At the UCI ANTrepreneur Center, we are excited to highlight student entrepreneurs and share their personal experiences, achievements, and brilliant insights. We invite you to join us as we celebrate these ANTrepreneurs and get inspired by their stories.
Last year, Avantika Singh participated in the UCI ANTrepreneur Center’s AI Innovation Challenge, where she and her team created WellnessU, a generative AI companion that uses predictive analytics to enhance student experience across multiple wellness dimensions.
After ranking third in the AI Innovation Challenge, Avantika and her team competed in and won the TiE U SoCal Chapter and were named semi-finalists at the TiE U Global Collegiate Startup Competition. WellnessU also reached the semi-finals of the UCI Stella Zhang New Venture Competition. Avantika is a current graduate student pursuing a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science at the UCI Samueli School of Engineering. Her expertise spans circuit design with exposure in industry, research, and academia across North America, Asia, and Europe.
Avantika’s Capstone project with Microsoft was accepted at the prestigious Design Automation Conference for a University Demonstration in June 2024. The same month, she was also awarded an Academic and Professional Excellence Award by the UCI Samueli School of Engineering. Avantika was a 2021 Finalist of the Qualcomm Innovation Fellowship North America and received an IEEE Solid State Circuit Society Rising Star Award in February 2020.
To learn more about WellnessU, its creation, and the experience of competing, Ryan Foland, Director of the ANTrepreneur Center, invited Avantika for an interview.
Ryan: Ahoy Avantika! Thank you for meeting with me today! You first developed the idea for WellnessU when you participated in our AI Innovation Challenge. What motivated you to participate in the Challenge and how did you come up with the idea behind WellnessU?
Avantika: Excited to be here, Ryan. I would say sheer curiosity and excitement to try and solve a meaningful problem using AI are what inspired me to join the Challenge. At that time, I was relatively new to AI use case products, so I thought the AI Innovation Challenge was a great incentive to (i) try solve a real-time use case problem using AI, (ii) build a team with complementary skillsets, and (iii) be disciplined with the endeavor and follow a timeline.
WellnessU originated from my own experience of dropping out of an excellent Ph.D. program at UCLA in 2022. At the time, I didn’t have an exact answer as to why I dropped out. I knew I wasn’t feeling well day-in and day-out, even though everything was going great from outside. But there wasn’t a way to quantify my wellbeing since they’re such a subjective thing. WellnessU was conceptualized to fill this gap, making Wellness Quotient the next evolutionary metric after Intelligence Quotient, Emotional Quotient , Spiritual Quotient, and Creative Quotient.
Ryan: What was it like competing in the AI Innovation Challenge?
Avantika: Competing in the AI Innovation Challenge was nothing short of a thrilling rollercoaster ride! The start of my graduate program at UCI in Fall 2023 coincided with the kickoff of the AI Innovation Challenge. I spent those first few months in exploration mode, attending every networking event on campus. At one of these events in mid-October, I hastily finalized my team, but they unfortunately lacked the long-term commitment needed for the project. This phase was marked by constant self-reflection where I questioned my determination, passion, and ability to execute the project single-handedly as my initial team fell apart.
However, I was incredibly fortunate to have the unwavering support of my partner Himanshu Singh, a recent Masters of Finance graduate from UC Irvine. He was instrumental in the preliminary ideation, market research, analytics development, and finance modeling behind WellnessU, which allowed me to push through the chaotic and challenging period from mid-October to late November. During this time, we also engaged with a few stakeholders at UCI, gaining valuable insights that helped us navigate the early setbacks.
The UCI ANTrepreneur Center played a pivotal role in our journey, and I actually wanted to thank you for your help, Ryan. You were the first to hear my rough idea during a mentoring session and connected me with Dr. David Spight, Director of the UCI Undergraduate/Undeclared Advising Program, and other stakeholders, which really got the ball rolling.
During the mentor-mentee mixer event at the UCI ANTrepreneur Center, we also connected with Brian Boyd, Technical Account Manager at AWS. He was genuinely excited about our idea and offered valuable feedback. His willingness to meet during Winter Break for an in-person session was incredibly stimulating and helped consolidate our approach in a more structured manner.
The mentor-mentee matchmaking for semifinalists was a game changer! I proactively reached out to a few mentors, including Scott Ford, a Venture Coach and Co-Founder of Gozigzag, who provided constructive feedback on our slides and overall idea. But it was Ryan Huff, COO at hapily and a Product Innovator, who truly transformed our preparation. He reached out in January 2024, and within a week, he had completely reshaped our strategy. From boosting my confidence to helping rebuild the team to refining our pricing strategies, product features, and storytelling, Ryan’s guidance was instrumental in making our final pitch compelling.
Ryan: I’m happy that I was able to support you and your team. I’m also happy that you were able to connect with so many stakeholders and mentors during the course of the Challenge. What were some of the other takeaways from the Challenge?
Avantika: The AI Innovation Challenge taught me the importance of perseverance and adaptability. I also learned that building a strong, committed team is crucial, and it’s essential to recognize that everyone has their own priorities and motivations. It’s important to stay focused on the core mission, even when faced with setbacks. The experience also highlighted the value of mentorship, as having the right guidance can significantly influence the direction and success of a project.
The competition also provided a structured environment that pushed me to continuously iterate and refine my business idea. Feedback from mentors and stakeholders at UCI (David Spight, Tom Andriola, and Suzanne Helbig) were invaluable in honing our value proposition, understanding our market, and developing a more compelling narrative. The process also forced me to think critically about execution, team dynamics, and the overall feasibility of WellnessU.
Ryan: You’ve mentioned the importance of building a strong team. How has working as a team contributed to your progress and achievements so far, and how do you approach teamwork?
Avantika: Working as a team has been absolutely instrumental in our progress and achievements. WellnessU wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support, dedication, and expertise of my team members—Neil, Jaideep, and my partner, Himanshu. Each of us brought something unique to the table, and it was this blend of skills, perspectives, and relentless effort that allowed us to push boundaries and achieve milestones we once thought were out of reach.
I believe that consistent effort, combined with a structured and disciplined approach, is the key to success. To ensure the smooth operation of WellnessU, we implemented a weekly/bi-weekly schedule where the team would sync up to discuss our dynamic goals and roadmaps. Every week or two, we assigned ownership of tasks based on these roadmaps, ensuring that everyone had clear responsibilities. Communication was crucial, so we used a WhatsApp group to address any queries promptly before our scheduled Zoom meetings.
Early on, we recognized that we lacked the necessary skillsets for full-stack web platform development. After a transparent discussion with the team, we decided to outsource this aspect to a team in India. This required additional coordination to keep everything on track, but it was essential for our progress.
When it comes to managing roles and responsibilities, our guiding principle is to identify each team member’s strongest skillsets and passions. By understanding their backgrounds, we can assign roles and tasks that align with their strengths, ensuring transparency and accountability across the board. This approach has allowed us to work efficiently and effectively toward our shared goals.
Ryan: After such a hard time at the outset of the Challenge, I’m glad you were able to build such a strong team. In fact, after the Challenge, you and the team continued to work together as you competed in the TiE U Global Collegiate Startup Competition. How were the beginning rounds, and what strategies did you use to advance?
Avantika: The TiE U Global Collegiate Startup Competition unfolded in two phases. The first phase involved competing within regional TiE U chapters across the globe, with the top two winners from each region advancing to the semifinals of the global competition.
For us, the initial screening round took place on April 11, 2024, where we were evaluated based on our business plan summary, business model canvas, and pitch deck. The scores from these documents earned us a spot in the Finals of the TiE U SoCal Chapter where we competed against six other university teams from the Southern California region. The final round was a virtual pitch, where we delivered a 10-minute presentation followed by a five-minute Q&A session with a panel of judges.
Winning the TiE U SoCal Chapter was a significant milestone for us. This victory led to an invitation to the TiE Global Angels Investor Summit 2024 on April 26, where we were honored on stage and given a one-minute elevator pitch opportunity. Our pitch resonated with the audience, and two angel investors approached us afterwards for in-depth discussions, offering their business cards and inviting us to begin formal deliberations. This experience not only validated our efforts but also opened doors to potential investment opportunities.
As we prepared for the semi-finals, our strategy was simple. We committed ourselves to refining and polishing our positioning, problem statement, and pitch deck for optimal flow and content. This involved countless hours of work, relentless mentoring sessions with TiE members and mentors (Vijay Kotrappa, Anshuman Sinha, Neeraj Bhavani, Rajeev Rawat, and Venkat Shatogopam), and a continuous cycle of feedback and improvement. Girish Kannali from TiE SoCal played an instrumental role in guiding us through this process, helping with both strategic insights and logistical support.
Ryan: How was your trip to Silicon Valley to compete in the semi-finals? What were your expectations, and what lessons have you learned through competing in various challenges?
Avantika: Our trip to Silicon Valley was exhilarating, and we were excited to pitch at the TiE U semi-finals alongside 31 other teams from around the world. We also had the incredible opportunity to do a pitch rehearsal with the Venture Associates of the Plug and Play Tech Center at their headquarters, tour Google Plex, and visit Stanford University.
We went into the competition with high hopes of making it to the finals, but despite our best efforts, we didn’t quite get there. It wasn’t due to a lack of preparation—our team was well-prepared and delivered a solid pitch. However, the competition was fierce, with many teams already having real-time customers and significant sales traction. In a sense, we were the underdogs, but being part of this competition was a great learning experience and we absorbed a wealth of knowledge just by being in that environment.
We had the chance to network with brilliant minds, and some of the work being done by other teams was truly inspiring. Additionally, the TiE SoCal chapter was pleased with our efforts and, as a result, we were offered student membership in TiE. This opportunity to continue engaging with such a supportive and dynamic community is something we’re truly excited about.
Ryan: This sounds like an incredible experience. What would you tell other student student startups who are thinking of participating in similar competitions?
Avantika: My advice would be to go for it but be prepared for a challenging journey. Be selective when choosing your team—aligning with individuals who share your passion and commitment is vital. But as a Founder and CEO, you also need to be willing to do the heavy-lifting on most occasions. Seek out mentors early on, and don’t hesitate to ask for help or advice. Use the competition as an opportunity to learn, network, and grow. Even if you don’t end up winning, the experience itself will be incredibly valuable.
Ryan: Speaking of advice, what advice would you say to other teams working on startups?
Avantika: Stay resilient and adaptable. Building a startup is a rollercoaster, and there will be ups and downs. Focus on your vision but be open to pivoting when necessary. Communication within the team is key—ensure everyone is on the same page and working towards a common goal. Finally, don’t underestimate the power of a strong support system, whether it’s mentors, friends, or family. They can provide the encouragement and perspective needed to keep moving forward.
Ryan: Thank you so much for sitting down with me and sharing your experience with WellnessU. To close this out, can you share what’s in store for WellnessU?
Avantika: Thank you for having me, Ryan. As of now, WellnessU is still a work in progress. The team and I will have updates soon when we meet back in Fall 2024, but I think our main goal is to apply to startup incubator/accelerator programs. In the meantime, we invite interested parties to check out the WellnessU website for more information.
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