Five out of six student-led ventures awarded $50,000 in startup funding at the President's Buckeye Accelerator Finale were spearheaded by students from the Honors and Scholars programs. The showcase marked the culmination of a yearlong program led by the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship that supports student founders as they develop and grow their startups.
The finale featured 11 student teams pitching innovative ideas aimed at tackling challenges across industries, from health care and sustainability to space technology and community food access.
“This is the fourth cohort of the President’s Buckeye Accelerator, and the growth in ambition and quality each year has been incredible to watch,” said Cheryl Turnbull, senior director of the Keenan Center. “Our students are recognizing challenges across both established and emerging industries and creating ventures that reflect their academic strengths and commitment to meaningful impact.”
The five selected ventures in Honors and Scholars are:
- Phoenix Battery Company, which repurposes decommissioned electric vehicle batteries into portable chargers, power stations and residential energy storage solutions
- KINO, a health and fitness platform that simplifies how users track their fitness progress
- MemorEase, an all-in-one platform designed to support caregivers by consolidating tools, resources and guidance
- Astraeus Paints, which created a color-changing paint to detect hazardous radiation levels in spacecraft interiors
- Mobile Pantry, a logistics platform connecting food banks and pantries with volunteers to streamline multi-stop deliveries
Katherine Cruz, a second-year public health major, co-founded MemorEase based on her family’s experience navigating care for her mother following a dementia diagnosis.
“My dad was in a constant state of crisis. There was no roadmap to follow,” Cruz said. “MemorEase is designed to give caregivers a centralized, reliable tool that helps them find support and take care of themselves, too.”
SPAERO Systems, which developed SWAN — a disinfection technology to prevent mold growth on spacecraft surfaces, with potential applications on Earth is the sixth award-winning venture.
Among the finalists competing in the President's Buckeye Accelerator, Aegis and Grant Central also featured Honors and Scholars students.