brain-computer interface solutions. Synaptrix is building Neuralis, an EEG integrated headband that allows tetraplegic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) patients to move their wheelchairs from brain activity alone, as current wheelchair control systems remain cumbersome and socially unacceptable and prove difficult to maintain through patients' occupational therapists. Synaptrix's mission is to utilize cutting-edge technologies to enhance the quality of life for patients with ALS and SCI, offering them new avenues for communication and interaction with the world around them.
Christina is a senior studying Computer Science and Economic Theory and oversees operations at Synaptrix.
Gladys Henriquez (Steinhardt ‘26)
Founder & CEO of Discover and Glow
Discover and Glow is an organization focused on helping people live better lives through awareness, education, and connection to needed services and resources. It helps caregivers of children who have been recently diagnosed with autism t0 navigate the stressful, time-consuming, and unmanageable process of acquiring necessary services by connecting them with localized clinicians and organizations. This is done through a central AI-based platform that facilitates immediate, reliable, and affordable services, including accurate evaluations and diagnoses, behavioral and occupational therapy, and affordable child care and schooling that accommodates the needs of their children.
Gladys is an entrepreneur, activist, and creative who is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Mental Health and Wellness Counseling. She believes in the power of education and is extremely passionate about helping future generations live more fulfilled lives.
Lena Renshaw (Stern ‘25)
CEO of Skylight
Skylight is an energy audit software for energy consultants seeking to help small to midsize building owners and operators perform ASHRAE Level 1 energy audits in order to comply with new local regulations.
Lena is a former climate tech startup engineer who is pursuing her MBA.
Olive Liu (GSAS ‘24)
Co-Founder of Insightflow
Insightflow is an AI-driven user video analysis platform that saves users time by analyzing their interviews and allowing them to present their research findings with quantified evidence, supporting quotes, and videos to other stakeholders in a compelling manner. Insightflow revolutionizes the user research process for software companies by providing an AI-driven user insight platform. The platform is designed for qualitative UX researchers and product designers, streamlining their workflow and saving valuable time. By automating the analysis of user interviews, Insightflow empowers researchers to present their findings with quantified evidence, supporting quotes, and videos to cross-functional teams. This enables teams to make informed decisions and create compelling user experiences.
Olivia is a mixed-method UX researcher with a background in experimental psychology. She creates research-driven strategies that address both user and business needs.
Qiuyi (Eva) Ouyang (SPS ‘24)
Marketing Manager of Lollitune
Lollitune is a zero-sugar bone conduction lollipop that transmits sound through vibration from teeth to the brain to provide multi-sensory experiences that fulfill curiosity, interests, gifting, and parenting needs. The startup leverages innovative bone conduction technology to create a sugar-free lollipop that offers a unique, interactive listening experience by tapping into the health-conscious consumer market and modern parenting trends.
Qiuyi is pursuing a degree in Integrated Marketing. With a rich professional background spanning both China and the US, she brings a diverse range of experiences to the table. Qiuyi is proficient in social media management and content creation and possesses a keen eye for crafting engaging narratives and fostering online communities.
Rachel Stav (CAS ‘26)
Co-Founder of Ave
Ave is a community support group for undergraduate girls majoring in STEM and finance programs. It aims to address the prevalent sense of isolation among members by establishing a supportive community, fostering a collaborative environment, and ultimately enhancing their academic experiences.
A sophomore at NYU, Rachel spends her free time going to museums, reading, and shopping.
Riho Hagi (Tisch ‘24)
Founder & CEO of Accessibility AI
Accessibility AI is a tool that automates accessibility compliance to help e-commerce startups and SMBs avoid lawsuits related to ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) violations.
Riho has a background in software engineering and holds a master’s degree in computer science. She has worked as a software engineer in Japan for seven years, specializing in web applications.
Talia Daneshrad (Steinhardt ‘25)
Co-Founder of Renuva
Renuva is an AI-powered marketing content creation platform that helps full-time private practice dietitians connect and onboard motivated clients in a shorter amount of time.
Talia has a passion for health and is currently completing a bachelor's in Nutritional Psychology. She also plans to pursue a master’s in Food Studies and Nutrition at NYU.
Trisha Gupta (CAS ‘26)
Co-Founder of Ave
Ave is a community support group for undergraduate girls majoring in STEM and finance programs. It aims to address the prevalent sense of isolation among members by establishing a supportive community, fostering a collaborative environment, and ultimately enhancing their academic experiences.
Trisha is a sophomore majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Integrated Design Media. She grew up in Houston, New Delhi, and Dubai. In her free time she enjoys going on long walks and runs outdoors, reading memoirs, and sightseeing.
Valentina Vencato (Postdoc, NYU Center for Neural Science)
Entrepreneurial Lead of PsyMod
PsyMod is a startup that aims to develop a device to combine electroencephalography and neuromodulation technology, with the goal of curing treatment-resistant depression.
Valentina holds a PhD in integrative neuroscience and is currently working as Postdoctoral Associate in the NYU Center for Neural Science. Valentina has 10+ years of international research experience, with extensive experience in experiment design and data analysis.
Zahava Weissbuch (GPH ‘25)
Founder & CEO of Minx
Minx is a sexual health platform that curates content for young women based on expertise from sex therapists and other sexual health professionals, in addition to information drawn from nuanced conversations with sex workers. Minx is a multi-faceted platform that offers young women communication about the empowering elements of sex, while also providing clinical knowledge about the autonomy and anatomy related to sex.
Zahava is a first-year masters student who is passionate about sexual health and helping people better understand their bodies.
