The Innovation Pipeline: From Campus to Company Evolution
Waterloo student founders leveraging GPUs for epilepsy diagnosis, INITIATE Ventures' $45M healthcare fund, Sage's $35M senior care round, and Forbes 30under30 women redefining AI and VC.
This is WWV Labs’ weekly newsletter: Her Hustle, a place to learn all about the new and the next in female entrepreneurship, and we’re here to help you dive into it. We highlight all the fierce women who are building startups—from those launching from dorm rooms and balancing classes to recent grads and experienced professionals turning their bold visions into reality.
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What a busy week—the last week of classes, a thesis deadline tomorrow, and more final papers and exams in the next two weeks. It's the final crunch before a much-needed break! I’m looking forward to focusing on WWV Labs full-time and spending quality time with family and friends in January.
What’s been keeping me grounded this week? Harvard Undergraduate Women in Entrepreneurship’s (WiE) board dinner! When I first joined, WiE’s board meetings had low turnout, and there wasn’t much of a cohesive community among the women on the board. This year things have changed!
Together, our team organized 8 events this fall semester, bringing together over 700+ students—a testament to the power of collaboration and community.
To celebrate an incredible semester, we wrapped things up with an end-of-semester board dinner featuring Japanese BBQ. Here’s to progress, teamwork, and an even bigger 2025!
University of Waterloo undergraduates Dhriti Gabani and Suhani Trivedi are advancing health tech innovation with their startup Wave, leveraging Velocity’s GPU server to process massive EEG datasets, accelerate epilepsy diagnosis, and secured $10,000 in funding by winning the Velocity Cornerstone 10-day Validation Sprint and The Conrad School of Entrepreneurship’s E-Launch Pitch Competition.
Female-led INITIATE Ventures, co-founded by Jessica Owens and Iana Dimkova, has raised a $45M debut fund to back and co-create cutting-edge healthcare and life sciences startups, already investing in groundbreaking companies like Delfi Diagnostics and Cornerstone AI.
MedInclude, a health-tech startup founded by Waterloo’24 alum Seun Adetunji, has partnered with Grand River Hospital to pilot its AI-powered platform that simplifies and translates medical communication, advancing inclusive, patient-centered care for diverse populations.
Ellen Johnson, Co-Founder of Sage (NYC), raised $35M to improve senior living care through better operational data and caregiver transparency—one of the largest funding rounds by a female founder this week.
Phoebe Gates, co-founder of Phia, an AI-driven sustainable fashion platform, shared her journey and key learnings during a Q&A hosted by the Columbia Organization of Rising Entrepreneurs Founder Series, highlighting the importance of outsourcing early and leveraging community insights.
Emily Pyke and Elisabeth Hudson, a married lesbian couple, co-founders of UndaTech, and winners of the Vogue Australia Codes Future Innovators Award, are revolutionizing safety gear with fire-safe, period-proof undergarments designed for women in high-risk frontline jobs.
💁♀️ Are you a female student or recent graduate who wants to work at a startup? Apply to WWV Labs Fellowship Program to find ad hoc projects, term-time internships, summer internships, or full-time employment opportunities at startups!
Join our community of 450+ fellows from Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Columbia, UPenn, UC Berkeley, and other top universities today!
🚀 The Bain Capital Ventures Labs Fellowship is now accepting applications: a Summer 2025 internship program for tech-focused undergrads, master’s, and PhD candidates to work with BCV-backed startups in Silicon Valley, network with founders and VCs, and access exclusive career opportunities.
🌟 foundess’ Hatch is now accepting applications: a free 6-week program for female-led teams in North America to build bold ideas, gain mentorship from top VCs and industry leaders, and compete for $20,000 in prizes with an exclusive IRL demo day in San Francisco!
💰 The Genesis Fund, a $2M student-led fund managed by students from top universities in Boston, is now supporting exceptional Boston-based student founders—female founders, DM me for a warm intro to the Genesis Fund team!
Forbes 30 Under 30 2025 features powerhouse female AI founders, including Demi G.’s Pika ($135M raised, 5M users), Nikhara and Kiara Nirghin’s Chima ($5M raised), and Nancy Xu’s Moonhub ($10M+ raised), redefining industries from video creation to talent recruitment.
Elise Pham, a 20-year-old Harvard student and Forbes-recognized entrepreneur, overcame significant challenges to launch Ultimate Ivy League Guide, helping over 1M students navigate high school and college admissions with free resources.
Sarah Anto compiled a must-download resource for female founders: a free, updated list of VCs, angel investors, and accelerators, including Emmeline Ventures and Female Founders Fund, tailored to help women-led startups secure funding and scale!
Forbes 30 Under 30 2025 features 20 women transforming venture capital, including Molly Mielke ($6M raised for Moth Fund), Talia Askowitz ($500M+ deployed in healthcare), and Grace Geng ($450M+ sourced at DST Global), redefining the future of investing.
Black women entrepreneurs, among the fastest-growing business owners, are gaining critical support through programs like the SoGal Black Founder Startup Grant and Comcast RISE Investment Fund, addressing funding disparities and driving economic impact.
Karny Ilan, co-founder of Feminai, encourages female founders to apply, compete, and never miss a chance to showcase their bold ideas!
Name: Icey Juthapohn Roongpiti
School: Simmons University’23 Alum
Major: Business and Management
Startup: Starla Skin
Sector: Skincare Tech
Description of Startup: Starla Skin is revolutionizing the skincare industry by integrating technology to bring MedSpa treatments into your home. The STARLA 7-in-1 LED Light Therapy Mask, inspired by NASA research, delivers accessible, sustainable, and empowering medical beauty for skin rejuvenation. We’re transforming lives by boosting skin confidence with solutions for acne, blemishes, and long-term skin health.
Biggest Startup Achievement: Organically achieved over $2 million in traction within two months through influencer endorsements. Featured in Vogue and other prestigious publications with a reach of 4+ million readers. Earned 100+ customer testimonials and transformed lives by empowering customers to feel confident, comfortable, and make-up free—a mission we’ve proudly achieved and will continue to expand.
Biggest Startup Learning Moment: The people around you shape your growth. My founder mentors motivated me to stay hungry, implement feedback quickly, and maintain focus. The U.S. startup culture taught me the value of GRIT—improving daily, embracing momentum, and always being better than yesterday. That has been my biggest lesson so far!
Advice for Female Students Interested in Entrepreneurship: The U.S. is a powerhouse for female entrepreneurship. I arrived here with nothing but a vision to empower women through leadership and a disruptive global skincare brand. With purpose and persistence, I attracted a supportive, like-minded community—proving that with the right environment and resources, even the boldest dreams can become reality.
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After a busy November packed with events, I’m taking it easy in December/January to focus on thesis deadlines, final exams, and the holiday season. However, if you’re based in Miami or NYC and are building female-focused entrepreneurial communities, I’d love to connect—feel free to DM me!
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I hope you enjoyed this newsletter, Hustlers!
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Love,
Daniela