Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. President at Ohio State University | Twitter Website
Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. President at Ohio State University | Twitter Website
Six student-led ventures each secured $50,000 in startup funding at the President’s Buckeye Accelerator Finale on April 3. This marked the culmination of a yearlong program organized by The Ohio State University’s Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship to aid student founders in their business development journey.
The event featured pitches from 11 student teams aiming to tackle challenges in diverse industries, including health care, sustainability, space technology, and community food access.
“This is the fourth cohort of the President’s Buckeye Accelerator, and the growth in ambition and quality each year has been incredible to watch,” stated Cheryl Turnbull, senior director of the Keenan Center. She added that students are addressing challenges in both established and emerging industries and creating ventures that reflect their academic strengths and commitment to meaningful impact.
The six ventures awarded funding include Phoenix Battery Company, KINO, SPAERO Systems, MemorEase, Astraeus Paints, and Mobile Pantry. Phoenix Battery Company focuses on repurposing decommissioned electric vehicle batteries. KINO offers a platform to simplify fitness tracking. SPAERO Systems created SWAN, a technology to prevent mold in spacecraft. MemorEase provides support tools for caregivers. Astraeus Paints designed color-changing paint to detect hazardous radiation in spacecraft. Mobile Pantry connects food banks and pantries with volunteers for streamlined deliveries.
Katherine Cruz, a second-year public health major, co-founded MemorEase inspired by her family’s struggle in caring for her mother with dementia. “My dad was in a constant state of crisis. There was no roadmap to follow,” Cruz explained. “MemorEase is designed to give caregivers a centralized, reliable tool that helps them find support and take care of themselves, too.”
SPAERO Systems was founded by brothers Ian and Nikolas Harris. Ian, a doctoral student, and Nikolas, a first-year student, developed SWAN as a sanitation solution for spacecraft. “We saw this urgent gap in spacecraft hygiene and mold prevention, especially with longer missions on the horizon,” Ian Harris commented.
The Harris brothers aim to contribute to future space health and safety. “As NASA and private space companies expand their missions, we want to be part of making that future more sustainable and secure,” Nikolas Harris noted.
Interested individuals can learn more about the President’s Buckeye Accelerator through the program’s website.
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