Student Innovators Earn Capital to Launch their Ventures
This past Friday, May 9th, the Mason Innovation Exchange (MIX) at George Mason University was alive with energy, inspiration, and the bold spirit of student entrepreneurship. The occasion? The finale of the Student Innovator Mastermind, a 12-week accelerator program that empowers first-time founders to transform their ideas into viable ventures, organized and taught by the Assistant Director of Entrepreneurship Programs Lisa Shapiro.
The event welcomed mentors, judges, and supporters from across the region to witness the culmination of months of hard work by ten extraordinary student entrepreneurs. Each founder took to the stage to pitch their venture—showcasing not just business potential, but vision, grit, and purpose.
EduVerse, presented by Jagan Yetukuri. Photo credits to Zachary Suh.
Best Pitch went to Jagan Yetukuri for EduVerse, an AI-powered education platform. His clear, compelling pitch impressed the judges and earned him the $500 prize presented by Next powered by Shulman Rogers, with Anthony Millin, Co-Chair, personally awarding the check.
UniTrade awarded the Outstanding Pitch award by Adam H. Phillips of AthletesInnovate Ventures. Photo credits to Zachary Suh.
Outstanding Pitch was awarded to Pete Pongpeauk, who presented Unitrade, a student marketplace platform. Pete’s passionate pitch resonated deeply with the judges and secured him a $250 prize, presented by longtime supporter Adam H. Phillips of AthletesInnovate Ventures.
Though only two awards were given, every student showed the entrepreneurial spark needed to build real-world solutions—tackling issues across AI, sustainability, education, and social impact.
Anthony Millin, a guest judge shares, "I was very impressed by the Student Innovator Mastermind Pitch showcase."
Sergio Sotelo E, a guest and mentor shares a word that speak to the heart of this program:
“Programs like this foster a growth mindset that empowers students not just to build businesses, but to pursue their purpose with passion and resilience. All the projects were inspiring, but I’m especially proud to have been your mentor, Jagan!”
Tom Solitario, who reflected:
“These student entrepreneurs are not just dreaming—they’re doing. From groundbreaking AI solutions to innovations in healthcare and sustainability, the sophistication of these pitches was remarkable. GMU is shaping the next generation of innovators.”
Thank you to Zachary Suh, our peer pitch mentor and event photographer, for capturing the day's magic.
"This program is a labor of love, built to empower our young first-time founders with the mentorship, tools, and knowledge they need to turn ideas into real ventures that could change the world! But to keep the momentum going, we need ongoing financial support and sponsorship. If you’re passionate about supporting student innovation, we invite you to join us in fueling this work as we prepare for the Fall 2025 cohort," said Lisa Shapiro
Special thanks to our incredible judges: Anthony Millin, Adam H. Phillips, Eta Nahapetian, and Tom Solitario, whose thoughtful feedback and support are invaluable to our program. The MIX extends heartfelt gratitude to the accelerator speakers, including Mary Tracy Glerum, George Siragusa, Timm Johnson, Jordan Higgins, Beulah Toth, Natalie Foley, Jen Dalton, and Gisele Stolz, as well as our dedicated mentors: Scott Hine, Reggie Holmes, Jackie Luo, Gopa Nair, Halleh F. Seyson, Sergio Sotelo E., Lisa Rosser, and Kristen Taylor.
Special mention of our student founders—Jagan Yetukuri, Momin Kaleem, Bethlehem B., Antara T., Ankit Kumar, Samnang Thorn, Pete Pongpeauk, Biswesh Dhungana, Dhanush Kandukuri, Simon Mulaa, and Saanvi Munigela—who are all working towards dedicated goals for the future of our world.
Final Showcase judges sharing feedback to Samnang Thorn, an inventor. Photo credits to Zachary Suh.
