10 Inspiring NCSU Entrepreneurs You Need to Know About
When it comes to entrepreneurship, NCSU has produced some real trailblazers. From successful startups to industry giants, the university has had its fair share of innovative and enterprising minds. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at 10 inspiring NCSU entrepreneurs you need to know about.
1. Jim Goodnight
Jim Goodnight is one of NCSU’s most successful entrepreneurs and a legend in the software industry. He co-founded SAS Institute, a leading data analytics firm, while he was still a graduate student at NCSU. Today, SAS Institute has over 14,000 employees and serves clients in over 140 countries.
2. Pradeep Khosla
Pradeep Khosla is an NCSU alumnus who went on to become the Chancellor of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). He has also been a successful entrepreneur, co-founding two semiconductor startups – TaraCom Integrated Products and ClearShape Technologies. His entrepreneurial experience has proved invaluable in his role as UCSD’s Chancellor, where he has overseen numerous initiatives to promote commercialization of research.
3. Dan Ariely
Dan Ariely is a behavioral economist and best-selling author who graduated from NCSU with a PhD in cognitive psychology. He went on to co-found a behavioral economics research firm, Irrational Labs, which helps companies apply behavioral insights to improve decision-making and drive innovation.
4. G. S. “Vasu” Vasudevan
G. S. “Vasu” Vasudevan is the co-founder of Liquidia Technologies, a pharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative treatments for respiratory diseases. Under his leadership, Liquidia has raised over $230 million in funding and successfully launched its first product, a treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension.
5. Kirsten K. Davis
Kirsten K. Davis is an NCSU professor and serial entrepreneur who has started several companies focused on developing biodegradable materials. She is the co-founder of Urban Fibers, a company that makes eco-friendly textiles from recycled materials. She has also been involved in founding several other companies like Novonex and Resilient Ventures LLC.
6. Dr. Ananth Grama
Dr. Ananth Grama is an NCSU alumnus and co-founder of Cognifyx, a company focused on combining artificial intelligence with behavioral science to predict health outcomes. His expertise in AI and healthcare has made him a sought-after speaker and commentator on these topics, and his innovative work has won numerous accolades.
7. Dr. Alper Bozkurt
Dr. Alper Bozkurt is an associate professor at NCSU and an expert in electronic textiles and wearable technologies. He is the founder of Bug Labs, a company that focuses on developing smart textiles and sensors for a range of applications. His work has won numerous awards, including the NSF CAREER Award.
8. Eric Young
Eric Young is an NCSU alumnus and the founder of GoodBookey, a mobile app that allows users to place bets on sports and other events for charity. The app has received widespread acclaim for its innovative approach to social giving and has raised over $300,000 for charity so far.
9. Sam Taylor
Sam Taylor is an NCSU alumnus and the co-founder of Lumeova, a company that provides LED lighting solutions to a wide range of industries. Under his leadership, Lumeova has secured several major contracts with Fortune 500 companies and has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies in the US.
10. Dr. Jay Baliga
Dr. Jay Baliga is an NCSU professor and an expert in power electronics and semiconductors. He is the founder of Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC), a nonprofit organization that focuses on advancing semiconductor technology through research and collaboration. SRC has had a profound impact on the industry, helping to drive innovation and progress in the field of semiconductors.
Conclusion
These 10 NCSU entrepreneurs are just a few of the many innovative and inspiring minds that have come out of the university. Their stories serve as a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit of NCSU and the incredible impact that can be achieved through hard work, innovation, and persistence.
