We’re excited to announce the 2025 Startup Challenge finalists and awards presented by Venture Lab at the University of Pennsylvania.

Teams consisted of students from The Wharton School (W, WG), The School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), the Graduate School of Education (GSE), and the Perelman School of Medicine (M)

As some of Penn's best and brightest entrepreneurial minds, these teams competed for a chance to win more than $150,000 in cash prizes, in-kind support, and additional resources at the 2025 Startup Challenge Live Final presented by Venture Lab at the University of Pennsylvania on 5/2/2025 at Tangen Hall.
Matt Liebers, WG'26; Sylvia Liebers

Guide Genetics is building AI-powered tools to scale family history collection, streamline genetic counseling workflows, and expand access to precision medicine through partnerships with health systems, providers, and care networks.
Nicholas Szabo, M'27; Trevor Chan, GEN'24, GR'26; Joshua Vogel; Shelby Meckstroth; Matthew Riedel

IvyTech Design develops innovative adjustable-angle clamps to enhance the precision, speed, and safety of orthopedic surgery.
Julie Liu, GED'25
(VIP-X PHL)

Motherly Notes is Mandarin learning, leveled up. 500 characters a year, powered by pop culture, silly-smart topics, AI assist, and community magic that keeps it weird (in a good way). Fast fluency, real fun, deep culture in group classes online. Warning: may cause spontaneous joy.
Ahmed Abdellah, ENG'25, GEE'26; Alexander Cho, ENG'25; Tarunyaa Sivakumar, EE'25, GEE'25; Yiting Shen, ENG'25, GEN'26

Today, high performance AI compute is controlled by a few monopolies. Decentralized compute networks (DCNs) democratize access to AI hardware, but have struggled with reliability issues. Quok.it's software transforms DCNs from unreliable alternatives into production-ready, accessible infrastructure.
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Serpent Robotics
Margaret Zhu, W'26; Steyn Knollema, GEN'26; Jason Li, GEN'26; Yiran Xuan, GEN'26
(Y-Prize Finalist)

Serpent revolutionizes tree care using advanced robotics to eliminate the dangers of manual tree-cutting. With the CHAMPS robotic arm securing branches and making precise cuts, Serpent enhances safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in one of the US’s most dangerous industries.
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Spine Bionics
Nitin Agarwal, WG'26; Amir Alavi; Benjamin Carnovale; William Rabon

Our mission is to improve patients' quality of life and reduce the post-operative complications of spinal fusion surgeries by providing electronic-free, patient-specific interbody cages capable of administering electrical stimulation, thereby decreasing fusion time and nonunion rates.
Melanie Herbert, EE'25, GEN'26
(VIP-X)

Sync Labs builds AI-driven tools for senior care. Using proprietary vision tech, Alice detects key behaviors—like bathroom trips, meals, and medication—without recording video. Real-time activity insights paired with health data boost custom care. We’ve launched 6 pilots, with 3 generating revenue.
Dustin Bainbridge, GRD'27

Unified Track helps high school counselors save time, increase student attendance, and improve graduation rates by using predictive analytics to identify risk early and deliver targeted support when it matters most.