The NYU Innovation Venture Fund welcomes the first 12 ventures selected for the Max Stenbeck Venture Equity Program, including faculty, staff and student-led ventures from across 12 different schools at NYU. The program aims to help NYU founders committed to diversity, equity and inclusion learn the fundamentals of fundraising, to help them assess whether venture funding is a fit for their startup and if so, to equip them with the knowledge and tools to navigate the fundraising process successfully.
From the end of this October through mid December, the founders of these ventures will take part in five invite-only workshops with venture capital investors and seasoned founders. The sessions will be led by the NYU’s Innovation Venture Fund team, startup lawyers, VCs, and venture-backed founders. Confirmed speakers include founders of Ephemeral Tattoo, She Matters, Rilla, MyWellbeing, HealthBoxed, Funnel Leasing, The Diversity Org, Statespace (Aimlab), Mighty, She Matters and GigFinesse, investors from 500 Startups, Techstars, 2048 Ventures, HearstLab, The Council, Alumni Ventures and Flat World Partners, legal guidance from Brown Rudnick, and our partners at NYU OGI.
Please meet the first cohort of ventures in the Max Stenbeck Venture Equity Program:
Alluder is a video annotation app for film and tv content, enabling emerging filmmakers the ability to better monetize, market, and distribute their early work.
Founders: Aaron Peterson (CAS ‘24), Adam Peterson (CAS ‘15), Tara Wilson (CAS ‘14)
Participated In: Startup Bootcamp, Startup Sprint, Summer Launchpad
Jivika reduces frontline health worker burnout and attrition by teaching mindfulness through micro-habits via a series of workshops and daily micro-habit training.
Founders: Ayman Mukerji (Silver ‘21), Tapan Mukerji
Participated In: Startup Bootcamp, Startup Sprint, Summer Launchpad, Female Founders Fellowship
LikeHome is a shopping platform offering curated furniture and home decor recommendations to style-conscious individuals, that integrates their unique style, spatial, and budgetary concerns.
Founders: Milo Schindler (Gallatin ‘22), Angela Shen-Hsieh
Participated In: Startup Bootcamp, Startup Sprint
Resist is shaking up the "bro-tein" aisle with science-backed, plant-based protein bars designed to support hormone & blood sugar health with a clinically proven slow blood sugar response! We make it easy for the 163M+ Americans with hormonal disorders from diabetes to PCOS to snack on-the-go.
Founders: Drew Lederman (Tisch ‘20), Emily Cohen (Steinhardt ‘22)
Participated In: Startup Bootcamp, Startup Sprint, Summer Launchpad, Female Founders Fellowship
Rodeo is an e-commerce channel for the creator economy, with a suite of tools to power the future of social commerce. For GenZ shoppers, Rodeo is the destination to shop products featured in social content. For brands and creators, Rodeo is the infrastructure to scale marketing efforts.
Founders: Lindsay Perper (Stern ‘23), Samantha Pelletier
Participated In: Startup Bootcamp, Startup Sprint, Summer Launchpad, Female Founders Fellowship
Sector builds outcomes tracking software to help job seekers, educators, and skilling organizations in the US drive and report their job placement outcomes in one platform. Sector’s tools are informed by our teams’ experience coaching 1,000+ low-wage workers into technology careers.
Founders: Riley Jones IV (Law ‘20), Amina Yamusah
Participated In: Summer Launchpad, Leslie eLab Founders in Residence
Sipple is a smart device that attaches to a baby bottle. Sipple evaluates feeding performance, offering parents real-time guidance, and providing clinicians with objective metrics to support infant health.
Founders: Vitaly Shlimovich (Stern ‘22), Caroline Martinez, MD (SPS ‘22)
Participated In: Startup Bootcamp, Startup Sprint
Techfunic offers affordable, small group video tutoring in tech, math & language for students ages 5 & older.
The small groups are based upon age & skill level thereby promoting peer learning & social tolerance.
Founder: Ann Andrews (Stern ‘24)
Participated In: Startup Sprint, Summer Launchpad, Female Founders Fellowship
Trousso is a modern resale platform making upscale wedding wear accessible and sustainable for the next generation of Brides.
Founders: Erica Ramos (Stern ‘23), Justina Breen
Participated In: Startup Bootcamp, Startup Sprint, Summer Launchpad, Female Founders Fellowship, Leslie eLab Founders in Residence
ViBiller’s wearable device tracks physiological markers of emotion in real time. These signals trigger sound and light experiences for immersive live music events, offering venue managers the opportunity to increase audience engagement.
Founders: Dana Bevilacqua (GSAS Staff), Claire Pelofi, PhD (GSAS Postdoc), Pablo Ripollés, PhD (FAS Faculty)
Participated in: Tech Venture Workshop, Female Founders Fellowship, NSF I-Corps
VisiHealth Technologies has developed a wearable ocular imaging device and teleophthalmology ecosystem for remote comprehensive eye exams for diabetic patients in primary care clinics.
Founders: Lama Al-Aswad, MD (Fmr. Staff Medicine), Dinah Chen, MD (Staff Medicine), Vipul Patel (Staff Medicine)
Participated in: Tech Venture Workshop, NSF I-Corps
Vital Audio
Vital Audio measures patients’ heart rates during telehealth appointments, using regular phone audio without additional hardware.
Founders: Nyamitse-Calvin Mahinda (Tandon ‘24), Harsh Sonthalia (Tandon ‘22)
Participated in: Tech Venture Workshop
Honoring Max Stenbeck's Legacy
The Max Stenbeck Venture Equity Program honors the life and legacy of entrepreneur and philanthropist Max Stenbeck. Max Stenbeck was a passionate believer in technology for good, as well as an advocate for equal opportunities and for the rights of vulnerable children. The Max Stenbeck Charitable Fund will continue to give back in his legacy, including through the generous support of the Max Stenbeck Venture Equity Program at NYU.
