Two Brothers Take Top Prize at Ohio State’s First BOSS Space Venture Finale

A team of two brothers secured the $10,000 prize at the Ohio State University’s first-ever Best of Student Startups (BOSS) Space Venture Finale, hosted by the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship. The event, made possible by a grant from the Luby Foundation, showcased innovative solutions to the challenges of space exploration and awarded $20,000 in prizes to three promising ventures.

Ian Harris, a senior studying aerospace engineering, astrophysics, astronomy, and physics, and his brother Nikolas Harris, a freshman majoring in business, won the grand prize with their startup, SPAERO Systems. Their innovative product, SWAN (Sterilizing Wand for Antimicrobial Neutralization), uses plasma technology to sanitize surfaces by targeting harmful microbes, a solution with dual uses in space missions and on Earth.

“Our journey began with the dream of building an ion thruster, but as we researched, we saw a bigger opportunity to address health concerns in space," said Ian Harris. "We wanted to use plasma technology to create a safer environment for astronauts, preventing issues like respiratory problems caused by microbial contamination."

Respiratory problems caused by microbial contamination can be a significant concern for astronauts in space, where the confined environment and limited air circulation exacerbate the risk. Microbes, such as bacteria and mold, can proliferate on surfaces and in the air, leading to respiratory infections, allergies, and other health issues. The lack of gravity affects how airborne particles settle, potentially increasing the risk of inhaling harmful microbes. 

"It’s been amazing to take what seemed like science fiction and turn it into a real product that can have a tangible impact both in space and on Earth,” Harris said. “We're eager to continue with further testing and small-scale manufacturing."

The finale also awarded two runner-up prizes of $5,000:

• Astraeus Paints: Founded by Zachary Smith and Isaac Smith, this venture is developing smart coatings that act as warning signs for unseen environmental hazards, with applications in both space missions and Earth-based industries, such as manufacturing and medicine.
• Apiary Systems: Led by Tom Cooney, Ritvik Rao, Tyler Fenstermaker, and Daniel Domingo Tcheurekdjian, Apiary Systems is focused on creating swarm intelligence software for robotics, enabling simple robotic agents to autonomously collaborate in large, scalable groups to perform complex tasks.

“The creativity and hard work demonstrated by our students and their mentors at the BOSS Space Venture Finale are truly remarkable,” said Cheryl Turnbull, director of the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship. “This event showcases the incredible opportunities that the Keenan Center offers to bring innovative ideas to life. We are proud to support ventures that have the potential to make a real difference in the world, whether on Earth or beyond.”

See more photos from the BOSS Space Finale here.