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Date September 24, 2026
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At Brown Invents Startup Challenge, investors get a firsthand look at Brown-born ventures

During Rhode Island Startup Week, faculty and student entrepreneurs pitched emerging technologies to investors, industry leaders and potential partners to move research discoveries toward real-world solutions.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — A smart wound-care platform that detects and responds to infection in real time. A buoy system that permanently removes polluting nutrients from lakes to help prevent toxic algae blooms. An antisense oligonucleotide technology designed to target BIN1, a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.

Those emerging technologies took center stage at the Brown Invents Startup Challenge, one of many showcases, workshops and panels highlighting entrepreneurship and innovation across the Ocean State during the eighth annual Rhode Island Startup Week organized by RIHub, which runs from Sept. 18-25.

The Brown Invents Startup Challenge pitch competition gave seven Brown-born startups five minutes each to present their product proposals for a chance to win a $10,000 prize supported by event sponsors. 

“There are bold ideas coming out of all corners of campus at Brown, and many have the potential to be life changing,” said Greg Hirth, Brown’s vice president for research and a professor of Earth, environmental and planetary sciences. “But realizing that potential means moving discoveries beyond the lab and connecting researchers with the entrepreneurs, investors and industry partners who can help bring them into the world.”

After hearing pitches from all seven startups, judges awarded top prizes to three teams, evaluating each presentation based on market opportunity, value proposition and pitch delivery. Kallithea Biotherapeutics earned first place and an accompanying $10,000 prize, followed by Red Maple LifeSciences in second place and TEEM Therapeutics in third. 

Kallithea Biotherapeutics co-founder Dr. Jonathan Kurtis, chair of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Brown’s Warren Alpert Medical School, said he was honored to participate in the pitch competition.

“What a great showcase of startups here in Rhode Island; we’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be among them,” Kurtis said. “It really highlights how Brown and our local partners are working together to strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship across the state.”

A group of nearly 100 participants sit in a room listening to a pitch presentation.
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The Brown Invents Startup Challenge was one of many showcases, workshops and panels highlighting entrepreneurship and innovation across the Ocean State during the eighth annual Rhode Island Startup Week organized by RIHub, which runs from Sept. 18-25.

A researcher stands in front of a large powerpoint projection talking to a crowd.
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The pitch competition gave seven Brown-born startups five minutes each to present their product proposals.

A group of professionals sit among a row of tables asking questions of presenters.
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A panel of venture capitalists joined the pitch competition as judges to hear how Brown faculty and students are turning research ideas into impactful ventures.

A venture capitalist holds a mic and emcees the event.
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Having partnered with dozens of companies spun out of Brown, Thorne Sparkman, founder of RightHill Ventures and managing director of Slater Technology Fund, was a natural fit to judge and emcee the event.

A Brown undergraduate student gestures to a slideshow explaining her company's technology.
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Brown University senior Malia Chavinson explains the technology behind “Cyrene,” from her company Naiad Technologies, which leverages biochemical systems to improve water quality.

Two men smile and handshake among a group of professionals after the pitch competition.
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Like many of the events during Rhode Island Startup Week, the pitch competition included time for networking and building connections with potential collaborators.

Three founders that presenting during the pitch night stand for a photo.
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The three winning companies, from left to right: Red Maple LifeSciences co-founder Alec McCall, Kallithea Biotherapeutics co-founder Jonathan Kurtis and TEEM Therapeutics co-founder Kareen Coulombe.

The startup challenge was hosted by Brown Technology Innovations, the University’s technology transfer office, at Providence’s Point 225 building on Wednesday, Sept. 23. Here’s a brief look at the ventures that participated in the challenge. 

Acre Therapeutics

Dr. Alvin Huang, assistant professor of molecular, cell biology and biochemistry 
Ryan O’Rourke, postdoctoral research associate in molecular biology, cell biology and biochemistry

Acre Therapeutics is harnessing antisense oligonucleotide technology to target the Alzheimer’s disease risk factor, BIN1. This represents a novel precision medicine approach to Alzheimer’s disease treatment which intervenes in a critical cellular pathway gone awry in this disease to limit the accumulation of pathogenic tau proteins, a key driver of Alzheimer’s disease dementia.

Kallithea Biotherapeutics

Dr. Jack Elias, professor of translational science, professor of molecular biology, cell biology and biochemistry, professor of medicine 
Dr. Jonathan Kurtis, professor of pathology and laboratory medicine, chair of pathology and laboratory medicine 

Kallithea Biotherapeutics is developing an oncology platform based on targeting chitinase 3-like-1, a master regulator of cell growth and oncogenesis. The company’s first preclinical candidate, a novel monoclonal antibody targeting CHI3L1, has been shown to inhibit tumor growth, decrease cancer metastasis and kill cancer cells. The company plans to advance their therapeutic to the clinic in non-small cell lung cancer. 

Naiad Technologies

Malia Chavinson, Class of 2027  
Environmental sciences

Naiad Technologies makes a scalable buoy system for lakes that permanently removes polluting nutrients to mitigate toxic algae blooms, protect ecosystems and minimize economic losses. Phosphorus-laden water enters the buoy, phosphorus is extracted and stored in the internal filter system, and clean, phosphate-depleted water is sent out. A single buoy can filter an area of 30 acres. When the internal filter package becomes saturated with phosphates after about six months of use, it is swapped out for a new one.

Nereus Systems

Monica Martinez Wilhelmus, assistant professor of engineering 
Nils Tack, senior research associate at Brown’s School of Engineering

Nereus Systems builds compact, propeller-free underwater robots that can safely inspect confined maritime environments traditional remotely operated vehicles and divers cannot easily access. Inspired by bio-locomotion, the autonomous vehicles are designed for shipboard tanks, voids, pipes and other constrained underwater spaces where safer, faster and more adaptable inspection is needed.

PAX Therapeutics

Xiaotian Wang, assistant professor of surgery (research) 

PAX Therapeutics has developed a regenerative medicine injectable treatment for faster, stronger and optimized healing of tendon and ligament tears. The treatment completed the studies required by the Food and Drug Administration and is on the cusp of moving into humans for a Phase 1 clinical trials. PAX Therapeutics is based at Ocean State Labs and is a grantee of Rhode Island Life Sciences Hub.

Red Maple LifeSciences, Inc.

William Ash 
Master of science, biomedical engineering, 2026

Alec McCall 
Ph.D. in biomedical engineering, 2026

Anita Shukla, professor of engineering

Chronic wound infections are a major driver of patient suffering, amputations and healthcare spending. Red Maple LifeSciences is developing EnzyLock, a smart wound-care platform that can both detect and respond to infection in real time through bacteria-triggered technology. The goal is to enable earlier intervention, improve healing outcomes and reduce the burden of wound care on patients and providers.

TEEM Therapeutics

Kareen Coulombe, associate professor of engineering

Biopharmaceutical company TEEM Therapeutics is a discovery engine for new drugs and a platform for drug optimization and selection. The company leverages proprietary 3D human heart Tissue EnginEered Models (TEEMs) using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). TEEM Therapeutics captures the genetics of heart disease patients and employs cutting-edge analytics and screening to identify new targets and drug candidates for cardiac disorders like atrial fibrillation, while reducing undesirable side effects of drugs through iterative compound development.

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Brown and Providence Faculty and Staff Research School of Engineering Warren Alpert Medical School

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