Real Teams, Real Growth: Stories from the MIX Spring 2026 Innovators Launchpad
Davi Lima (Willis Technologies) receiving the second-place prizes from Adam Phillips (AthletesInnovate)
Real Teams, Real Growth: Stories from the MIX celebrates the student innovators who turn curiosity into action and ideas into momentum. Through a carefully curated, intentional curriculum designed by Gisele Stolz and Sampson Addo, integrated with the NSF I-Corps, and supported by numerous mentors, panelists, and sponsors, the teams share the following insights on how the program has benefited them and what they would share with aspiring innovators. Each team’s journey shows how community, mentorship, and hands‑on experimentation at the MIX help entrepreneurs grow faster and dream bigger. Read about the final pitch event here.
Mosy (First Prize Winner)
Mosy is building smart rodent control technology for warehouses.
“The program gave us a great place to begin our entrepreneurial journey in an approachable and educational way. It met us where we were as early-stage students and gave us the confidence to pitch our idea even if it was far from perfect. It taught us how to refine our idea through real customer discovery. Without the customers we spoke to, we would have never gathered all the perspectives we needed to iterate on our idea and make it closer to “great.” A good startup idea is shaped by a need. The pivots we realized we had to make after speaking to potential customers are what eventually led us to the right place. Most importantly, the program also changed how we think about pitching: a good pitch is always a story that speaks to an audience, and becoming a better pitcher means becoming a better storyteller.
Don’t wait until you think you’re ready, you’ll never feel 100% ready. This program meets you exactly where you are, and the mentorship, the curriculum and pitch practice will take you further than you’d expect. Just show up, work hard, and be open to being challenged.
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BioxVerse.AI
BioxVerse.AI is an autonomous AI care coordinator that executes healthcare administration on behalf of patients and caregivers — so nothing gets missed, delayed, or dropped.
“The I-Corps customer discovery process was the most valuable part. It forced me out of my assumptions and into real conversations with patients, caregivers, and clinicians. That evidence became the foundation of everything — my pitch, my wedge, my conviction. The mentorship from people who understood both healthcare and early-stage startups made me sharper and more confident as a founder.
If you have an idea you believe in, this program will either validate it or make it stronger — either way, you come out ahead. The structure, mentors, and community are unlike anything else available to student founders. Just apply.
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Willis Technologies (Second Prize Winner)
Willis Technologies is developing a simple, handheld screening tool that quickly checks for potential issues with blood flow to the brain during a routine visit, making early detection more accessible in primary care.
Davi Souza Lima, MS Bioengineering, represents Willis Technologies as the Entrepreneurial Lead. Dr. Siddhartha Sikdar is a Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at George Mason University, the Director of George Mason’s Center for Adaptive Systems of Brain-Body Interactions (CASBBI), and the team’s Engineering Lead. Their clinical faculty advisor is Dr. Kirk Beach, Professor Emeritus of Bioengineering at the University of Washington.
DNS Quantum Cryptography Monitor
DNS Quantum Cryptography Monitor helps organizations assess their readiness for post-quantum cryptography and identify what needs to be fixed.
Their technology is in development with Dr. Jean-Pierre Auffret, Director, Research Partnerships in the Costello College of Business, and Director, Center for Assurance Research and Engineering in the College of Engineering and Computing at George Mason University.
“The program helped us refine our problem statement, validate our idea through customer discovery, and improve how we communicate our solution in a clear and compelling way. We would highly recommend the MIX Innovators Launchpad to anyone interested in building a startup it provides hands-on experience, valuable mentorship, and helps turn ideas into well-structured ventures.
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Local Decode
Local Decode develops microchip designs that enable AI processing on programmable chips (FPGAs), allowing AI software companies to deliver robust applications with predictable operational costs.
“The biggest benefit was the ability to talk with investors and mentors with real experience and success in business.
Don’t hesitate with customer interviews. Go out there, meet people, and ask questions. Sometimes you find leads and paths forward that you never expected.
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Beyond The Teams
Words of Wisdom
Jagan Yetukuri, founder of EduVerse and a recent winner at the 2026 Patriot Pitch competition, joined our cohort to share candid insights on the founder journey and offer encouragement to emerging student entrepreneurs. Just one year ago, Jagan completed a MIX student entrepreneurship program, the Mason NSF I‑Corps program, and became a MIX Incubator resident—steps that helped him build momentum as he attended pitch competitions, engaged with the startup community, and made full use of MIX resources. His story is a reminder that there are many opportunities ahead for founders who stay curious, keep iterating, and take advantage of the support around them. Read more about Jagan here.
Sampson Addo, I-Corps Manager, Gisele Stolz, Senior Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programs, I-Corps Director, and Minjin Batzorig, MIX Program and Operations Coordinator.
