MIT Startup Exchange December 2024 Demo Day

December 11, 2024
12:00 PM - 1:15 PM
MIT Startup Exchange December 2024 Demo Day

Location

Virtual/Remote Event

Overview

MIT Startup Exchange is convening a new installment of its quarterly Demo Day on Wednesday, December 11 (12 PM – 1:15 PM ET). The event will feature several exciting industry-ready startups in brief lightning talks and Q&A. Breakout rooms will follow at the end of the event.

Please register in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

This event is for ILP members.

  • Overview

    MIT Startup Exchange is convening a new installment of its quarterly Demo Day on Wednesday, December 11 (12 PM – 1:15 PM ET). The event will feature several exciting industry-ready startups in brief lightning talks and Q&A. Breakout rooms will follow at the end of the event.

    Please register in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

    This event is for ILP members.

Register

Agenda

12:00 PM

Welcome and Introduction
Program Manager, MIT Startup Exchange
Ariadna Rodenstein
Program Manager

Ariadna Rodenstein is a Program Manager at MIT Startup Exchange. She joined MIT Corporate Relations as an Events Leader in September 2019 and is responsible for designing and executing startup events, including content development, coaching and hosting, and logistics. Ms. Rodenstein works closely with the Industrial Liaison Program (ILP) in promoting collaboration and partnerships between MIT-connected startups and industry, as well as with other areas around the MIT innovation ecosystem and beyond. 

Prior to working for MIT Corporate Relations, she worked for over a decade at Credit Suisse Group in New York and London, in a few different roles in event management and as Director of Client Strategy. Ms. Rodenstein has combined her experience in the private sector with work at non-profits as a Consultant and Development Director at New York Immigration Coalition, Immigrant Defense Project, and Americas Society/Council of the Americas. She also served as an Officer on the Board of Directors of the Riverside Clay Tennis Association in New York for several years. Additionally, she earned her B.A. in Political Science and Communications from New York University, with coursework at the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey in Mexico City, and her M.A. in Sociology from the City University of New York.

12:05 PM

Lightning Talks and Q&A
The Trusted AI Coauthor for Innovative Industries
Katie Trauth Taylor

Co-Founder & CEO, Narratize

Katie Trauth Taylor

Co-Founder & CEO, Narratize

Katie Trauth Taylor is CEO and co-founder of NarratizeAI, the Generative AI storytelling platform for innovative enterprises. Katie is a growth-focused entrepreneur executive with 10+ years of experience inspiring teams to design and deliver magnetic products, memorable experiences, and groundbreaking impacts. She has led strategic innovation narratives and served as a senior content strategist within fast-growth tech startups and the Fortune 500, including Boeing, NASA, Hershey, Sunoco, AAA, IFF, Dupont, Edgewell, Cincinnati Children's, ArgonneNational Lab, Crossover Health, Parsley Health, Omada, Physera, US Dept of Veterans Affairs, MillenniumChallenge Corporation, World Food Forum, and the United Nations. She believes that everyone can be an innovator--when empowered to share their bold ideas.

Activating Customer Data for Decision Intelligence
Abhi Yadav

Co-Founder & CEO, iCustomer

Abhi Yadav

Co-Founder & CEO, iCustomer

Abhi Yadav is a serial entrepreneur and AI innovator at the forefront of customer experience, identity, and AI. He is the Founder & CEO of iCustomer, a pioneering decision intelligence company, focused on GTM optimization to start with.

With a proven track record of building and successfully exiting enterprise AI software startups in Customer Data Platform (CDP) and consumer identity spaces, Abhi has transformed digital innovations for global leaders like GM, Nike, Google, Travellers, Amex and Cisco to name a few. His expertise spans Financial, consumer goods, and high-tech sectors.

Abhi co-founded the AI Innovators Community (AIC), a prestigious network of over 1,000 corporate, academic, and startup executives driving applied AI innovation. His actionable insights on overcoming AI adoption challenges and maximizing its marketing potential stem from extensive collaborations with Fortune 500 companies and cutting-edge AI startups.

An alumnus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with both engineering and MBA degrees. His is on a mission for AI-driven, privacy-compliant personalization and decision science driven modern enterprise.

AI Infrastructure Software for the Enterprise
Sid Probstein

Founder and CEO, SWIRL

Sid Probstein

Founder and CEO, SWIRL

Sid Probsteinis a startup leader with pioneering experience in unified search. He is currently the creator and CEO of SWIRL-AI Infrastructure software that enables enterprise users to have a conversation with their internal data without a vector database.

Before founding SWIRL, Sid was the founding CTO of Attivio (acquired by ServiceNow), AI Foundry (acquired byGateless/Guaranteed Rate), and Dele Health (acquired by Vayyar) and held senior engineering/product roles atFAST (acquired by Microsoft), Knowledgent (acquired by Accenture) and Northern Light Technology. He started his career at John Hancock Financial Services where the integrated reporting & client management system he delivered won a Microsoft Solution In Action award. He is an avid Python hacker, futurist, and live music fan.

When GPS Can't, We Can
Kanwar Singh

Co-Founder & CEO, Skyline Nav AI

Kanwar Singh

Co-Founder & CEO, Skyline Nav AI

Kanwar is the CEO of Skyline Nav AI - a computer vision GPS-independent geolocation and delivery capability. As a first-generation American, he also serves as a Captain in the US Army (Signal Corps).
 
At Skyline Nav AI, we specialize in providing reliable visual position and navigation technology where GPS falls short. Our product, Skyline Match AI™️, harnesses the power of computer vision algorithms and reference datasets to navigate and position effectively without relying on GPS, cellular, or Wi-Fi.
 
Skyline Match AI™️ can localize you within 5 meters with a clear view in urban areas, 95% of the time, with no GPS, cellular, or Wi-Fi connectivity. Serving both commercial and military needs, Skyline Match AI™️ ensures you stay on course by using skylines to fill in the gaps when GPS fails.
 
Our customers and partners include the US Air Force, NASA, US Army, BAE Systems, Kearfott Corporation, Draper Labs, MIT, Cornell University, NGA, MassChallenge, Move America, CDL, FedTech, DCode, NSF, and others.

Advanced Flat Optical Technologies for Sensing and Imaging
Juejun Hu

Chief Scientist, 2Pi

Juejun Hu

Chief Scientist, 2Pi

Juejun Hu is currently the Chief Scientist of 2Pi Inc. and John F. Elliott Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT. He holds a Ph. D. degree (2009) from MIT and a B.S. degree(2004) from Tsinghua University, China, both in Materials science and Engineering. Prior to joining MIT, he was an assistant professor at the University of Delaware. He is a fellow of Optica, the International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE), and the American Ceramic Society.

Delivering the Future of Medicines
S. Roy Kimura

Co-Founder & CEO, Alivexis

S. Roy Kimura

Co-Founder & CEO, Alivexis

Since 2017, Roy has served as co-founder and CEO of Alivexis, Inc. (formerly Modulus Discovery, Inc.), a computation-driven small-molecule drug discovery firm with offices in Tokyo and Boston and a drug discovery pipeline in immunology and oncology. Previously, Roy worked in various R&D and leadership roles in computational drug discovery including 10 years at Bristol-Myers Squibb in Connecticut, two years at Variagenics, a personalized medicine company formerly in Cambridge, MA, and four years at Schrodinger, Inc. where he was responsible for launching collaborative drug discovery projects with global pharmaceutical firms and top academic laboratories. Roy previously served as Visiting Associate Professor at Tokyo Institute of Technology where he lectured in drug discovery and biotechnology entrepreneurship. Roy received his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Boston University, and completed his post-doctoral studies in Chemistry at MIT.

The Most Cost-Effective Method of Invasive Seaweed and Marine Debris Management
Andrés Bisonó León

Founder & CEO, SOS Carbon

Andrés Bisonó León

Founder & CEO, SOS Carbon

Andrés Bisonó León, born and raised in the Dominican Republic, is the founder and CEO of SOS Carbon. He has been leading SOS Carbon since its spinout from the mechanical engineering department at MIT in 2020. As a ClimateTech, BlueTech and AgTech entrepreneur, Andrés is dedicated to blending social impact with sustainable industrial operations, working at the intersection of ocean conservation, management of invasive seaweed, agriculture, and biotechnology.
 
Andrés holds an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management ('23) and dual degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Finance from Drexel University. Under his leadership, SOS Carbon has expanded into four countries, implementing a vertically integrated operation that spans harvesting sargassum at sea, R&D, seaweed processing, and value-add product commercialization. This operation has made significant strides in transforming the sargassum crisis into an opportunity for socioeconomic development and carbon offset while advancing a sustainable agricultural and its resilience.
 
Building on the success of SOS Carbon, Andrés founded SOS Biotech, the first Dominican enterprise focused on biotechnology and the blue bioeconomy. Dedicated to developing and commercializing innovative marine-based products, SOS Biotech’s flagship product, Marine Symbiotic, enhances crop resistance and reduces synthetic fertilizer dependency. The company is also advancing research into other applications, including animal feed and cosmetic products, using sargassum as the primary raw material. Through SOS Biotech, Andrés is spearheading efforts to unlock the potential of marine resources to drive sustainable development in the Caribbean and beyond. SOS Biotech operations leverage the Dominican Republic’s strategic location for manufacturing and exporting the biostimulant under the free trade zone regime.
 
SOS contributions have garnered recognition from institutions such as MIT, the Legatum Center, and the PKG Fellowships, as well as support from notable organizations like the UNWTO, The Economist, MIT Solve, ITC, among others. His work exemplifies a commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable innovation through blue biotechnology and seaweed-based products.

1:00 PM

Breakout Rooms
1:15 PM

Adjournment
  • Agenda
    12:00 PM

    Welcome and Introduction
    Program Manager, MIT Startup Exchange
    Ariadna Rodenstein
    Program Manager

    Ariadna Rodenstein is a Program Manager at MIT Startup Exchange. She joined MIT Corporate Relations as an Events Leader in September 2019 and is responsible for designing and executing startup events, including content development, coaching and hosting, and logistics. Ms. Rodenstein works closely with the Industrial Liaison Program (ILP) in promoting collaboration and partnerships between MIT-connected startups and industry, as well as with other areas around the MIT innovation ecosystem and beyond. 

    Prior to working for MIT Corporate Relations, she worked for over a decade at Credit Suisse Group in New York and London, in a few different roles in event management and as Director of Client Strategy. Ms. Rodenstein has combined her experience in the private sector with work at non-profits as a Consultant and Development Director at New York Immigration Coalition, Immigrant Defense Project, and Americas Society/Council of the Americas. She also served as an Officer on the Board of Directors of the Riverside Clay Tennis Association in New York for several years. Additionally, she earned her B.A. in Political Science and Communications from New York University, with coursework at the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey in Mexico City, and her M.A. in Sociology from the City University of New York.

    12:05 PM

    Lightning Talks and Q&A
    The Trusted AI Coauthor for Innovative Industries
    Katie Trauth Taylor

    Co-Founder & CEO, Narratize

    Katie Trauth Taylor

    Co-Founder & CEO, Narratize

    Katie Trauth Taylor is CEO and co-founder of NarratizeAI, the Generative AI storytelling platform for innovative enterprises. Katie is a growth-focused entrepreneur executive with 10+ years of experience inspiring teams to design and deliver magnetic products, memorable experiences, and groundbreaking impacts. She has led strategic innovation narratives and served as a senior content strategist within fast-growth tech startups and the Fortune 500, including Boeing, NASA, Hershey, Sunoco, AAA, IFF, Dupont, Edgewell, Cincinnati Children's, ArgonneNational Lab, Crossover Health, Parsley Health, Omada, Physera, US Dept of Veterans Affairs, MillenniumChallenge Corporation, World Food Forum, and the United Nations. She believes that everyone can be an innovator--when empowered to share their bold ideas.

    Activating Customer Data for Decision Intelligence
    Abhi Yadav

    Co-Founder & CEO, iCustomer

    Abhi Yadav

    Co-Founder & CEO, iCustomer

    Abhi Yadav is a serial entrepreneur and AI innovator at the forefront of customer experience, identity, and AI. He is the Founder & CEO of iCustomer, a pioneering decision intelligence company, focused on GTM optimization to start with.

    With a proven track record of building and successfully exiting enterprise AI software startups in Customer Data Platform (CDP) and consumer identity spaces, Abhi has transformed digital innovations for global leaders like GM, Nike, Google, Travellers, Amex and Cisco to name a few. His expertise spans Financial, consumer goods, and high-tech sectors.

    Abhi co-founded the AI Innovators Community (AIC), a prestigious network of over 1,000 corporate, academic, and startup executives driving applied AI innovation. His actionable insights on overcoming AI adoption challenges and maximizing its marketing potential stem from extensive collaborations with Fortune 500 companies and cutting-edge AI startups.

    An alumnus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with both engineering and MBA degrees. His is on a mission for AI-driven, privacy-compliant personalization and decision science driven modern enterprise.

    AI Infrastructure Software for the Enterprise
    Sid Probstein

    Founder and CEO, SWIRL

    Sid Probstein

    Founder and CEO, SWIRL

    Sid Probsteinis a startup leader with pioneering experience in unified search. He is currently the creator and CEO of SWIRL-AI Infrastructure software that enables enterprise users to have a conversation with their internal data without a vector database.

    Before founding SWIRL, Sid was the founding CTO of Attivio (acquired by ServiceNow), AI Foundry (acquired byGateless/Guaranteed Rate), and Dele Health (acquired by Vayyar) and held senior engineering/product roles atFAST (acquired by Microsoft), Knowledgent (acquired by Accenture) and Northern Light Technology. He started his career at John Hancock Financial Services where the integrated reporting & client management system he delivered won a Microsoft Solution In Action award. He is an avid Python hacker, futurist, and live music fan.

    When GPS Can't, We Can
    Kanwar Singh

    Co-Founder & CEO, Skyline Nav AI

    Kanwar Singh

    Co-Founder & CEO, Skyline Nav AI

    Kanwar is the CEO of Skyline Nav AI - a computer vision GPS-independent geolocation and delivery capability. As a first-generation American, he also serves as a Captain in the US Army (Signal Corps).
     
    At Skyline Nav AI, we specialize in providing reliable visual position and navigation technology where GPS falls short. Our product, Skyline Match AI™️, harnesses the power of computer vision algorithms and reference datasets to navigate and position effectively without relying on GPS, cellular, or Wi-Fi.
     
    Skyline Match AI™️ can localize you within 5 meters with a clear view in urban areas, 95% of the time, with no GPS, cellular, or Wi-Fi connectivity. Serving both commercial and military needs, Skyline Match AI™️ ensures you stay on course by using skylines to fill in the gaps when GPS fails.
     
    Our customers and partners include the US Air Force, NASA, US Army, BAE Systems, Kearfott Corporation, Draper Labs, MIT, Cornell University, NGA, MassChallenge, Move America, CDL, FedTech, DCode, NSF, and others.

    Advanced Flat Optical Technologies for Sensing and Imaging
    Juejun Hu

    Chief Scientist, 2Pi

    Juejun Hu

    Chief Scientist, 2Pi

    Juejun Hu is currently the Chief Scientist of 2Pi Inc. and John F. Elliott Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT. He holds a Ph. D. degree (2009) from MIT and a B.S. degree(2004) from Tsinghua University, China, both in Materials science and Engineering. Prior to joining MIT, he was an assistant professor at the University of Delaware. He is a fellow of Optica, the International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE), and the American Ceramic Society.

    Delivering the Future of Medicines
    S. Roy Kimura

    Co-Founder & CEO, Alivexis

    S. Roy Kimura

    Co-Founder & CEO, Alivexis

    Since 2017, Roy has served as co-founder and CEO of Alivexis, Inc. (formerly Modulus Discovery, Inc.), a computation-driven small-molecule drug discovery firm with offices in Tokyo and Boston and a drug discovery pipeline in immunology and oncology. Previously, Roy worked in various R&D and leadership roles in computational drug discovery including 10 years at Bristol-Myers Squibb in Connecticut, two years at Variagenics, a personalized medicine company formerly in Cambridge, MA, and four years at Schrodinger, Inc. where he was responsible for launching collaborative drug discovery projects with global pharmaceutical firms and top academic laboratories. Roy previously served as Visiting Associate Professor at Tokyo Institute of Technology where he lectured in drug discovery and biotechnology entrepreneurship. Roy received his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Boston University, and completed his post-doctoral studies in Chemistry at MIT.

    The Most Cost-Effective Method of Invasive Seaweed and Marine Debris Management
    Andrés Bisonó León

    Founder & CEO, SOS Carbon

    Andrés Bisonó León

    Founder & CEO, SOS Carbon

    Andrés Bisonó León, born and raised in the Dominican Republic, is the founder and CEO of SOS Carbon. He has been leading SOS Carbon since its spinout from the mechanical engineering department at MIT in 2020. As a ClimateTech, BlueTech and AgTech entrepreneur, Andrés is dedicated to blending social impact with sustainable industrial operations, working at the intersection of ocean conservation, management of invasive seaweed, agriculture, and biotechnology.
     
    Andrés holds an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management ('23) and dual degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Finance from Drexel University. Under his leadership, SOS Carbon has expanded into four countries, implementing a vertically integrated operation that spans harvesting sargassum at sea, R&D, seaweed processing, and value-add product commercialization. This operation has made significant strides in transforming the sargassum crisis into an opportunity for socioeconomic development and carbon offset while advancing a sustainable agricultural and its resilience.
     
    Building on the success of SOS Carbon, Andrés founded SOS Biotech, the first Dominican enterprise focused on biotechnology and the blue bioeconomy. Dedicated to developing and commercializing innovative marine-based products, SOS Biotech’s flagship product, Marine Symbiotic, enhances crop resistance and reduces synthetic fertilizer dependency. The company is also advancing research into other applications, including animal feed and cosmetic products, using sargassum as the primary raw material. Through SOS Biotech, Andrés is spearheading efforts to unlock the potential of marine resources to drive sustainable development in the Caribbean and beyond. SOS Biotech operations leverage the Dominican Republic’s strategic location for manufacturing and exporting the biostimulant under the free trade zone regime.
     
    SOS contributions have garnered recognition from institutions such as MIT, the Legatum Center, and the PKG Fellowships, as well as support from notable organizations like the UNWTO, The Economist, MIT Solve, ITC, among others. His work exemplifies a commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable innovation through blue biotechnology and seaweed-based products.

    1:00 PM

    Breakout Rooms
    1:15 PM

    Adjournment

Disclaimer:  MIT Startup Exchange can make introductions that ideally provide open ended discussions in order to share mutual interests and potentially create common ground that incite the parties to collaborate. MIT Startup Exchange introductions may eventually lead to mutual partnerships, but that is not in any way guaranteed by MIT, MIT Corporate Relations, MIT Industrial Liaison Program (ILP) or MIT Startup Exchange, which takes no responsibility for these outcomes and no formal part in such discussions following our introduction. MIT Startup Exchange and its activities and events are not for purposes of soliciting investment or offering securities.