From Infant Health AI to Climate Tech: UCSC Students Gain National Recognition
Image courtesy of UCSC
Student innovators from the University of California, Santa Cruz are making waves on the national stage—demonstrating how a growing ecosystem of mentorship, experiential learning, and real-world problem solving is translating into meaningful impact.
At the center of this momentum is Rayna Borah, who has been selected to represent UC Santa Cruz at E-Fest, one of the nation’s premier undergraduate entrepreneurship competitions taking place later this April. Competing alongside top universities such as Duke, Dartmouth, and Johns Hopkins, her selection marks a major milestone for UCSC’s expanding national presence in entrepreneurship.
Borah is also a Genspiration Prize Finalist with the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), a distinction awarded to a select group of emerging inventors nationwide. As a result, she has been invited to attend the NAI Annual Conference in Los Angeles from June 1–4, 2026.
Her innovation, SEOS (Smart Early Observation System), is an app designed to detect three life-threatening pediatric conditions in infants—an ambitious and deeply impactful solution that sits at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and human-centered design.
Alongside Borah, Aditya Kanteti is building momentum in the climate-tech space as co-founder of Wattnest. The company has developed a cellular-connected smart controller that leverages machine learning and standardized communication protocols to optimize water heating for builders, property owners, and utilities—reducing electricity costs while easing pressure on the grid.
Wattnest was a finalist in last year’s UCSC Launchpad competition and recently completed the accelerator program at UC Berkeley SkyDeck, one of the most competitive university-affiliated accelerators in the country. Kanteti has also been invited to attend the NAI Annual Conference, further highlighting the national recognition of UCSC’s student innovators across disciplines.
Behind these student successes is a growing support system that bridges education, mentorship, and real-world application. Both students have been supported through UC Santa Cruz’s Innovation & Business Engagement Hub, including Ryan Sharp, who has played a key role in catalyzing early momentum, and Ben Legum, who has provided ongoing strategic and venture development guidance. The Hub also initiated the campus NAI Chapter and organizes its initiatives in collaboration with academic inventor leaders.
“This is exactly the kind of impact we hope to see from the initiatives enabled by our campus NAI Chapter,” said John MacMillan, UC Santa Cruz Vice Chancellor for Research and president of the Chapter. “These young inventors aren't just the leaders of tomorrow; they are solving complex problems today. By integrating them into the NAI annual conference showcase, we are ensuring that their brilliance is recognized on a global stage and that the spirit of invention continues to thrive within our academic community. ”
Programs like the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Development (CIED) are helping to fuel this momentum by giving students hands-on opportunities to work on real ventures, engage with industry mentors, and develop both the technical and human-centered skills needed to succeed.
From infant health to climate innovation, UC Santa Cruz students are showing that when education meets action, the results can reach far beyond the classroom.