by Katie Calabro | Oct 2, 2022
AtomICs is a molecular data storage and computing startup that stores digital data in small molecules to offer denser, more sustainable, and more durable data storage than transistors. Through denser, more sustainable DNA data storage, they seek to revolutionize the way digital data is stored through small molecules.
AtomICs was founded by Dana Biechele-Speziale PhD ‘24, Selahaddin Gumus PhD ‘24 and professors Brenda Rubenstein and Jacob Rosenstein. It was the winner of the 2022 Brown Venture Prize, and was the first first PhD student and faculty team to win the prize. Read AtomICs’ profile in the Brown Daily Herald here. AtomICs was also a finalist in the Rhode Island Business Competition, and is currently in the 2022 MassChallenge US early-stage cohort.
Photo Credit: Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship
by Jonas Clark | Sep 29, 2022
Bloom is an app that teaches teens how to invest via educational modules, empowering the next generation of Americans to build wealth. Features include parental safeguards and bank-grade encryption. Additionally, Bloom works with nonprofits and student-led organizations to spread financial literacy and support the social-good finance leaders of tomorrow. It offers UTMA/UGMA custodial brokerage accounts that helps teenagers invest in a safe and educational way. Bloom was a part of 2021’s Y Combinator, and recently raised $4.3 million from investors, including from a 2020 US Presidential Candidate. As of April 2022, the app’s waitlist has over 35,000 teenagers, with 200,000+ current users.
Bloom is founded by Sonny Mo, ’21 (right) (2019 Brown Venture Prize Finalist), Allan Maman (left), and Sam Yang (middle). Bloom was recently featured in Fast Company and Forbes.
Photo Credit: Bloom
by Jonas Clark | Sep 24, 2022
Co-founded by Justin Kim, ’21, Michael Lai, ’20, and Matthew Lee, ’22 Cress Health is a tech startup with the mission of democratizing mental wellness for all. Cress Health‘s app, Callie addresses mental health. The app utilizes journaling, breathing exercises, meditation, and analytics, allowing users to reflect and learn about their mental health. Callie also provides a virtual AI, a chat-based companion that builds a personalized wellness regimen based on journal entries.
The app is an alum of B-Lab 2020; Kim served as PEIR in 2021. Kim was also named one of Rhode Island’s Inno Under 25 in 2020. Read their profile here.
Photo Credit: Justin Kim, Matthew Lee, and Michael Lai
by Katie Calabro | Sep 22, 2022
Fanium is a sports technology company that curates in-depth fantasy football content for users. The app was featured in TechCrunch’s list of best fantasy football apps in 2013. Founder Grant Gurtin ’12 sold Fanium to CBSSports. He then spent two years at CBSSports, helping to relaunch the SportsLine.com brand and take it from zero to $500k in monthly recurring revenue. He has since started a second company, Trend, and is an active angel investor.
Photo Credit: Grant Gurtin
by Jonas Clark | Sep 19, 2022
Tracking down lead pipes in the U.S. is an extremely timely and expensive task. In fact, there is still relatively little data on the location of lead pipes across the country. H2OK Innovations is an IoT-enabled analytics platform providing data-driven optimization of industrial liquid systems for manufacturing. In other words, the contaminant management platform that helps industrial and manufacturing businesses optimize water usage and treatment through predictive diagnostics.
H2OK Innovations, a Brown Venture Prize Finalist, was co-founded by David Lu, ’20. Lu was a part of BrownEP and Startup@Brown. The firm was recently named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 for Manufacturing & Industry. Customers include Cargill, Unilever, Coca-Cola, Ecolab and the Dairy Farmers of America.
Photo Credit: David Lu
