Olin talent among finalists for Global Impact Award
- April 19, 2017
- By WashU Olin Business School
- 2 minute read
Out of 28 applications from across the world, seven finalists have been selected to compete for an award of up to $50,000 in the 4th annual Global Impact Award (GIA) finals in October. Four of the seven finalists have Olin alumni or current students on their teams.
Hosted by the Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Skandalaris), GIA is made possible by the generous donation of alumnus Suren G. Dutia and his wife, Jas K. Grewal. The competition is for early stage ventures that are scalable, sustainable, and quick-to-market with proof of concept and a broad impact. In order to apply, ventures must have at least one Washington University in St. Louis student, postdoctoral researcher, or recent alumnus (less than 10 years) holding a significant role on the team.
Each of the finalists will be assigned mentors who are experts in fields relevant to their ventures. Over the next six months, finalists will work alongside their assigned mentors and Skandalaris staff as they prepare their deliverables for the final pitch competition in October.
Emre Toker, Managing Director of the Skandalaris Center, commented, “We look forward to the Global Impact Award each year, as it is an opportunity for Washington University to see what both our students as well as alumni are achieving in entrepreneurship. We are excited about this year’s finalists and look forward to watching the progress they make in the next six months.”
Congratulations to the four finalist teams with Olin alumni or current students:
AirZaar, Inc
AirZaar is an enterprise software company providing image-processing & data analytics for mining, construction & infrastructure clients to make actionable decisions while disrupting accuracy levels of surveying reports utilizing visual intelligence. AirZaar’s turnkey automated solution provides clients with actionable intelligence in minutes, reducing costs & optimizing efficiency while performing safer industrial operations.
WashU team members:
- Ravi Sahu, MBA ’14
- Ali Ahmadi, MBA ’15
B-Agro Solutions
B-Agre Solutions is focused on becoming the leading provider of mechanized agricultural solutions in Ghana and across Africa. We partner with subsistence farmers in a collective group, train them, and use modern farm techniques and equipment to produce grains for sale.
WashU team members:
- Anthony Ackah-Nyanzu, MS ’17, Finance
- Dennis Awuku, BS ’12, Accounting
- Donny Yoder
- Adelaide Aboagye, MSW ’15, Social & Economic Development
Geneoscopy
Geneoscopy is developing a screening methodology to noninvasively diagnose CRC using biomarkers in stool samples. CRC is the second deadliest cancer in the U.S., primarily due to flawed screening methodologies, which results in late-stage detection of the disease. Geneoscopy’s technology solves the problems associated with existing screening methodologies, allowing for reduced mortality rates and better health outcomes.
WashU team members:
- Erica Barnell, MD/PhD ’21, Molecular Genetics and Genomics
- Andrew Barnell, MBA ’17
- Yiming Kang, PhD ’22, Computer Science
GiftAMeal
GiftAMeal is a socially conscious marketing platform for restaurants that helps provide a meal to someone in need each time a user takes a photo at a participating location. Restaurants pay a monthly subscription to be involved and provide customers with another incentive to patron their location.
WashU team members:
- Andrew Glantz, BSBA ’17, Leadership & Strategic Management
- Aidan Folbe, BSBA ’19
- Jacob Mohrmann, BSBA ’16, Marketing
About the Author
WashU Olin Business School
Contact Us
For assistance in finding faculty experts, please contact Washington University Public Affairs.
Monday–Friday, 8:30 to 5 p.m.
Sara Savat, Senior News Director, Business and Social Sciences
314-935-9615
sara.savat@wustl.edu
Kurt Greenbaum,
Communications Director
314-935-7196
kgreenbaum@wustl.edu