President Alan Garber expressed his enthusiasm from the Klarman Hall stage, saying, “I love this event,” as the 2026 Harvard President\u2019s Innovation Challenge celebrated eco-friendly, AI, medical, and other inventive solutions. Photos by Sam Mironko captured the event where ideas like solar-powered oxygen delivery in Africa, AI for construction site safety, and new treatments for chronic inflammatory diseases were highlighted.<\/p>\n
Garber emphasized the journey from idea to prize winner, acknowledging the palpable excitement and congratulating participants for their curiosity and drive. He stated, “We are eager to see where your ambition leads.” The competition, a key venture event at Harvard University, includes students from all 13 Harvard Schools, along with select alumni and affiliates. Finalists presented to judges before the May 6 awards ceremony, where they showcased their projects to both in-person and virtual audiences.<\/p>\n
Winners shared over $500,000 in non-dilutive funding, courtesy of the Bertarelli Foundation, co-founded by Ernesto Bertarelli, M.B.A. ’93. Bertarelli praised the finalists’ entrepreneurial spirit, expressing confidence in their potential to improve the world. The winning innovations spanned 10 Harvard Schools, covering diverse fields and industries.<\/p>\n
Among the $75,000 award recipients were Adalat AI, creating a justice technology platform in India; Overture Therapeutics, developing weight-loss therapies; Promakhos Therapeutics, working on treatments for inflammatory disorders; Refine Technologies, enhancing peer review with AI; and Winko Solar, aiming to provide solar-powered oxygen to African hospitals. Yann Calv\u00f3 L\u00f3pez, Refine Technologies’ CEO, highlighted the funding’s role in building a top-notch applied AI team, while Akonkwa Mubagwa of Winko Solar noted the prize would help speed up their deployment process.<\/p>\n
Additional $25,000 awardees included Colombiando, innovating rural education; Enlaye, mitigating construction risks with AI; FIND Neuro, advancing epilepsy surgery; Revolv, converting waste into feed and fertilizer; and Stenoa, developing critical care systems. Ingenuity awards went to Bite By Byte, CryoFab, ReMine, and VitaLoop for their respective advancements in dentistry, tissue engineering, geothermal energy, and dialysis care.<\/p>\n
Jill Kravetz, Harvard Innovation Labs Executive Director, noted, “More than 3,000 students have participated in Harvard Innovation Labs programming this year.” She emphasized that the finalists are not only part of the innovation ecosystem but are actively shaping and strengthening it.<\/p>\n