The President’s Venture Fellowship and Innovation & Entrepreneurship Challenge represent a cornerstone of our institution’s commitment to fostering groundbreaking ideas and empowering the next generation of changemakers. These awards not only provide vital support and recognition to student innovators but also catalyze transformative ventures that address real-world challenges.
For the third year, two promising startups launched by Johns Hopkins University students will receive $140,000 each as winners of the President’s Venture Fellowship (PVF)—the university’s largest-ever award for student entrepreneurship. This year’s cohort is not only original in innovation but also in representation and origin stories.
PVF: A Year of Firsts
The awardees are the first:
- Women-led teams to win the fellowship, highlighting the growing diversity in Johns Hopkins entrepreneurship.
- Carey Business School team, Modelus, which also includes Whiting School of Engineering students, is using AI to revolutionize pharmaceutical development.
- To begin as an undergraduate project, Fetal Therapy Technologies developed a novel port system for fetal surgeries and has grown into a full-fledged venture.
Meet the 2025 PVF Winners
Fetal Therapy Technologies (WSE): A novel port system optimized for fetal therapy surgeries.
“Being the first team to win this fellowship after starting as an undergraduate project makes this moment even more meaningful,” said Selena Shirkin, Founder of Fetal Therapy Technologies. “It proves that early-stage student ideas can grow into ventures with real clinical and commercial potential. This fellowship affirms our belief that with the right support, student-led innovation can change the future of healthcare.”
This team achieved remarkable progress while balancing full-time studies, working nights, weekends, and during school breaks.
Modelus (Carey, WSE): An AI platform that accelerates lead optimization in pharmaceutical development by predicting how molecular modifications affect drug properties.
Prem Umang, who leads Modelus, says the idea for Modelus was sparked by a persistent question:
Why is it still so difficult to get consistent, meaningful results from some of the most promising preclinical models in drug development?
“I kept hearing researchers and collaborators complain about variability and inefficiencies in early-stage testing that would lead to costly delays,” said Umang. “My time at Johns Hopkins gave me both the technical foundation and the entrepreneurial ecosystem to take that question seriously…it was the right environment to turn an idea into something tangible.”
In addition to funding, fellows receive:
- A partial scholarship to the Carey Business School
- Mentorship from successful alumni
- Co-working space at the Pava Center
Innovation & Entrepreneurship Challenge Highlights
The I&E Challenge continues to grow, and this year’s winners reflect the diversity of disciplines and ideas across the university. This year introduced a dedicated Software Award, recognizing the growing importance of digital innovation. Winners include Civgen and Pensieve, both from WSE.
KaraOrchee (Peabody): An app designed to transform the classical music experience by offering AI-driven orchestral accompaniments that adapt to a musician’s tempo and dynamics.
A rare Peabody winner, KaraOrchee previously participated in Fuel in the fall and now shines as a Graduate Student Award Winner.
“Peabody students are often overlooked in entrepreneurial spaces, but in truth, every successful artist is also an entrepreneur,” said Crystal Zheyu Jiang, the company’s founder. “Winning this award is proof that musicians can lead boldly in the worlds of technology and business. It also highlights the power of bringing together music, artificial intelligence, and user-centered design, creating something original.”
Upsilon (BSPH): A women’s health company revolutionizing contraception with a hormone-free, copper-free IUD designed to adapt to the body and empower choice without compromise.
A standout second-place winner in the Bisciotti Student Prize, representing the Bloomberg School of Public Health, this was an uncommon but exciting presence in the competition.
Antonella Sturniolo, founder of Upsilon, was inspired by her grandfather, a pioneering OB-GYN in the 1960s.
When it comes to launching a startup, Sturniolo said, “Start with a problem you can’t stop thinking about. Build from lived experience, and don’t be afraid to take risks, especially if your idea challenges the status quo. Surround yourself with brilliant people who you can learn from and will push you to make hard decisions, who will ask hard questions, and support you along your journey.”
Award Categories and Winners:
- Biscotti Student Prize
- 1st Place ($30K): Counsel AI (WSE/CS)
- 2nd Place ($20K): Upsilon (BSPH)
- Undergraduate Award: PinPoint Dx (WSE)
- Graduate Student Awards: Karaorchee (Peabody), Electo (Carey), Sinustim (WSE)
- Medtech Awards: Locaze (KSAS), Floprost (WSE)
- Software Awards: Civgen (WSE), Pensieve (WSE)
- Alumni Ventures Awards: Visilant (WSE), Navonic (WSE)
These awards are made possible by the Thalheimer Foundation, Hu Foundation, Avirett family, Raider family, Singhal family, Karthik Seshan, and generous alumni and friends.