The Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation is proud to announce the 10 startups selected to participate in the 8th cohort of our Summer Fellowship Program!
CCEI’s Summer Fellowship program is UConn’s startup accelerator – an immersive entrepreneurial experience open to anyone affiliated with UConn (students, faculty, staff and alumni). This program has been CCEI’s flagship offering since 2016 and has prepared startups to launch their company, generate revenue, secure funding, and be accepted into internationally recognized incubators and accelerator programs. Alumni of the Summer Fellowship Program have gone on to raise over $60 million in follow-on funding and been accepted to accelerators and incubators like Techstars and the Thiel Fellowship.
The top ten startups from across UConn are selected to participate in the Summer Fellowship experience. This eight-week program launches in June, and works with startups to develop the skills needed to bring new products, services, and technologies to market. Each startup team receives one-on-one coaching and mentorship from industry experts and experienced entrepreneurs. Teams are provided with pro-bono legal, accounting services, and marketing and branding support to help with initial business setup. Each of the 10 teams are provided with $15,000 of non-dilutive startup funding.
At the conclusion of the program, five of the 10 teams will be selected to move on to the 2023 Wolff New Venture Competition, where they will pitch before a panel of judges and compete for over $25,000 in prize money.
To learn more about Summer Fellowship, please visit ccei.uconn.edu/summer-fellowship.
2023 CCEI Summer Fellowship Cohort:
Andros - Manufacturing ammonia synthesis reactors that are cheaper, safer, and more energy efficient than the traditional reactor.
Laron Burrows, PhD Candidate, School of Engineering, Chemical Engineering;
George Bollas, Faculty, School of Engineering, Chemical Engineering;
Jacob Crow, Undergraduate Student, School of Engineering, Chemical Engineering
Swipestorm - A software suite specifically designed for high-volume restaurants to streamline operations, analyze data, and improve performance.
Nathan Catapano, Undergraduate Student, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Communication
FYBS & Co. - Offering caregivers fun, easy-to-use products to help kids build emotion-focused coping skills to calm themselves, catch their feelings, and connect with others.
Sandy Chafouleas, Faculty, Neag School of Education, Educational Psychology;
Emily Wicks, Staff, School of Fine Arts, Ballard Institute of Puppetry
Project Clean Surf - The world's first eco-friendly surfboard core.
Amelia Martin, Undergraduate Student, College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, Environmental Sciences
Hayley Murphy, Undergraduate Student, School of Business, Finance
GREENBOX Tech - Technology for urban vegetable production.
Xiusheng Yang, Faculty, College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, Natural Resources and the Environment;
Ankit Singh PhD, Alumni, College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, Natural Resources and the Environment;
William H. Yang, Industry
Milieu - An app made to reduce anxiety and isolation among students with ADHD and Autism by connecting them via special interests.
Sabrina Uva, PhD Candidate,College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Human Development and Family Sciences;
Marilena Mademtzi, Graduate Student, School of Business, Business Administration
Particle N - A cost-effective way to use precious metals in catalysts and similar mechanisms.
Al Kasani, PhD Candidate, School of Engineering, Chemical Engineering;
Alicia Sleight, Undergraduate Student, School of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering;
Aveline Mills, Undergraduate Student, School of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering;
Reiner Reichenberger, Undergraduate Student, School of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Roast Me - A not-safe-for-work card game where players roast one another.
Ato Eyiah, Alumni, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Economics;
Ben Morneault, Alumni, School of Business, Management;
Chris Mueller, Alumni, School of Business, Management;
Kenny Pineda, Undergraduate Student, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Geographic Information Science
Growler Power - A portable growler system that enhances the taste and freshness of a beverage, while simultaneously extending the life of an opened growler by up to two weeks.
Robert Zielonka, Alumni, School of Business, Business Administration;
Jacquelyn Higgins, Alumni, School of Business, Business Administration;
Louis Westfall, Industry
Clothing Optional - An intimate apparel and feminine care brand aimed at creating organic and nontoxic products promoting feminine wellness.
Christina Phillips, Graduate Student, School of Business, Business Administration;
Krystal Phillips, Industry
*Summer Fellowship is put on with the support of program partners like Digital Surgeons, Fiondella, Milone & LaSaracina CPAs, and BD Emerson Legal Group.