Farley Students Named to Chicago Inno ‘Under 25’ List
The annual list recognizes young innovators who are ready to make their mark in Chicago.
Several students from Northwestern University's Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation have been recognized in this year's Chicago Inno "25 Under 25" list, highlighting their remarkable entrepreneurial achievements.
The Farley entrepreneurship minors and students who have taken Farley classes, among five University students cited, include:
Rudy Arora (’27)
Major in psychology
Arora has succeeded with his startup Turbolearn, an artificial intelligence (AI) notetaking platform for education that has attracted 700,000 users and generates millions in annual recurring revenue. As a first-year student, Arora won Northwestern's annual VentureCat startup competition, taking home the $100,000 grand prize. Turbolearn uses AI to convert lecture recordings into study materials, helping students better balance their attention during classes.
Katia Shek (’26)
Major in social policy and minor in business institutions
Shek is tackling educational challenges as the cofounder and CEO of WizLab, an AI platform that helps teachers create personalized learning materials efficiently. Her inspiration came from volunteering in fifth-grade classrooms, where she witnessed teachers struggling to meet diverse student needs. Since developing the prototype in August, WizLab has secured pilot programs at 10 educational institutions and garnered support through multiple funding sources, including The Garage's Propel and Jumpstart programs and an US National Science Foundation grant. The startup also won the Audience Favorite prize at DePaul's Pitch Madness Competition.
Beyond WizLab, Shek demonstrates her entrepreneurial spirit as codirector of strategy for the Global Research & Consulting Group and founder of the Northwestern Hong Kong Student Association. She has balanced her startup journey with involvement in Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity, Women in Business, a competitive Bollywood dance troupe, and volunteering as a computer science teacher in District 65 schools.
Trevor Abbott (’26) and Victoria Israel (’26)
Majors in mechanical engineering
Abbott and Israel are revolutionizing data collection in healthcare and beyond with their startup HaptE. Israel, a third-year student in mechanical engineering from Buenos Aires, Argentina, brings a background in social impact, having previously founded STEMOA, an international nonprofit providing scientific resources to low-income students. Abbott, also a third-year student in mechanical engineering, combine
s his aerospace experience leading NASA project teams with his entrepreneurial vision. They both led the new endeavor, Metallic Expandable Technology for Artemis Lunar Structures (METALS), which took the highest honor at NASA’s 2024 annual Breakthrough, Innovative, and Game-Changing (BIG) Idea Challenge forum. And together, they've developed innovative low-cost data-sensing gloves that track hand motions and grip strength for physical therapy applications.
While HaptE's initial focus is on improving patient outcomes in physical therapy, their technology has broader applications in manufacturing, logistics, and robotics. The startup has already secured pilot agreements with leading physicians, with feedback expected by the end of 2024. Their innovative approach has earned them recognition through The Garage's Jumpstart pre-accelerator program, where they won second place and $8,000 in funding, along with acknowledgment from 1517 and Little Joe Ventures.