Farley Students Named to Chicago Inno ‘Under 25’ List
Northwestern representation highlights entrepreneurship ecosystem’s impact in Chicago
Students and alumni of the Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation have been named to this year’s Chicago Inno ‘Under 25’ list. The annual list recognizes young, rising startup leaders making significant strides in Chicago’s business community.
The Farley entrepreneurship minors and students who have taken Farley classes, among eight University students and alumni cited, include:
Anthony Alepra (’21)
Alepra is a program manager at Techstars Chicago and is the cohost of Ventures by the Lake, a podcast spotlighting in-depth conversations with local early-stage startup founders, investors, and leaders in the entrepreneurship community. He graduated from Northwestern with a bachelor’s degree in physics, took Farley classes, and served as a teaching assistant for Farley’s ENTREP 295: Principles of Entrepreneurship class.
Noah Edelman (’25)
Edelman is one of the cofounders behind The Neuron, a daily newsletter boasting over 225,000 subscribers. This publication is dedicated to providing insights into artificial intelligence (AI) trends and the practical business applications of AI. Edelman and his startup won the audience favorite prize in 2023 VentureCat, Northwestern’s annual student startup competition. Edelman is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, has taken Farley classes, and has worked on his startup at The Garage through the Jumpstart and Residency programs.
Chirag Goel (’21)
Goel is the founder and CEO of TegoTech, a startup focused on developing safer wall outlets to mitigate the risk of electrocution injuries. Leading a team of more than 15 members, Goel is actively pursuing partnerships with local elementary schools and pediatric clinics. The venture has successfully secured more than $30,000 in funding to date. Notably, TegoTech participated in the 2023 VentureCat, where it emerged as a runner-up in the social impact track. Goel graduated with a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and a minor in data science, took a Farley class, and has participated in the Residency and Tinker programs at The Garage.
Zahra Hussain (’25)
Hussain is the founder and CEO of Envo, a pioneering startup in Pakistan that specializes in manufacturing and selling reusable straws made from wheat-based biodegradable material. Envo's mission is to diminish the use of traditional plastic, paper, and metal straws by providing a sustainable alternative that remains sturdy and does not become soggy. Hussain is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in economics and minors in Asian studies and environmental studies. She has taken Farley classes, and has participated in The Garage’s Jumpstart, Propel, and Residency programs.
Steven Jiang (’24, Farley entrepreneurship minor) and Aspen Buckingham (’23), cofounders of Overture Games
Jiang and Buckingham are the cofounders of Overture Games, a gaming startup with a mission to enhance the experience of practicing for beginner musicians. Named to the Techstars Chicago fall 2023 class, they joined forces to address the burnout they had personally encountered as musicians and launched their first game, Intervallic, which Jiang has described as a blend of Duolingo and Guitar Hero. Jiang is pursuing a bachelor's degree in economics with a minor in entrepreneurship, and Buckingham has a bachelor's degree in computer science and music. Additionally, Buckingham served as a teaching assistant at the Farley Center. The Overture Games team was also developed in The Garage at Northwestern’s Residency, Jumpstart, X-Factor, and Little Joe Ventures programs.
Bella Le Sage (’25, Farley entrepreneurship minor)
Le Sage is the founder and CEO of hostU, a platform facilitating medium-term rentals for university students and faculty seeking flexible, temporary housing. As a member of the Northwestern women’s varsity volleyball team, Le Sage faced the challenge of finding temporary housing for summer training. Recognizing a shared struggle among her peers, she joined forces with Leah Kelly and Gabby Esteve to develop an innovative solution that connects subletters with hosts. Le Sage is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in economics and a minor in entrepreneurship. The hostU team has developed their startup at The Garage at Northwestern’s Jumpstart program.