When Georgia Tech alumnus Christopher W. Klaus announced he would personally cover the incorporation costs for graduating Tech students who sought to launch a startup, he wanted the gift to ignite their entrepreneurial spirit and elevate Atlanta's startup culture.  

For hundreds of aspiring entrepreneurs, including Raghav Balasubramaniam, founder and CEO of Overcast, and Shreyas Mavanoor, co-founder of Cortexa Labs, the gift helped turn ideas into action.      

"The incorporation gift genuinely shaped the future of my company," said Balasubramaniam, who graduated in the spring with a master’s in computer science. "It allowed me to formalize Overcast at a time when it was just an idea on paper, and that legitimacy changed our trajectory for the better. The network that comes with this opportunity played an equally important role, giving me the space, mentorship, and push I needed to learn quickly, refine the product, and accelerate the company in a matter of months."    

Now, Klaus’ offer, which includes access to GT Spark — a curated, community-driven experience with workshops, hands-on support, and mentorship from experienced founders and operators — will be extended to this semester's Georgia Tech graduates.   

Mavanoor, who graduated with a master’s degree in cybersecurity, and his co-founder viewed the gift as a "chance to supercharge" their startup's ability to engage with customers and potential investors, as well as a commitment to creating a collaborative and vibrant startup culture in Atlanta.    

A Boston Consulting Group study found that increasing the number of local startups and graduate retention are key components of the city's goal to become a top-five U.S. tech hub.   

"This type of support for graduates signals that they're serious about fostering a strong startup ecosystem within the Atlanta area and retaining the talent that graduates from Tech," Mavanoor said.    

As the leader of Fusen, a startup accelerator that connects students with founders, mentors, investors, and early-stage funding to launch new ventures, Klaus remains a driving force behind Atlanta’s technology sector growth. His philanthropic support helped establish CREATE-X, Tech’s flagship entrepreneurship program, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024 and has launched more than 500 student startups. This gift is made in memory of Klaus' son, Will, a fellow Yellow Jacket who was passionate about technology, startups, and helping others get started.    

"Take the leap," Balasubramaniam advises this semester’s graduates who will benefit from Klaus’ philanthropy. "Incorporating provides a legitimate structure to what would otherwise just be a whiteboard idea. The earlier you start, the more time you have to iterate, make mistakes, and discover what the company should become. The risk may seem large at first, but the upside of starting now outweighs it.”     

Mavanoor offered similar advice, telling graduates not to let uncertainty stop them from taking advantage of joining the GT Spark community.    

“Make use of it, because if not now, then when? I wouldn't worry about trying to solve every problem before incorporating because there is so much to learn when starting a business, and this is a great advantage to join this professional network that can help you along the way," he said.      

The priority deadline to apply for the gift is Dec. 19, and the final deadline is Jan. 13, 2026. For more information on the application, click here. 

In the startup world, existing research often helps uncover a problem that needs a solution. For two Georgia Tech graduates, studying metabolomics, the exploration of the body’s chemical processes, and an existing NASA chemical analysis technology inspired a company that hopes to change the face of preventative healthcare. 

Tech College of Engineering alumni Chad Pozarycki, Ph.D., CHBE, 2022, and José Andrade, AE, 2025, are on a mission to make biochemical monitoring more accessible — with a focus on preventing disease. Today, their startup Deleon, using NASA’s technology (originally designed to search for life on Mars) and metabolomics, provides a system that uses daily urine sampling to track metabolites related to overtraining, stress, and recovery. Future applications will be aimed at early disease detection.

“Something that frustrated me about metabolomics was its lack of focus on preventive care,” said Andrade. “We created Deleon by combining these ideas and tracking the human metabolome to optimize for healthy lifestyles.”

The Deleon founders began the company shortly after Pozarycki completed his graduate studies at Georgia Tech, with Andrade moonlighting and Pozarycki working a part-time job at Georgia Tech’s bike shop to keep the project afloat. In the beginning, funding was a major challenge. 

“I finished my Ph.D., was working on Deleon, and didn’t have any income. CREATE-X gave us $5,000 in funding, which motivated us to keep going on this project,” said Pozarycki.

CREATE-X, Georgia Tech’s campus-wide initiative to instill entrepreneurial confidence and help students launch startups, provided more than funding. Through the program, Deleon received guidance on finding potential customers. 

“The one-on-one advice from expert CREATE-X entrepreneurs and organizers like Rahul [CREATE-X director] and Margaret [LAUNCH associate director] was super valuable and helped us focus on launching our minimum viable product and getting our first customers,” said Andrade.

The program’s culminating event, Demo Day, gave Deleon a platform to present to investors and the public. Among dozens of student-led startups, Deleon’s data-driven approach attracted strong interest. The exposure led to an eventual $850,000 investment, partially funded by Georgia Tech's early-stage fund, GTF Ventures. This investment allowed the founders to work full-time on the company, hire a team, and build a lab space.

“I would recommend the CREATE-X program to anyone,” Pozarycki said. “Even if you don’t think you want to start a company, there’s a lot you can learn about commercialization in this program that may change your mind and give you more control over your own fate.”

Deleon’s path from concept to launch highlights the growing role of Georgia Tech’s entrepreneurial ecosystem in supporting student innovation. Programs like CREATE-X not only help students build companies but also contribute to regional economic growth by keeping talent and investment in the Southeast.

“CREATE-X is the best environment on campus to learn by doing,” Pozarycki said. “You are encouraged to build something real, not just talk about it. You’ll leave knowing how to talk to customers, how to pitch, and how to think like a founder.”

Opportunities for Entrepreneurs

Students, faculty, researchers, and alumni interested in developing their own startups are encouraged to apply to CREATE-X’s Startup Launch. The early admission deadline to apply for Startup Launch is Nov. 17. Spots are limited. Apply now for a higher chance of acceptance and early feedback.

Cricket powder-based protein brownies. A visualization system for fencing blades. A personalized AI application for analyzing blood work. All I2P Showcase prototypes. See what Georgia Tech students have been developing this semester at the Fall 2025 Idea to Prototype (I2P) Showcase on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 5 p.m. in the Marcus Nanotechnology Building. This year, attendees will have even more original inventions to view, with over 60 teams displaying prototypes. 

The event marks the culmination of the semester-long I2P course, where undergraduate students develop functional prototypes aimed at solving real-world problems. Prototypes this semester include a smart military drone, a gentler device for cervical cancer screening, a rotating espresso station, tools to keep AI safe, compact data centers, systems that simulate cyberattacks to help companies strengthen their defenses, and many more. 

The showcase is free and open to students, faculty, staff, and members of the local community. 

Winning teams will receive prizes and a “golden ticket” into CREATE-X’s Startup Launch, a summer accelerator that provides optional seed funding, accounting and legal service credits, mentorship, and more to help students turn their prototypes into viable startups.

This is a free event, and refreshments will be provided. Register for the Fall 2025 I2P Showcase today!

Today, Velocity Startups joins Georgia Tech’s comprehensive commercialization ecosystem, solidifying the Institute’s role as a national leader and premier hub for research commercialization and startup growth. Velocity Startups serves as a bridge between early-stage startup founders who are focused on scaling their businesses and readying themselves for late-stage accelerators such as the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC), Engage, Fusen, and Atlanta Tech Village within the City of Atlanta. 

To support emergent startups, the early-stage accelerator will establish a collaborative facility at The Biltmore in Atlanta’s Tech Square, the national innovation district and dedicated area in the city that fosters community growth and meaningful innovation at the heart of the city’s tech scene. 

“Atlanta is where innovation becomes opportunity, and Velocity Startups will make that journey even faster,” said Donnie Beamer, senior technology advisor in the Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Technology and Innovation. “By connecting entrepreneurs to the critical resources they need to scale, we are fueling more startups, creating more jobs, and driving economic growth. Ultimately, this will secure Atlanta’s place as a top global destination for innovation, investment, and entrepreneurial success.”

As an early-stage accelerator, Velocity Startups provides resources — including mentorship support, space, tools, networks, and infrastructure — to Georgia Tech students, faculty, researchers, and the greater Atlanta community, bridging the gap from spinoff to viable startup. At Georgia Tech, many startups that complete the CREATE-X Startup Launch program and present at the Demo Day event will gain access to Velocity Startups. The accelerator will also offer strategic programming, funding, and access to Georgia Tech’s research resources and serve as a coordinating entity for Metro Atlanta’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, engaging more than 50 colleges and advocating for policies that support startup success. 

“Velocity Startups represents a pivotal step in bringing together the resources, expertise, and entrepreneurial spirit within our ecosystems as we look to further establish Atlanta as a top national tech hub. By uniting these elements, Velocity Startups will help startups scale from their first customer to long-term growth,” said Raghupathy “Siva” Sivakumar, vice president of commercialization and chief commercialization officer at Georgia Tech and president of Georgia Advanced Technology Ventures. “This accelerator enables the communities at Georgia Tech and beyond to translate groundbreaking research into high-impact ventures.”

Velocity Startups is a subsidiary of Georgia Advanced Technology Ventures and will operate in partnership with the City of Atlanta. A national search is currently underway for a director to lead the accelerator. 

For additional information about Velocity Startups, visit commercialization.gatech.edu/velocity.

Quadrant-i is a vital part of Georgia Tech’s Office of Commercialization, helping faculty and graduate students transform research discoveries into real-world solutions. Under the leadership of Director Jonathan Goldman, the team provides the expertise, guidance, and hands-on support to move innovations from the lab bench to commercial application.

At the core of Georgia Tech’s innovation engine, Quadrant-i serves as both a resource and a catalyst. The team works with inventors across disciplines, bridging the gap between breakthrough ideas and market impact. From medical devices and software platforms to sustainable technologies, Quadrant-i helps researchers navigate the path from prototype to product, and from idea to startup.

A Team of Experts

Goldman, a seasoned entrepreneur and commercialization leader, has built a team of principals who bring deep expertise across industries. Together, they advance individual projects while strengthening Georgia Tech’s role as a hub for science-based entrepreneurship:

• Jeff Garbers brings broad commercialization experience and a proven track record of advising research teams.
• Richard Gruber focuses on energy and sustainability, serving jointly with the Strategic Energy Institute to advance environmentally focused technologies.
• Paul Joseph specializes in matter and systems, guiding teams in translating complex scientific discoveries into practical applications.
• Harold Solomon works in bioengineering and bioscience, helping faculty move innovations from the lab bench to real-world solutions.
• Cynthia Sundell, senior director of life sciences at the Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, contributes deep experience in life sciences innovation and entrepreneurship.

Recently, three new principals joined the team, adding further dimension and reach:

• Tom Rosenmayer, a startup founder and technology leader, brings expertise in go-to-market strategy, scaling, and intellectual property. His background spans Silpara Technologies, Lehigh Technologies (acquired by Michelin), and product roles at Baker Hughes, IBM, and WL Gore.
• Shyam Sanjeevkumar, a three-time founder and former AI executive, specializes in product-market fit, strategy, and fundraising. He co-founded Articul8 AI and previously led AI initiatives at Intel and AWS.
• Shawn Yeager blends law, business, and technology. As founder of Emerson Street Advisors, he has advised startups in automation, AI/ML, AR/MR, and fintech. He also mentors early-stage ventures at Georgia Tech’s Creative Destruction Lab, helping companies secure funding and scale.

Building Pathways

Quadrant-i’s approach is comprehensive, integrating people, programs, processes, and policies to accelerate commercialization. A signature program, the Entrepreneurship Assistants Program, connects graduate students with faculty-led research teams to explore the commercial potential of their discoveries. By embedding entrepreneurial perspectives early in the research process, the program helps teams gain customer insights, identify market needs, and sharpen strategies for moving forward.

From Discovery to Market

Quadrant-i partners with researchers at multiple stages — from early lab conversations and research group meetings to symposia and faculty gatherings. Some arrive with a clear startup vision; in other cases, commercialization opportunities are uncovered through ongoing collaboration. In both scenarios, Quadrant-i builds trusted relationships that turn research into viable ventures. These efforts not only advance individual technologies but also reinforce Georgia Tech’s role in driving innovation and economic growth across Atlanta and beyond.

Connect With Quadrant-i

Faculty and graduate students interested in exploring how their research can make a real-world impact are encouraged to reach out. Learn more about programs and resources by contacting Quadrant-i@gatech.edu .

 

 

For more than two decades, Nakia Melecio has helped researchers and entrepreneurs translate discoveries into real-world impact across biotechnology, aerospace, defense, energy, and medical technology. He's helped launch and scale more than 1,500 startups worldwide, delivered over 15,000 hours of mentorship and training, and contributed to securing more than $400 million in funding for research-driven ventures. He has also led collaborations with NIH, ARPA-H, DOE, NASA, USAID, and universities across the globe. All of that work has now culminated with his recent recognition of a Fulbright Scholar. 

“Being named a Fulbright Scholar is both an honor and opportunity to continue the work I love, helping transform breakthrough research into real-world impact,” said Melecio, director of NSF I-Corps Southeast Hub, director of Georgia Tech’s Center for MedTech Excellence, and principal at VentureLab. “This recognition allows me to collaborate with global partners, strengthen innovation ecosystems, and expand pathways that move discoveries out of the lab and into society.”

Expanding Georgia Tech’s Global Reach

With the Fulbright Scholar recognition, Melecio will share Georgia Tech’s Lab to Market framework with international partners. The seven-week program, which he designed at Georgia Tech, guides teams from lab validation to commercialization and prepares them with customer discovery insights, regulatory strategies, and investor readiness. While newly developed, the framework is already being used at Georgia Tech and will now be extended globally through the Fulbright program.

Through his Fulbright project, Melecio will strengthen global startup ecosystems, share best practices in technology transfer, and support the commercialization of breakthrough research to address urgent societal challenges. He aims to advance research translation, while also building sustainable systems that create industries, jobs, and new economies.

“Nakia’s Fulbright recognition underscores the global reach of Georgia Tech’s innovation ecosystem, and his leadership in international startup development exemplifies our commitment to creating technology that improves lives around the world,” said Raghupathy “Siva” Sivakumar, chief commercialization officer and vice president of Commercialization at Georgia Tech. “We are incredibly proud of Nakia for earning this prestigious honor and look forward to the continued impact of his work supporting entrepreneurs worldwide.”

The Fulbright Scholar Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange initiative, designed to strengthen partnerships and foster cross-cultural collaboration. Through this award, Melecio will bring Georgia Tech’s commercialization expertise to global partners, working side by side with researchers and entrepreneurs to accelerate technologies that address urgent challenges in health, energy, and economic development. From Atlanta to Ghanna, Melecio’s work demonstrates the global reach of Georgia Tech’s innovation community. 

 

Maintaining balance while walking may seem automatic — until suddenly it isn’t. Gait impairment, or difficulty with walking, is a major liability for stroke and Parkinson’s patients.  Not only do gait issues slow a person down, but they are also one of the top causes of falls. And solutions are often limited to time-intensive and costly physical therapy.

A new wearable electronic device that can be inserted inside any shoe may be able to address this challenge. The device, developed by Georgia Tech researchers, is made of more than 170 thin, flexible sensors that measure foot pressure — a key metric for determining whether someone is off-balance. The sensor collects pressure data, which the researchers could eventually use to predict which changes lead to falls.

The researchers presented their work in the paper, “Flexible Smart Insole and Plantar Pressure Monitoring Using Screen-Printed Nanomaterials and Piezoresistive Sensors.” It was the cover paper in the August edition of ACSApplied Materials & Interfaces. 

Pressure Points

Smart footwear isn’t new — but making it both functional and affordable has been nearly impossible. W. Hong Yeo’s lab has made its reputation on creating malleable medical devices. The researchers rely on the common commercial practice of screen-printing electronics to screen-print sensors. They realized they could apply this printing technique to address walking difficulties.

“Screen-printing is advantageous for developing medical devices because it's low-cost and scalable,” said Yeo, the Peterson Professor and Harris Saunders Jr. Professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering. “So, when it comes to thinking about commercialization and mass production, screen-printing is a really good platform because it's already been used in the electronics industry.”

Making the device accessible to the everyday user was paramount for Yeo’s team. A key innovation was making sure the wearable is thin enough to be comfortable for the wearer and easy to integrate with other assistive technologies. The device uses Bluetooth, enabling a smartphone to collect data and offer the future possibility of integrating with existing health monitoring applications.

Possibilities for real-world adaptation are promising, thanks to these innovations. Lightweight and small, the wearable could be paired with robotics devices to help stroke and Parkinson’s patients and the elderly walk. The high number of sensors could make it easier for researchers to apply a machine learning algorithm that could predict falls. The device could even enable professional athletes to analyze their performance.

Regardless of how the device is used, Yeo intends to keep its cost under $100. So far, with funding from the National Science Foundation, the researchers have tested the device on healthy subjects. They hope to expand the study to people with gait impairments and, eventually, make the device commercially available. 

“I'm trying to bridge the gap between the lack of available devices in hospitals or medical practices and the lab-scale devices,” Yeo said. “We want these devices to be ready now — not in 10 years.”

With its low-cost, wireless design and potential for real-time feedback, this smart insole could transform how we monitor and manage walking difficulties — not just in clinical settings, but in everyday life.