We're excited to announce that 25 teams have been selected to participate in the Spring 2018 Ignite Fellowship. The Ignite Fellowship is a peer-to-peer mentorship program for startups founded by current NYU students, researchers, and faculty in any field. The fellowship has grown from one to four cohorts with the mission of giving one-to-one coaching, peer-based mentorship and lessons learned from startup veterans and industry experts.

Each week, teams learn how to apply lean skills to reach their venture objectives by the end of the program. Each venture is expected to contribute best practices on day-to-day operations and growth while taking advantage of extensive coaching with Blackstone LaunchPad mentors, and access to exclusive perks and benefits.  The Ignite Fellowship is made up of four cohorts:

• Ignite Alpha, Tuesday's from 12:00 - 1:30 PM
• Ignite Beta, Wednesday's from 2:00 - 3:30 PM
• Ignite Pre-Seed, bi-weekly on Wednesday's from 12:00 - 1:30 PM, and
• Ignite Health, bi-weekly on Thursday's from 9:00 - 10:30 AM

Ignite Alpha

Ignite Alpha is comprised of six teams in the early stages of venture development.

Aduri is a meditation system designed to inspire more engaged, intentional, and mindful living. Their first product connects a physical, multi-sensory environment with live digital content to support the user in becoming a more consistent and engaged meditator. Jesal Trivedi (NYU Tisch/ITP ‘17). 

MLTRONS is an intelligent, predictive forecasting tool using Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning algorithms to manage supply chains efficiently, and mitigate the bullwhip effect for fashion retailers. Muddassar Sharif (NYU Shanghai ‘18).

motivote is a digital engagement platform that uses behavioral economics to help young people hold themselves and their peers accountable to vote. Emily Graham (NYU Wagner '18), Rachel Konowitz (NYU Wagner '18), Jessica Riegel (NYU Wagner '18). 

Smart Fire Technologies creates electronic and mechanical attachable accessories for firearms that distinguish users and restrict unauthorized access, with the goal of increasing firearm safety. Erik Bertel Humlen (NYU Tandon ‘18), Richard Vo (NYU Tandon ‘19).

Sunthetics provides a technique that allows nylon manufacturers to employ sustainable production methods in the fashion industry by offering a solar-powered pathway to manufacture an environmentally-friendly nylon precursor. Daniela Blanco (NYU Tandon '21), Myriam Sbeiti (NYU Tandon '18). 

Techa is a web platform that allows new media creator to showcase their work, gain more community visibility, and connect with other people. Yuli Cai (NYU Tisch/ITP 17' ), Michelle Hessel (NYU Tisch/ITP  '17).

Ignite Beta 

Ignite Beta is comprised of four teams in the early stages of venture development.

Acadub helps underserved high school students make more informed college decisions through AI-driven, on-demand, near-peer advising. Mi Sophia Lu (NYU Steinhardt  '18), Mimi Ton (NYU CAS '19)

bLOCK&Key aims to decrease the amount of time Airbnb hosts spend exchanging keys and increase the hosts' ability to control have on who enters their property. Ryan Steffen (NYU Stern '19), Jon Kastelan (NYU CUSP '18).

Grocer8 is a website where people can quickly search reviews and ratings to figure out the best-tasting packaged foods that fit their preferences. Emily Wallen (NYU Stern '18), Divya Jayachandran (NYU Stern '18). 

NGEMS is an Emergency Response System that gives first responders information about building occupancy and layout in order to help rescue victims during an emergency. Chetan Avinash Hasabnis (NYU Tisch/ITP ‘18).

Ignite Pre-Seed 

Ignite Pre-Seed is comprised of recent NYU graduates and postdocs that have shown significant progress towards validating problem-market fit, prototyping, business development, fundraising, and team-building. Five out of seven cohort members participated in the NYU Summer Launchpad Accelerator between 2015-2017, and three have gone on to complete in the Techstars NYC accelerator.

Acculis is a workflow management software to reduce the complexity of BIM management through a single collaborative platform. Increase communication across teams by providing access to 3D models and real-time project data. Acculis completed the NYC Media Lab’s Combine and the 1776 Accelerator. 
Darren Yee (NYU Tandon ‘16), Chris Lysiuk (NYU Tandon ‘15),  Ada Slusarczyk (NYU Tandon ‘17), Nick Molinski (NYU Tandon ‘16).

Ephemeral Tattoos creates bio-engineered inks that are applied the same way as traditional tattoos but have a shorter lifespan – giving you the freedom to get tattoos without a lifetime commitment. Ephemeral completed the Winter 2017 Techstars NYC cohort. Seung Shin (NYU Tandon ‘15) and Joshua Sakhai (NYU Stern ‘17).

Geopipe uses clever algorithms to turn 2D and 3D data into highly detailed 3D virtual models. Geopipe completed the NYC Media Lab’s Combine, Summer 2017 Techstars NYC cohort and won the 2017 $100K NYU Technology Venture Competition sponsored the NYU Entrepreneurial Institute as part of  W.R. Berkley Innovation Labs’ $300K Entrepreneurs Challenge. Christopher Mitchell (NYU Courant ‘15).

My WellBeing matches patients with therapists and schedules initial consultations to help patients begin therapy and help therapists grow their caseloads. My Wellbeing has been accepted into the Rent the Runway Foundation's 2018 Project Entrepreneur Venture Competition program. Alyssa Petersel (NYU Silver ‘17).

Pepper is a direct-to-consumer startup that makes better-fitting bras for small-chested women. Pepper has been accepted into the Rent the Runway Foundation's 2018 Project Entrepreneur Venture Competition program.  Lia Winograd (NYU Stern '19). 

Pierre Henry creates dress socks that are innovative and fun for men. Their socks have a double, comfortable elastic to ensure they stay on and are made from 100% cotton for maximum comfort. Alejandro Alvarez  (NYU Stern '19). 

ShopDrop helps NYC fashion lovers discover sample sales so they can dress in brands they love for prices they can afford. ShopDrop has been accepted into the Rent the Runway Foundation's 2018 Project Entrepreneur Venture Competition program. Estee Goldschmidt (NYU Stern ‘17).

Ignite Health

This is a new cohort of current NYU students, postdocs, researchers, and medical professionals that have shown progress towards validating problem-solution fit, prototyping, and team building. Two ventures from past cohorts have completed the NSF-I Corps program.

FoodPeriod designs functional food products that help women have great periods, naturally. Britt Martin (NYU GSAS '18) & Jenn Kim.

GeneCentrix is an online computational tool to profile small molecules for drug discovery researchers in pharma and biotech companies to better predict adverse effects before the clinic. GeneCentrix completed the NSF I-Corps program. Doreen Tivon (NYU Langone Health) and Klara Felsovalyi (NYU Langone Health).

HealthHuddle is a patient safety platform that intelligently integrates and displays vital patient information for nurses and quality improvement teams in order to reduce hospital-associated complications. The team met through the NYU Healthcare Makerthon in October. In addition to Ignite, they are also participating in the InnoVention Competition. Sabina Braverman (NYU Wagner '18), Kerim Davis (NYU Langone), Andrew Dempsey (NYU Tandon '18), Danny Silk (NYU Wagner '18), and Sushant Thomas (NYU CAS '19).

Levitas creates a wearable activity monitor to help caregivers keep track of their patients and prevent needless injury due to patient accidents in hospitals and nursing homes. Amar Seoparson (NYU Tandon ‘17) and Anthony Oganov (NYU CAS ‘17).

PAYENT is a medical bill payment platform that offers simplified payment solutions to the complex process of out-of-pocket billing. Kyung Hoon Lee (NYU Wagner ‘18).

qMind is a hardware solution with the quantitative means for evaluation of the quality of meditation for individuals concerned about their mental well-being. qMind completed the NSF-I Corps program. Dino Dvorak (NYU FAS) and Andre Fenton (NYU FAS).

Trybe is an app that encourages chronically ill patients to achieve their daily physical exercise goals in order to improve the overall quality of life. Trybe utilizes gamification principles and exercise challenges while leveraging the patient's immediate social structure to incentivize and reinforce positive habits. The app also helps the patient's healthcare team to monitor day-to-day progress giving them the insights necessary to improve and alter treatment. Skyla Li (NYU SPS '18), Tingyan Huang (NYU Wagner '18), Jason Chen (NYU Tandon '18), Daniel Wolkowitz (NYU Courant '19).

Ximio creates wearable devices consisting of smartwatches that are interconnected into a team system to monitor, organize, support, and document Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) efforts during in-hospital and outpatient cardiopulmonary arrest scenarios (“codes”). Beno Oppenheimer (NYU Langone Health Faculty).

Access to Ignite is by invitation only. If you are interested in learning more about the Ignite Fellowship, please email the Blackstone LaunchPad at blackstonelaunchpad@nyu.edu.