Every cohort brings a mix of ideas, questions, and early traction.

What stands out about this group is how quickly things are moving from concept to real-world validation. Across the Winter 2026 cohort, Fellows are not just refining ideas—they’re securing pilots, generating revenue, building partnerships, and stepping into rooms that move their work forward.

Here’s a look at what’s been unfolding.

Biotech Applied Research
Zack Farr is showing strong market demand and expanding into new applications.
• Product currently sold out with large orders secured
• Secured first municipal purchase order
• Launching a biochar demo in Central Florida
• Expanding into wastewater and water filtration applications
• Building relationships with public sector partners

Einra
Jamie Swann is deep in validation and building strong healthcare partnerships.
• Secured a design partnership with a major home care agency
• Engaging nurses and caregivers in research and product development
• Recruiting caregivers for pilot deployment
• Building relationships with Medicaid leaders and national organizations

Geni
Philip Montgomery is strengthening his pathway into school systems.
• Currently serving 15 paying schools
• Secured opportunity to present to multiple school superintendents
• Advanced to contract stage with a city through cold outreach
• Building a teacher-led model to drive adoption and outcomes

Greens Health
Kehlin is demonstrating early traction in patient engagement and revenue.
• Generated 22 leads through digital campaigns with low cost per lead
• Reaching consistent monthly revenue through clinic partnerships
• Submitted the highest Medicare billing month to date
• Awarded a $4,000 marketing grant
• Accepted into a program providing access to 100–200 patients
• Advancing conversations with a major university impact fund

GroundUp
Elvina Beck is moving quickly from concept to pilot and material innovation.
• Secured a pilot with an LED manufacturer for 820 units
• Exploring a proprietary binder innovation for sustainable materials
• Initiated technical outreach to scientific partners and received international samples
• Expanding into new applications including furniture and housing materials

Penguin Health
Zach Dyce is building a scalable solution to reduce administrative burden in healthcare.
• Developed and expanded an AI-powered auditing system
• Launched and scaled multiple pilots
• Secured demos and growing pipeline
• Receiving inbound investor interest
• Advancing enterprise-level conversations with nonprofit partners

Tactus
Jeremy Chow is advancing accessibility in live experiences while preparing for scale.
• Transitioned to factory-based batch production
• Engaged in pilot discussions with an inclusive touring performance group
• Featured as Innovation of the Month following CES
• Delivered real-world validation with a deaf-blind user
• Building toward paid concert pilots and expanding global visibility

Unbound Disability Claims
Alyssa Wilbanks is gaining national visibility while demonstrating strong product outcomes.
• Selected to speak at the largest disability conference in the U.S. this June
• Invited to a UCF Health Sciences alumni panel and offered a booth at a major conference
• Engaging a former Acting Commissioner of Social Security
• Early results show strong traction:
• 89% approval rate vs ~30% industry average
• One user approved in 4 weeks vs ~3 years typical timeline

Vesta Prosperity
Darren Liddell is building momentum through pilots and growing demand.
• Running an active pilot in New York
• Processed 25 new clients in one week through a partner pipeline
• Two additional paid pilots in progress
• Preparing for increased demand through upcoming events
• Receiving inbound interest from investors and partners

Zero Empty Spaces
Evan Snow continues to scale a model that activates vacant spaces and supports creatives.
• Awarded first RFP with the City of Santa Monica
• Selected for a city-backed Art of Recovery program
• Launching a 34th location in Minneapolis with city support and strong artist interest
• Accepted into Harvard and MIT hackathons to build a civic tech MVP
• Exploring international expansion and cross-cohort collaboration

Scroll to the end to view all company and founder profiles.

Across the broader network, Fellows are also:

• Securing large-scale contract discussions in sustainability and composting
• Advancing early-stage pricing and demand validation
• Building partnerships that unlock new deployment opportunities

What This Signals

These updates reflect more than individual progress.

They show what happens when early-stage ventures are connected to the right people, environments, and opportunities to test their work in real conditions.

From disability access and healthcare systems to climate solutions and education, these Fellows are actively shaping solutions that respond to real challenges in their communities.