[REMOTE] UCLA Innovation Challenge: Live Pitches in Societal Impact

​See the Latest Technological Innovations at UCLA and Learn from Expert Judges!

​​​The Easton Technology Management Center's annual Cross-Campus Innovation Challenge is a great example of the spirit of collective effort which is essential to success, exemplifying an invaluable partnership between the Anderson school and the greater UCLA campus, our many students, faculty, and alumni who are committed to innovation and advancements in health tech, societal impact, and transformative tech. This initiative brings together UCLA students from all disciplines and backgrounds to create new ventures that can drive a positive change in society.

​​​​​This is the second of three live pitch events, focused on technological advancements driving societal impact.

​​​​Join our expert judges as our competition finalists showcase their groundbreaking innovations!

​​Societal Impact Judges:

​​Eduardo Cetlin is Managing Director at the Deutsch Foundation, where he oversees programs and operations while fostering collaboration, innovation, and community connection. Before Deutsch, he co-founded the Belo Community Foundation in Brazil and served as President of the Amgen Foundation, and he currently sits on the board of planetary health organization Health in Harmony and founded Poder Civico NOW, which supports Black social impact leaders in Brazil. He holds a B.S. in Business from UFMG and an MBA from UCLA Anderson.

​​Eric Lam is a social impact leader and technologist with over 15 years of experience designing and scaling digital solutions that strengthen community well-being. Most recently he served as CEO of Exygy, a B Corp partnering with governments and nonprofits to make public services more accessible and equitable, with work spanning affordable housing, social safety net infrastructure, and emergency response. He previously held a technology leadership role at Accenture and holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UCLA.

​​Sienna Jackson is the founder of Zoran Creative Strategy, a consultancy helping mission-driven organizations develop and operationalize their social impact strategies, and co-founder and CEO of Nortera, a B2B software platform focused on HR compliance and employment litigation risk for large enterprises. She brings 15 years of experience at the intersection of cause, culture, and capital, with a prior career in entertainment that includes work on multiple Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning original soundtracks. Sienna holds an MBA and MS and serves on numerous nonprofit and professional boards.

​​​​​​​Societal Impact Team Finalists:

• ​CAMBAR Technology - CAMBAR transforms wastewater into a local source of clean water and renewable energy using an advanced algae-bacteria-membrane system. By reducing energy-intensive aeration and boosting biogas production, it lowers operating costs while helping communities meet water reuse goals.

• ​LectureAID - LectureAID is an accessibility platform that automates the creation of accessible lecture materials, including audio transcriptions and visual descriptions. It helps universities provide scalable support for students with disabilities and meet compliance needs.

• ​MindSpace - MindSpace is a gamified emotional check-in platform that helps middle schools identify and respond to student anxiety in a non-diagnostic, student-friendly way. The short interactive check-ins are designed to increase engagement and honesty.

• ​The Water Test - The Water Test is the world’s first at-home microplastics water test, allowing anyone to see what is in their tap water for $50 using smartphone-based fluorescence microscopy. The team is building the largest consumer dataset of microplastics contamination.

• ​Upwardia - Upwardia democratizes the protection built into traditional family wealth management by rewarding daily behaviors that extend life expectancy and aligning institutional incentives to deliver it free to families who need it most.

​​​About the Innovation Challenge

​​​We believe the strongest solutions to complex problems come from a diversity of thought, experiences and backgrounds. This initiative brings together UCLA students from all disciplines and backgrounds to collaborate on driving a positive change in society.

​​​To learn more, please visit: https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/innovation-challenge