UPod was a startup I co-founded with classmates at Cornell University during my Masters. Our Design Thinking course engaged us with a design competition hosted by the Biomimicry Institute. The competition challenged us to discover design solutions inspired by natural patterns to help counteract negative effects of climate change.
Our team devised a concept inspired by the plant Utricularia vulgaris, proposing an autonomous robotic agent designed to eradicate mosquito larvae in water bodies. This concept was recognized as a winning entry in the 2019 Biomimicry Global Design Challenge, leading to mentorship from the Institute to advance our idea. As co-founders, we combined our diverse skills to refine UPOD, anchoring our design on scientific research and market feasibility. We executed several proofs of concept to test the fundamental mechanisms of our idea. We further created a Business Plan with robust market validation.
Although we did not secure the funding to progress our venture, the process of developing a functional prototype and the experience of co-founding a startup were invaluable. This journey significantly enhanced my understanding of transforming an idea into a tangible product and has become a cornerstone of my problem-solving methodology.