Northeastern announces 2025 Women Who Empower Innovator Awards winners and new fellowship, follow-on fund
In addition to selecting 31 winners, Northeastern introduced new initiatives to expand support for promising entrepreneurs and changemakers.
Thirty-one Northeastern students, graduates and affiliated entrepreneurs have been selected as recipients of the university’s 2025 Women Who Empower Innovator Awards.
The Innovator Awards recognize individuals seeking to make an impact with ventures across fields including health, technology, sustainability and social innovation.
What sets these awards apart is their focus on the person behind the innovation — funding goes directly to the entrepreneur, not the enterprise. This approach invests in emerging leaders while connecting them to a powerful support network designed to amplify their success.
Now in its fifth year, the initiative has invested more than $1.8 million in funding to members of Northeastern’s entrepreneurial community as they build and advance their endeavors. To commemorate the milestone anniversary, the program is expanding to provide long-term support for awardees through a new fellowship program for the top honorees and a follow-along fund for past recipients.
“Every year, our remarkable students and alumni remind me why we started this program, and why it’s critical we continue to enhance it,” says Diane Nishigaya MacGillivray, Northeastern’s senior vice president for university advancement and founder of Women Who Empower. “Behind each of their bold ideas is a story of purpose, courage, and creativity that deserves to be celebrated and shared. We are excited to support them and amplify their work, knowing their shared commitment to impact creates ripple effects that extend beyond our community to communities across the globe.”
To date, the program has received more than 600 applications, with Innovator Awards bestowed upon 133 total recipients representing all Northeastern schools and colleges and the university’s wider entrepreneurial and startup network.
The 2025 cohort includes three recipients from Northeastern’s Roux Founder Residency — a year-long accelerator program designed for early-stage tech startups that focuses on supporting underrepresented founders.
“The Innovator Awards initiative supports founders with more than critical financial capital—it also provides programming, networks and community,” says Betsy Ludwig, executive director of Women’s Entrepreneurship at Northeastern. “It’s opening the door to these supportive connections that creates the foundation for extraordinary outcomes. With our two new initiatives, we are strategically deepening and significantly expanding our support for innovators solving complex global problems, helping them build both their capacity and community for sustainable impact.”
The Women Who Empower Innovator Fellowship Program connects Innovator Fellows with resources to accelerate their professional development and venture success through a nine-month experience focused on mentorship, global connections and venture growth. The inaugural program will culminate in a showcase at the 2026 Northeastern Global Leadership Summit in London.
“I’m truly honored to be selected for this fellowship. Entrepreneurship can often feel isolating, so being part of a supportive cohort means the world to me,” says Ceylan Rowe, founder of the Fihri Foundation and a 2025 Innovator Fellow. “I’m especially grateful for the opportunity to connect with others who can help elevate Fihri’s mission and impact. I carry a big dream for the work we do, and this support brings us one step closer to making it a reality.”
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The Innovator Follow-on Fund will provide capital and strategic support to help past recipients advance or expand their work. Application criteria and funding details will be announced later this year.
2025 Women Who Empower Innovator Awards winners
Innovator fellows
Claire Beskin, Roux Founder Residency, 2023
Empallo: AI-powered clinic for accessible concierge cardiac care
Julieta Moradei, E ’16
Overlay Capital Build: Construction tech consultancy
Ceylan Rowe, CSSH ’03
The Fihri Foundation: Sustainable menstrual product nonprofit
Khushi Shah, Khoury/DMSB ’27
Drizzl: Smart irrigation system using sensors and AI
Lee Sowles, Marymount ’06, MPH ’13, Roux Founder Residency, 2025
Kind Mind: Ed tech platform for behavioral and bullying interventions
Isabelle Wood, MPA ’26
Ranch Lab: Platform connecting young innovators with agricultural producers
AI & technology
1st place: Stephanie Golik, CAMD ’15
Frontflip: AI companion for real estate investors
2nd place: Soumya Singh, MS ’26
Glossi App/Orange Stack: AI-powered vehicle inspections and app development tools
3rd place: Danielle Birchett, COS ’27
Aurora Health Tech: Wearable for dystonia episode prediction in cerebral palsy
Global impact
1st place: Anjali Laddha, DMSB ’26
Degree2Destiny: AI-driven career readiness platform
2nd place: Gabby Gabriel, CAMD ’12
Second Wind Media & GAB INC: Global entertainment media network
3rd place: Vallabhi Singh, DMSB ’17
Creatives Around The World: Startup discovery and investment ecosystem
Health and Wellness
1st place: Sarah Martins, MS ’23
The Special Standard: Speech-language therapy curriculum
2nd place: Marisa Sweeney, MS ’22
Be Well: Women’s health and wellness center
3rd place: Daniella Cohen, DMSB ’26
BioBeats: Biometric music syncing app
Social impact
1st place: Cassandra Friend, Bouve ’24, DNP ’27
Kavalyn Custom Solutions: Veteran-led consulting for education and careers
2nd place: Safiya Khalid, MPP ’24
Community Organizing Alliance (COA): Civic engagement organization for youth
3rd place: Naomi Barrant, DMSB/CAMD ’26
Nuly Root’d: Curly hair product access for students
3rd place: Ashleigh Chiwaya, COS/Khoury ’26
Nuly Root’d: Curly hair product access for students
Sustainability
1st place: Alexa McGovern, Roux Founder Residency, 2025
Dirigo Sea Farm: Kelp-based bioplastic alternatives
2nd place: Daisy Kendrick, CSSH ’16
DaisyK.Madrid: Bespoke women’s shirts
3rd place: Katya Pourteymour, DMSB/CAMD ’22
AVP: Real estate firm transforming underutilized properties
Special recognition
Julie Brady, AS ’09
Balanced Beauty: Advanced skincare technology
Gina Dunn, AS ’06, MS ’13
My Paris Connect: Cultural immersion platform for travelers
Tejaswini Kambaiahgari, MS ’25
BaselineTech: Mixed-reality snowboarding simulators
Lori Lennon, CAMD ’04
Thinkubator Media: Empowering women in STEM through branding and coaching
Izabella Pivo, DMSB ’25
That Entrepreneurial Girl: Media studio for impact founders
Ruby Sulter, DMSB ’27
AthenaStrong: Gym lifting strap designed for women
Calia Brencsons-Van Dyk, Mills ’90
Caliativity Productions: Boutique agency for personal branding
Shirley Wang, DMSB ’25
Foundess: Nonprofit supporting founders of all genders
Hannah Wimpy, Khoury ’27
Ionova: Bridging the gap between hypothesis and experiment
