12 pathbreaking startups spanning various sectors, demonstrating innovation and a commitment to addressing contemporary challenges with cutting-edge solutions.

In the Winter of 2023, HarvardAE revealed its selection of a standout article on entrepreneurship and innovation from the cohorts participating in the Thought Leadership Writing Incubator.

On May 18, the HarvardAE Accelerator brought together a panel of global venture investors to evaluate the pitches of the eleven companies and identify the top three companies in the cohort.

Angela wanted to use the new virtual try-on service to see what different lip shades look like on her skin. But when she opened it up, a message said: “no face detected.” Her friend, who’s white, could see the different products virtually applied to her skin. But Angela, a black woman, could not.

When facial recognition systems were being initially created, the grad students used pictures of classmates, predominantly white and Asian men. Unsurprisingly this technology works especially well for those groups. New technology tends to be tested by those who are most easily available to the creator, leaving room for potential shortcomings with other populations. 

Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs Accelerator Announces 2023 Cohort

The top prize from the HarvardAE Accelerator Demo Day was captured by Autonomo, which is reimagining the retail shopping experience by building checkout-free convenience stores. Autonomo is led by co-founder James Sutherland, a 2014 graduate from Harvard Business School.