LAUNCH event highlights UND’s growing culture of innovation

May 14, 2026

Published in: Center for Innovation, Learning

UND founders pitch ventures tackling challenges in health care, aerospace, education and more

Spencer Milanowski on stage at LAUNCH event — Spencer Milanowski, a helicopter aviation student at UND, takes the stage at the LAUNCH Event to describe his start-up company’s conversion kits, which can turn recreational vehicles into electric-powered machines for personal transportation. Photo by Mark Maliskey of Mark Maliskey Photography, Grand Forks.

On April 29, innovation took center stage at the second annual LAUNCH showcase, where 10 student and early-stage founders presented ventures developed through UND Center for Innovation programs, including the Runway Accelerator and the National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps or I-Corps.

The showcase on the Memorial Union’s Social Stair showed how participants transformed early ideas into real-world, high-impact ventures. The lineup highlighted the university’s growing role as a launchpad for such ventures.

Now in its second year, LAUNCH featured founders from across several disciplines, including health care, engineering and aerospace. Their ventures addressed challenges ranging from maternal mental health and dairy safety to satellite refueling and career-support platforms for both collegiate athletes and immigrant communities.

Elisabeth Starosta on stage at LAUNCH event — Elisabeth Starosta, founder of Career Connect, talks about her start-up at the LAUNCH event in the Memorial Union on April 29. Photo by Mark Maliskey of Mark Maliskey Photography, Grand Forks.

A culture of innovation

As for the ventures themselves, they all had their origins in various campus programs that give entrepreneurs meaningful support. The Runway program, for example, combines start-up training, mentorship by staff and business owners, networking with peers and industry experts, and access to up to $10,000 in mini-grant startup funding.

Runway is offered to any UND student or alumni during the UND academic year.

The evening opened with remarks from Scott Snyder, UND vice president for Research & Economic Development, followed by President Andrew Armacost, who emphasized the importance of cultivating a strong culture of innovation across campus.

Each founder delivered a four-minute pitch outlining the problem they set out to solve, how their idea evolved, and the practical impact they hope to create.

Scott Snyder on stage at LAUNCH event — Scott Snyder, vice president for Research & Economic Development at UND, talks about how events such as LAUNCH help propel the culture of innovation on campus. Photo by Mark Maliskey of Mark Maliskey Photography, Grand Forks.

From idea to reality

Presenters included:

Jett Sutton, co-founder of NxtSzn — a platform helping collegiate athletes prepare for life after sports through mentorship and career connections.
Elisabeth Starosta, founder of Career Connect — a digital hub connecting immigrants, refugees and international students with employment resources and community support.
Lilja Jurva, founder of NoDak Therapy — an occupational therapy clinic providing research-based mental health support focused on mothers’ well-being.
Mackie Garibaldi, founder of Food Guardian — a portable device that quickly determines whether dairy products are safe to consume.
Bappa Ghosh, program lead of Detectology — a health care startup developing faster, more accessible methods for early cancer detection through small blood samples.
Chris Pitalo, founder of Moiety Research + Development — a fast-acting medical device to detect toxins and administer antidotes in high-risk environments.
Sai Susmitha Guddanti, co-founder of AstroFuel — a solution aimed at extending satellite lifespan through in-orbit refueling.
Spencer Milanowski, founder of PRC Electric — conversion kits for recreational vehicles into electric-powered machines for personal transportation
Lacey Anderson, founder of Gather & Grow — consultancy offering solutions to K-12 schools for educational experiences
Dan Newman, co-founder of SHARP Biomedical — minimally invasive treatments for chronic back pain

Audience members react at LAUNCH event — Audience members react at the LAUNCH event, as entrepreneurs presented their ideas onstage and described the status of their start-up projects. Photo by Mark Maliskey of Mark Maliskey Photography, Grand Forks.

Turning experience into impact

Following the pitches, Mentors Nick Beaulieu and Pete Haga took the stage to reflect on the role mentorship has played in their careers and why they continue to invest in UND founders.

“UND played a critical role in shaping my career,” Beaulieu said. “Growing up in Larimore, N.D., I didn’t know any engineers or patent attorneys, so I relied on mentors at every step, from engineering school to law school. Being able to give that guidance back to students now has been an incredibly meaningful experience.”

The evening concluded with a networking reception, where founders connected with industry leaders, mentors and community partners to gain feedback and build relationships that could help move their ventures forward.

“LAUNCH highlights how innovation programs such as Runway and I-Corps converge to translate discovery into tangible outcomes,” said Amy Whitney, director of the Center for Innovation.

“The continued growth of this work reflects the momentum behind UND’s culture of innovation and our ongoing commitment to supporting founders across campus.”

The showcase offered a glimpse into UND’s next generation of innovators — and the ideas already shaping what comes next.

A video of the livestreamed event is available for readers who’d like more information. Additional photos of the event are available, too.

If you’re interested in supporting UND’s growing culture of innovation as a mentor, partner or participant, contact the UND Center for Innovation to learn how to get involved.