GIPC 2025 Finalists

In Spring 2025, more than 50 students across 27 teams participated in the Landegger Program’s 7th Annual SFS Global Impact Pitch Competition (GIPC) at Georgetown University. GIPC is an innovative entrepreneurship event that serves the entire Georgetown student community and is led by Professor Dale Murphy and the IBD team. On April 11, the six finalist teams pitched their ventures to a panel of four distinguished judges in the Mortara Center.

The judges awarded $23,000 in seed funding to the six finalist teams. The 2025 top prize went to Tracker-Rx, an app that identifies allergens found within the inactive ingredients of medications, led by Jackson Hoffman (HAPI ‘25) and Madeline Jones (MS in Microbiology and Immunology ‘25).

Other finalists, who also received funding to kickstart their projects, included:

• People’s Choice Award (chosen by audience vote): Rooted and Rising, — a circular economy venture empowering Honduran smallholder farmers through coconut processing, biofuel, and market access, led by Kylee McVicker (GHD ‘25).
• Language Buddy, which translates the Wolof language for tourists in real-time, to improve buyer/seller interactions and support Senegal’s local economy, led by Manya Kodali (BSFS ‘25), Kanmani Duraikkannan (COL ’26), Mamadou Diallo (DAUST ’27), and Adja Toure (DAUST ’27).
• CompoStamp, which provides compostable labels that help food brands replace plastic, reduce waste, and meet sustainability goals, led by Luna Mejia (BSBA ‘27).
• InfraHomes, self-sustaining modular housing combining affordability, sustainability, and commercial leasing to tackle homelessness, led by Beenish Haleem (MS-GRA ‘25) and Zach DeMello (BSBA ‘24, MS-GRA ‘25).
• Streetlight, which helps users better understand the dynamic nature of the cities they visit or live in, led by Jorge Guajardo (BSFS ‘25) and Will Stomber (BSFS ‘25).

Our distinguished panel of judges included:

• Greg Landegger (SFS ’93), angel investor and Vice President, Parsons & Whittemore, Inc.
• Shavini Fernando (CCT ’19), 1st GIPC Winner; Founder and CEO, OxiWear.
• Eddie Deschapelles (SFS/IBD ‘82), Investment and Finance Expert and IBD Professor
• Ario Keshani (SFS/IBD ‘05), Serial Entrepreneur and Investor

The Landegger Program in International Business Diplomacy is grateful to the School of Foreign Service and our donors. Without them, it would not be possible to hold these groundbreaking and inspiring initiatives. We thank all the judges for their insights, assessments, and encouragement in this process. 

Finally, we would also love to thank everyone who participated in this year’s GIPC for their hard work and dedication. Every team who entered has real potential as founders and social innovators.