At the annual New Venture Competition (NVC), GW entrepreneurs from across the university showcase their startup visions. Every year, a large number of GW Engineering students enter for a chance to win prizes and propel their innovations forward; at the 2024 competition, two GW Engineering teams, Brave Scientific and Engineering Horizons, won big. Brave Scientific claimed both the highest prize money of $19,000 and first place in the Health & Life Sciences Track, while Engineering Horizons secured first place in their track, Social Innovation.
Brave Scientific is a Virginia-based company led by doctoral students Vikas Soni and Anmol Taploo. At NVC they introduced JivaJet, a cutting-edge plasma medicine technology that tackles the challenges posed by antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections in veterinary healthcare. The device employs cold atmospheric plasma to target and eliminate bacteria on the skin, providing a non-invasive, cost-effective, and safe treatment option for pets. In addition to receiving $10,000 for the Health & Life Sciences Track, the team won another $5,000 for Best Prototype and $4,000 for winning the Spirit of NVC Award.
Engineering Horizons is led by members of the Engineers’ Philanthropic Society, Anmar Kamaruszaman, Rigel Brown, Taylor White, Nicolo Kreuger, and Treesta James. Through this initiative, GW Engineering students can volunteer to provide high-impact science tutoring for underserved 8th-grade students in D.C. Public Schools, fostering a safe and exploratory environment for those students to widen their perspectives within STEM. In addition to receiving $10,000 for the Social Innovation Track, the team won another $5,000 for the Best Financial Understanding Category Prize.
In a remarkable display of innovation at the 2024 NVC, Brave Scientific and Engineering Horizons have proven their entrepreneurial prowess. Congratulations to both teams on their success in this year’s competition! For an overview of all NVC winners, check out the article, “Budding Entrepreneurs Win Cash Prizes at 2024 New Venture Competition,” on GW Today.