Two student-led teams with ties to the College of Science & Engineering took home top awards in TCU’s CREATE accelerator program, a one-year initiative that provides mentorship, workshops and startup capital to student entrepreneurs.
CREATE, a cross-campus accelerator program run by the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and led by associate director Paul Evans, concluded this year’s program. The program, powered by the Shaddock Seed Fund, invited student teams from across TCU to develop and refine their business ventures throughout the school year and then make final pitches before a panel of judges. Ten teams pitched and eight received funding.
One of the winning startups, Intrapic, earned $6,000 for its groundbreaking work in AI-powered microscopy analysis. The team includes computer science seniors Ibrahim Bozkurt and Ali Gasimli, and physics Ph.D. student Ugur Topkiran. Emerging from the lab of Anton Naumov, Ph.D., associate professor, Intrapic’s software dramatically improves the speed and accuracy of analyzing complex microscopy images, with applications in biomedical research and diagnostics.
Intrapic worked closely with Chief University Strategy & Innovation Officer Tom Wavering, giving them invaluable entrepreneurial advice. This collaboration brought them closer to understanding the pathways for commercialization, market research and formulating mission and vision for their company, explained Naumov.
“This experience of getting on their feet not as students but already as entrepreneurs gave Ugur, Ali and Ibrahim a leap into the world of entrepreneurship,” said Naumov.
The second winning startup, Towel Rescue, took home $5,000 for its innovative laundry additive that eliminates persistent odors and improves fabric care, challenges traditional detergents often fail to address. The company is co-founded by Gabby Fasulo, a psychology major in the College of Science & Engineering with a minor in entrepreneurship and Luana Araco Dominguez, a Neeley School of Business senior studying finance and entrepreneurship.
The success of these teams illustrates the power of cross-college collaboration at TCU. By combining scientific research and technical expertise with entrepreneurial thinking, these students are developing solutions with real-world impact.
CREATE continues to support TCU entrepreneurs of all backgrounds, helping them move from idea to execution through funding, mentorship, and resources. As these ventures grow, they reflect the innovative spirit that defines TCU’s interdisciplinary approach to entrepreneurship. Read more about all of the winners here.
