Meet the Launchpad COLA Spring 2026 Cohort
The Spring 2026 Launchpad cohort has kicked off strong with 20 tech startups ready to take their companies to the next level. This group was selected from nearly 40 applicants, and what gave them their edge? They've identified a real problem and solution, they're building scalable tech-focused businesses, and most importantly – they're all in.
That means showing up to in-person sessions every Tuesday at 7 AM, completing assignments that push them deeper into their business model and product development, meeting with mentors who challenge their assumptions, staying accountable to their fellow founders, and having the grit to keep pushing through when things get tough.
Aegis is a modular AI-integrated aerial vehicle platform for rapid response to public safety emergencies.
Founders: Amro Alshareef, Ammar Elkhatib, Muhammad Tukhtasunov
AesculaMD is an AI-powered advising and readiness platform that gives premed students structured, equitable guidance across MCAT, activities, school selection, writing, and interview preparation—standardizing access to high-quality medical school advising regardless of background.
Founder: Yair Caudillo | aesculamd.com
Bivvy is a consumer tech brand that lets people sell gold, jewelry, and diamonds through a trusted, digital-first experience.
Founder: Eric Owens | trybivvy.com
DesignPlayGo delivers personalized, adaptive, consent-first UX prototyping platforms for biotech teams. Their ethical Human-AI systems leverage UX research to continuously align product design and user experience.
Founder: Ioana Lupascu
Emryn 3D is creating a workspace app for people in the 3D modeling industry. Their platform tracks, matches, and books jobs so that technicians and buyers don't have to juggle multiple apps.
Founder: Delanore Troupe | emrynvs.com
Envoy is a digital representative for mass outreach and fact-finding. The platform plans, researches, and presents projects so clients can focus on making final decisions.
Founder: Jonathan Habbick | hello-envoy.com
FinWiz introduces financial literacy in an engaging format to broaden impact and accessibility.
Founder: Elisha Wilson
GiveUp is an app that transforms how college students secure financial aid and how donors make an impact.
Founder: Caleb Dixon | giveup.app
MathLab is a concept-reinforcement platform that helps students master mathematics by turning their coursework into granular, step-by-step, concept-level explanations.
Founder: Christopher Brunswick
Modari is a digital marketplace that directly connects shippers and carriers while eliminating the middleman.
Founders: Brannan Matherson, Jonathan Mack, Kevin Major | modari.ai
Petlio connects pet owners to the right vets in real time through a smart, location-based scheduling tool that factors in insurance, health needs, and immediate availability.
Founder: Angela Fang
Pathly helps schools turn career curiosity into concrete next steps using multi-model AI-powered guidance that's student-safe, counselor-connected, and built for district scale.
Founders: Alan Brusky, Grace Brusky | pathly.com
Presence Power Index (PPI) Assessment is an app with frameworks to help leaders reduce burnout, lead with confidence, and build results that last.
Founder: Donna Davis | donnadavispresents.com
ReFitMe is a campus-based fashion app that lets college students exchange unworn clothing for credits and use them to build a constantly refreshed wardrobe without buying new clothes.
Founders: Madyson Somerville & Lily Lees
RoxxSTEADY is a closed-network PreK–12 student-centered, customizable platform that strengthens school-to-home communication while teaching time, task, and stress management through age-appropriate, supportive coaching to improve student outcomes.
Founder: Tanisha Brown
Saratonin.dev helps local business owners connect with communities through custom applications.
Founder: Esti Beaudet
Serene combines women's health with compassion and technology. The platform works on women's health and advocacy while developing a medical device to deliver anesthesia during office procedures at gynecology appointments.
Founder: Nita Thapa
The Growth Path Project is a human transformation company. Its MVP, called "GPS," is a 12-week accountability program that provides clarity, direction, and consistent execution—turning scattered effort into measurable progress through a defined target, an organized structure, and a mastermind community.
Founder: Sandra Ramirez Metzdorf
TrustShield detects scam messages and emails to protect users from sending money and passwords.
Founder: Markel Samuel
XHealth is an AI-powered support system that transforms electronic health records into structured, usable data that enhances clinical decision-making at the point of care.
Founder: Stephen Lloyd, Cofounder: Manasa Devi Chinta
Launchpad COLA is an intensive 12-week entrepreneur training program that helps founders transform scalable tech startup ideas into real businesses. The program equips first-time founders and early-stage tech companies with expert mentorship, proven curriculum, and access to Columbia's growing entrepreneurial network.
Created and delivered by Launchpad at the Boyd Innovation Center, the program draws on nationally recognized training including Founder University from Launch VC, RevTech Labs Foundation, and The Bunker Labs Veterans in Residence program.
Support the Ecosystem
The Boyd Innovation Center (BIC) is a non-profit dedicated to helping founders build high-growth technology startups. Your donation is an investment in Columbia's future, helping keep programs like Launchpad free and open to entrepreneurs. By contributing, you fund the crucial early stage that transforms ideas into real businesses and creates a collaborative community where innovators thrive.
