THE
FOUNDER
FILES

Welcome to The Founder Files—a dynamic directory of startups founded by students, graduates, faculty, researchers, or postdocs of MIT and/or Harvard. Use the filters to sort startups by industry or country. To add your startup, please complete this form. This platform is designed to increase visibility for exceptional ventures and connect them with a global network of investors, partners, service providers, and future team members.
VISION
Find your next investment opportunity, partnership, career path, or source of inspiration here.

THE FOUNDER FILES
Welcome to The Founder Files—a dynamic directory of founders who are students/graduates/professors of MIT and Harvard and their startups. Explore a diverse range of innovative companies and discover the stories behind their creation.
Use the filters to sort startups by Industry or Country, and click "Read the Interview" to dive into exclusive interviews with each founder.
If you want to be featured on The Founder Files, kindly complete this form.

Nugttah
Empowering Business, Delighting Customers
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Food & Beverage, SaaS (Software as a Service)
Nugttah is a customer engagement platform that empowers businesses—especially in the food and beverage sector—to build stronger relationships with their customers, reduce churn, and drive growth. They offer loyalty programs, online ordering integration, and Wiser Analytics powered by GenAI to deliver actionable insights and predictive recommendations. By simplifying customer engagement and consolidating fragmented systems, Nugttah helps restaurants, cafes, and retailers personalize experiences, optimize operations, and maximize customer lifetime value.
Founders:
Sumayah Alzamil, Shahaleel Al Yousef, Madhawi Al Zamil
Stage:
Country:
Saudi Arabia
Email:
Year Founded:
2019
Affiliation:
MIT

Nurtur
Pioneering Prevention of Postpartum Depression
Healthcare, Artificial Intelligence (AI)
nurtur is a digital health startup pioneering the prevention of postpartum depression using AI-powered technology and clinically validated protocols. They address the 85% of maternal mental health disorders that go undiagnosed due to the reactive nature of healthcare. nurtur’s AI platform identifies at-risk mothers before symptoms appear, offering self-directed therapy and ongoing monitoring. Their solution supports OBGYN clinics with a fully managed mental health service covered by insurance through the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM).
Founders:
Kristen Ellefson, Bindu Chanagala
Stage:
Product launched in market, Raised funding from accelerators or grants, Raised funding from angels or pre-seed investors, Selected by a top accelerator (Techstars Healthcare)
Country:
United States
Email:
Year Founded:
2024
Affiliation:
MIT

OGMA
Nano Solutions - Global Impact
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Chemicals, Climate, Manufacturing, Hard Tech, Energy, Sustainability / Environmental, Biotech / Life Sciences
OGMA is revolutionizing industrial manufacturing with the first bio-based nanocatalysts that mimic enzymes without biological constraints. They use AI to design stable, robust, and versatile nanocatalysts suited for large-scale industrial use. Their solutions target sectors including cleaning chemicals, biofuels, and wastewater treatment, where their nano innovations are poised to create global impact.
Founders:
Richard Robinet-Duffo, Aliki Lavda
Stage:
prototype/mvp developed, Raised funding from accelerators and pre seeds, Have enterprise clients (still in discussions), Participated in prominent accelerators (Delta V)
Country:
United States
Email:
Year Founded:
2024
Affiliation:
MIT

Otomo
Otomo enables smarter patient-physician engagement using AI
Analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Healthcare, SaaS (Software as a Service)
Otomo bridges the critical gap in patient care with our AI platform. Patients often feel overwhelmed by complex medical instructions, while doctors struggle with administrative overload. Otomo simplifies medical information into an intuitive learning experience and integrates seamlessly into doctors' workflows. It ensures that no one is left in the dark—patients are informed, and doctors are empowered, starting from fast-turnaround surgeries.
Founders:
Mike Sanchez, Kevin Yang, Kiyo Takanishi
Stage:
Product launched in market, Generating revenue, Raised funding from angels or pre-seed investors, Operating in one country
Country:
United States
Email:
Year Founded:
2023
Affiliation:
MIT

Palla
We make cross border payments simpler, faster and more user friendly
Financial Services
Palla enables instant international transfers from the United States to Latin America. We partner with Financial Institutions, Fintechs and Distribution Partners to enable payments and payment requests embedded in their digital channels.
Founders:
Enrique Perezalonso, Andrew Mason, Gregory Piccolo
Stage:
Generating revenue, Raised funding from accelerators or grants, Raised funding from angels or pre-seed investors, Operating in multiple countries, Selected by a top accelerator (e.g., YC, Techstars, etc.), Growth-stage with rapid scaling, Completed Series A or beyond, Have enterprise or institutional clients
Country:
United States, Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Caribbean
Email:
Year Founded:
2020
Affiliation:
MIT

Quipu
AI to Democratize Access to Capital for Microbusinesses
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Financial Services
Quipu’s mission is to unlock access to capital for unbanked and underbanked microbusinesses across Latin America. They develop disruptive AI-based credit scores using alternative and unstructured data. Since 2022, they’ve underwritten over 15,000 loans to 12,000 clients. Their lending customers are informal business owners often rejected by traditional banks, while their scoring-as-a-service clients include microfinance institutions, banks, fintechs, and credit cooperatives.
Founders:
Mercedes Bidart, Viviana Siless, Eduardo Carrasquilla
Stage:
Country:
Colombia
Email:
Year Founded:
2019
Affiliation:
MIT

Reserhub
Reserhub: Vertical SaaS powering the future of ground transportation. Ground transportation moves billions of people but is still underserved by tech. Reserhub provides an API first platform for bus and transitr operators to digitize, optimize, and grow - giving them the tools to compete in a rapidly evolving mobility landscape.
SaaS (Software as a Service)
Vertical SaaS Powering the Future of Ground Transportation
Founders:
Adrian Cuadros, Andres Sucre, & Sebastian Gomez
Stage:
Profitable or cash-flow positive, Growth-stage with rapid scaling, Have enterprise or institutional clients, Completed Series A or beyond, Operating in multiple countries
Country:
Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina
Email:
Year Founded:
2014
Affiliation:
MIT

Rise
The premier Credit-Led AI-Powered Digital Bank in Egypt
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Financial Services, Lending / Loan Management
RiseCo is Egypt's first AI-powered, credit-led digital bank, transforming how individuals and businesses access financial services. By leveraging cutting-edge artificial intelligence and advanced analytics, RiseCo delivers personalized credit solutions, seamless digital banking experiences, and innovative financial products. Its mission is to empower underserved communities and drive financial inclusion while fostering growth and prosperity across Egypt.
Founders:
Monte Magdy, Elad Shoushan, Abe Abdulla, Rotem Hayoun-Meidav
Stage:
Country:
United States
Email:
Year Founded:
Affiliation:
MIT

S1LKPAY
Share2Pay
Financial Services, Crypto / Blockchain
S1LKPAY enables users to share their purchasing power instantly by providing real-time access to funds through instant card sharing with their loved ones who are underbanked or unbanked. The platform is democratizing transfers and payments by making the entire process smooth and seamless.
Founders:
Gani Uzbekov
Stage:
Country:
United Arab Emirates
Email:
Year Founded:
Affiliation:
Harvard

S3 Markets
Tackling Scope 3 Emissions by Scaling Up Decarbonized Commodities
via a Book and Claim System
Climate, Marketplace, Sustainability / Environmental
S3 Markets provides revenue subsidies to low-carbon commodity producers in the highest emitting, hardest-to-abate sectors of the global economy (cement, steel, ammonia) so they can compete head on with incumbent commodity producers, displacing dirty, outdated modes of production.
Founders:
Saman Baghestani, Michael Raynor
Stage:
Country:
United States
Email:
Year Founded:
2022
Affiliation:
MIT