McKelvey Engineering students among Skandalaris Venture Competition winners
Skandalaris Center awards $50,000 to WashU startups
Three of the winning startups in the Washington University Skandalaris Venture Competition (SVC), hosted by the Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship, included students from the McKelvey School of Engineering.
At the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Awards ceremony Nov. 20, the CERV, WUWA Textiles and Connect teams were among the winners of a total of $50,000 in awards.
- CERV is a FemTech startup that aims to enhance maternal health care by improving labor monitoring with a novel medical device that will ensure accurate, comfortable and continuous cervical dilation measurements. Members: Elizabeth Buzbee, Sandy Montgomery and Annika Avula, all master’s students in biomedical engineering.
- WUWA Textiles is reimagining cardboard coffee sleeves with post-industrial textile waste. Members: Mac Barnes, a junior majoring in computer science with a second major in art; Lucia Umbreit, a junior majoring in chemical engineering; and Rachel Charendoff, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering.
- Connect is a video chat/messaging platform for high schoolers to find college and career guidance from alumni and parents from their community. Members: Michael Lee, a junior majoring in computer science and mathematics with a second major in economics; Fortuna Kadima, a junior majoring in computer science with a second major in finance; and Ethan Ng, a sophomore majoring in computer science.
The competition aims to empower student-led startups across WashU to grow and make an impact in their respective industries. Chosen out of 16 finalists, 10 SVC winners were awarded a total of $50,000 — an increase from $25,000 in previous competition cycles — to help advance their startups to the next level, thanks to the support from sponsors Bob Skandalaris, Connie Fry and Morin Hanson.
CERV and WUWA textiles each received $3,000 in Innovator Funding, which supports startups that the Skandalaris Center thinks show promise and potential, providing initial funding to explore their concepts further. Connect received Disruptor Funding of up to $7,500, which supports startups refining their product and enables them to advance toward market readiness.
Applications for the next cycle of the Skandalaris Venture Competition will open in early January 2025. All current WashU students and WashU alumni within one year of graduation with an early-stage venture or idea are encouraged to apply.
Members from each of the three teams describe the impact of the funding below:
Sandy Montogmery, CERV:
CERV is a FemTech startup developing a noninvasive, real-time device to measure cervical dilation during labor. The idea originated from our senior design project in biomedical engineering. During our research, we identified significant challenges associated with traditional cervical dilation measurements and saw an opportunity to address an unmet need in labor and delivery care. During the 2023-24 school year, we developed our first prototype, laying the foundation for CERV. Since then, we have been focused on building our startup to bring our vision to life!
Winning this competition is a huge milestone for CERV. The funding will go toward refining our prototype, purchasing a physiological model for preclinical testing, and filing our utility patent. It also demonstrates to us that we are on the right track. We will use this momentum to apply for more funding to continue our development.
Mac Barnes, WUWA Textiles:
WUWA Textiles started in the E329 Independent Study: Engineering Statistics and Startups course in McKelvey Engineering. After looking at the strengths and interests of the team, we felt like the problem of textile waste was best for us to tackle, and we have fallen in love with the problem ever since. Our most recent prototype, use of shredded textile waste to make a more effective coffee sleeve, that we took with us to the SVC competition solves this problem.
Our funding will be used to make better prototypes we can take to potential customers. The Skandalaris Center will be and already has been great for connecting us with the experts who can both help us technologically and with relationships to said potential customers, not to mention guidance on next steps as a company as we flesh out our business model.
Michael Lee, Connect:
In high school, I used LinkedIn, but I quickly realized that most people weren't interested in engaging with a high schooler. That’s why I joined Connect — to create a platform where high school students can connect with mentors, peers and professionals in a way that’s meaningful and supportive, helping them build the relationships and networks they need to thrive.
Fortuna Kadima, Connect:
Connect is a social network designed specifically for education, where students, teachers, alumni, parents and peers come together to share knowledge, resources and opportunities. Unlike general social media, Connect fosters a collaborative environment focused on academic success, career growth and personal development. By connecting students with a network of mentors, including alumni, high-achieving peers and parents, the platform helps them access valuable advice and guidance, creating a supportive community that empowers them to navigate their educational journeys with confidence and purpose.
The Skandalaris win is a game-changer for Connect, opening exciting opportunities to enhance our platform and reach even more educators and students. With the funding, we plan to accelerate the development of our mobile app, making it more accessible and user-friendly for students, teachers and parents on the go. Additionally, the win will allow us to attend more education conferences, where we can showcase Connect’s impact, gain valuable insights and expand our network of educators, school leaders and tech innovators.
Ethan Ng, Connect:
In high school, I only used Naviance once in all four years, and it never felt like the right tool to help me explore my options or connect with the resources I needed. I wish I had something more accessible and useful during that time. That’s why I’m driven to build a platform that offers high school students a better, more personalized way to navigate their future — something that truly supports them in exploring colleges, careers and connections throughout their high school journey.
