On January 13th, ABSA x Ascend x Buerk Center of Entrepreneurship hosted the Innovator Insights Panel, featuring a group of inspiring entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. Each speaker shared their experiences, challenges, and advice, offering a glimpse into their unique paths. Here are some of the key takeaways from the event:
Meet the Panelists!
A mood regulation app scaling access to Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for young adults through interactive game design.
Amy Swanson, Founder of Ultropia
Developing washing/drying technology that uses sound instead of heat.
Joann Jen, Founder and Partner at Topi Ventures
Enhancing sustainability and innovation for brands in the food and wellness industry.
Q&A
What inspired you to take this path and begin your own start-up?
Sah: With a pre-law background and experience at a law firm, Sah faced burnout and depression. Returning to school to take business classes and competing in the Dempsey Startup Competition ignited her passion for entrepreneurship, as she saw the potential of her product to change lives.
Nha: Nha’s fascination with startups began while collaborating with Sah in the Dempsey Startup Competition. The excitement of building something impactful together motivated her to stay on the entrepreneurial path.
Amy: As a mom, Amy understands how laundry is a universal but time-consuming chore. Inspired by how ultrasonic technology could improve traditional washing machines, she’s driven to reduce the burden of doing laundry.
Joann: With a background in accounting and political science, Joann entered consulting and helped startups develop loyalty programs. Meeting inspiring founders led her to launch Topi Ventures, driven by a passion for innovation and impact.
For students thinking about starting their own business someday, what skills or experiences do you think were most helpful for you while building your startup?
Sah: Adopting a beginner’s mindset and staying open to learning were key. Asking questions—no matter how simple—and embracing feedback helped her grow quickly.
Nha: Execution and strong management skills are critical. Nha emphasizes the importance of learning to lead with impact, managing teams effectively, and not being afraid to ask for help.
Amy: Curiosity and self-awareness are essential but so is having a thick skin. Many people will offer advice but learning to filter what’s truly relevant for your startup is crucial.
Joann: Persistence through failure and thriving in ambiguity made a difference. Startup life brings varied pacing, from pitching one day to having downtime the next—staying adaptable is key.
What were the biggest challenges you faced when transitioning from school or internships to starting your own business, and how did you handle them?
Sah: Taking full ownership of her dreams was both exciting and challenging. Transitioning from a right-versus-wrong mindset in school to focusing on continuous improvement required reframing how she asked questions and approached learning.
Nha: Self-motivation was one of Nha’s biggest hurdles. Participating in programs like the Jones and Foster Accelerator helped her stay on track by setting clear milestones.
Amy: The financial risks of entrepreneurship were significant for Amy. She overcame them by staying motivated, conducting extensive research, and making the most of available resources.
Joann: For Joann, finding a business idea that truly resonated with her values and passions was essential. With her background in political science, she applied her expertise to effectively shape and grow her startup.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned from your entrepreneurial journey so far?
Sah: There’s no such thing as failure in startups—only learning opportunities. Even when things go wrong, it’s never game over if you keep moving forward.
Nha: Patience and self-love are essential. Nha emphasizes that a stressed mindset hinders good output, so learning to be kind to yourself is key to success.
Amy: Sometimes the best move is to step back. Building experiences outside the daily grind helps refresh your perspective and keep your creativity alive.
Joann: Continuous improvement drives success. Asking how to refine and edit your ideas makes the difference between having a concept and turning it into a tangible achievement.
Amy Swanson - Ultropia
Which of your experiences at UW do you think has contributed most to the development of your company, Ultropia?
The abundance of resources at UW was pivotal to Ultropia’s growth. Access to the Applied Physics Lab with ultrasound expertise, the CoMotion tech transfer office, and a network of experts helped her develop her technology. Participating in pitch competitions provided valuable funding opportunities, while UW’s supportive community made it easy to connect with mentors and industry leaders.
What challenges did you not expect during your Ultropia/start-up journey?
Amy didn’t anticipate the high costs associated with research and development. Accessing the necessary resources presented unexpected challenges, as building a startup requires more tools, funding, and connections than she initially imagined.
Sah & Nha - MoodRoom
What’s a mistake you’ve made that ended up teaching you something valuable?
Both founders learned the importance of self-care after letting go of their own well-being during their entrepreneurial journey. Neglecting themselves led to valuable lessons about balance, showing that prioritizing personal health and mindset is essential for sustainable success.
Joann Jenn - Topi Ventures
As the Founder of Topi Ventures, how do you discover brands you want to work with?
Joann’s focus is on brands that are innovative and unique in their category, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and environmental impact. She also keeps an eye on food reviews and industry trends to identify potential partners.
Your experiences seem to bridge different industries; how has each of those industries helped you grow?
Joann reflects on how each of her diverse experiences has contributed to developing a core skill set. She emphasizes thinking in terms of capabilities—whether it’s understanding target customers in marketing or adapting to new technologies like GPT. These roles allowed her to hone transferable skills, such as strategic thinking and problem-solving, that apply across industries. Ultimately, these experiences helped her view challenges more holistically, blending insights from each area to drive success.
We hope you enjoyed reading about the journeys and insights shared by these inspiring founders. Be sure to join us for our event on January 27th, our Business Basics Series 2 - Interview Prep Workshop with Jeff Nguyen from BobaTalks! We can’t wait to see you there!