This is the third post of our new interview series to introduce our eight finalists in the week leading up to the Launch finals. To see Solugen and other teams pitching on the big stage, come to the Launch finals at Kresge Auditorium on May 11!
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Team Name: Solugen
Team Members: Gaurab Chakrabarti, Sean Hunt, Zachary Moore
Q: Give us a 1-sentence pitch of your idea!
A: We use enzyme engineering to convert CO2 into high value chemicals.
Q: Can you tell us about your 'aha' moment?
A: It was literally in the shower.
Q: Why did you decide to apply to the 100K?
A: It’s a chance to demonstrate our technology and business plans to a passionate and inquisitive group.
Q: If you could be part of the founding team of any innovation from the past 100 years, what would it be and why?
A: The discovery, production and distribution of the Salk vaccine that eradicated polio. Imagine the era, 1952, and the first batch of polio vaccines are being distributed, but it turns out it would require a few more years of subsequent testing to perfect, all the while receiving backlash from everyone in the country. But Salk pushed past the naysayers and in 1954 a perfected version of the vaccine would go on to eradicate one of the deadliest diseases known to man. That is a team we would want to be on.
Q: What’s been your biggest accomplishment in this process so far?
A: Finding out that our first patent received favorable reviews!
Q: What are you most looking forward to for the Launch finals?
A: Meeting the other teams, discussing execution strategies and road blocks!