𝟳 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗠𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲

I’ve had a front-row seat to something genuinely encouraging: a wave of startups that are solving real problems, generating revenue (or will soon), and making a tangible impact.

Over the past few months, I’ve met founders through Columbia University’s Almaworks, Columbia Business School’s Lang Fund, NYU’s Entrepreneurs Challenge, UMass Amherst’s Berthiaume Center, and the Hult Foundation. 

What stood out wasn’t just the ideas, but the intention behind them and the tenacity to see them through. Below is a small cross-section of teams that left a lasting impression, listed in alphabetical order. I was impressed by many others, too, but I wanted to highlight a cross-section of the problems being solved.

AISA Solutions is a socially driven startup to address the daily challenges faced by deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Amirali Rezaei

Brainbox detects cognitive decline and mental health disorders years in advance by analyzing hundreds of cognitive markers from everyday conversations. Rishi Kanchi

CRIO Systems assists municipalities with continual monitoring, inspection, operations, and preservation of critical infrastructure. Michael Sansone

Foregger Energy Solutions (FES) is a cleantech startup developing retrofit kits to hybridize refrigerated trucking trailers. Lassiter Foregger

Neatly Health records your medical appointments, translates provider jargon into plain language, and helps you figure out what to do next. Larry Cordisco 

Oaken is an AI speaking skills training video game that helps people build confidence and

relationships. Michael Shen

Pupil is an identity-driven college guidance platform that helps high school students explore colleges and careers with relatable near-peer mentors. Dario Anaya

If any of these startups resonate with you, they’d welcome your support.

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"Seven Startups That Left Me More Optimistic About the Future" photo by Josh T. Nwozor.

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