Meet the innovators behind the Live Innovate Play summer 2026 cohort

Wayne State University's entrepreneurial ecosystem continues to grow with the Live Innovate Play program's 2026 summer cohort. The program, housed at the Detroit Hacker House and run in collaboration with TechTown - Wayne State's entrepreneurship hub - gives participants hands-on experience in innovation, technology and Detroit's entrepreneurial landscape.

The immersive, summer-long program gives participants the opportunity to tackle real-world challenges, develop products and engage with Detroit's startup ecosystem through Hacker House-led programming and mentorship. It illustrates how community-based innovation spaces and Wayne State work together to strengthen the people and networks that will power Detroit now and in the future.

"This year's cohort represents the kind of talent, creativity and drive that power Detroit, and it has been exciting to watch their ideas evolve over the course of the summer," said Jeseekia Vaughn, program director of Live Innovate Play. "We're looking forward to seeing them share their work and continue building on what they've accomplished through the program."

The program culminates in a final showcase July 31, where participants present their ventures and compete for $16,300 in non-dilutive funding. Awards include a $10,000 first-place prize, a $5,000 second-place prize, a $1,000 third-place prize and a $300 People's Choice Award.

By partnering with TechTown, Live Innovate Play connects participants to a pathway that bridges early-stage exploration and skill-building to advanced programming, venture development and small-business support. It ensures participants gain not only technical skills, but also the experience and connections they need to launch careers and ventures in the region.

"Partnerships like the one between TechTown and Detroit Hacker House are critical to building a strong and inclusive innovation ecosystem," said Christianne Malone, chief program officer at TechTown. "By meeting all participants where they are and connecting them to the resources, mentors and opportunities they need to succeed, our teams are shaping Detroit and Michigan's next generation of founders, innovators and leaders."

Meet the 2026 Live Innovate Play cohort

The 2026 cohort includes 14 students and community members that represent an array of backgrounds, disciplines and career interests.

Eriyon Adams

Major: Masters of Data Science and Business Analytics
Graduation Year: 2025
Bio: Eriyon Adams is a two-time Wayne State graduate, earning degrees in information systems and data science and business analytics. He is passionate about technology and entrepreneurship and is continuing his journey as a developer. His goal is to build products that create value and make a positive impact on the world.

Sally Al-Rawi

Major: Psychology
Graduation Year: 2027
Bio: Sally Al-Rawi is the founder and CEO of CognivraX™, a patent-pending, AI-enabled platform that helps mental health practitioners regulate their nervous systems and prevent burnout. An Iraqi-American refugee and psychology researcher at Wayne State, she studies nervous system regulation and practitioner burnout. She builds at the intersection of neuroscience, technology and health equity.

John Paul Arriola

Major: Computer Science
Graduation Year: 2026
Bio: John Paul Arriola is a Wayne State computer science graduate and co-founder of AUX, a social music discovery app. His background includes full-stack development, REST API design and technical leadership. Based in Detroit, he is focused on building technology that strengthens community and connection.

Donzelle Collins

Major: Master of Data and Analytics
Graduation Year: 2026
Bio: Donzelle Collins is a Detroit native and master's student in data and analytics at Wayne State with experience in advertising, public relations, analytics and customer experience. He serves as a Postgraduate Advisory Fellow with the Detroit Regional Chamber, supporting talent development, innovation and community engagement. He is interested in developing solutions that enhance customer experiences and contribute to Detroit's innovation ecosystem.

Patricia A. Ferguson, MD, MBA

Major: Master of Business Administration
Graduation Year: 2026
Bio: Dr. Patricia Ferguson is a healthcare executive, board-certified OB/GYN and entrepreneur with more than three decades of experience in medicine and healthcare quality improvement. A recent MBA graduate of Wayne State's Mike Ilitch School of Business, she founded SynpSys, an innovative healthcare technology platform. She is also deeply committed to philanthropy, youth mentorship and health equity.

Orieanna Greathouse

Bio: Orieanna Greathouse is the co-founder of 3F Athletics LLC, a multidisciplinary fitness and performance company built on the philosophy "Form Fits Function." A licensed massage therapist, certified personal trainer and stretch practitioner, she leads recovery, wellness and client experience efforts within the company. She is passionate about entrepreneurship, community building and creating more collaborative approaches to health and wellness.

Summer Higgins

Major: Computer Science
Graduation Year: 2026
Bio: Summer Higgins is a computer science graduate who enjoys building technology that creates tangible impact. Her experience includes assistive technology for visually impaired users, award-winning software projects and development work on CognivraX. She is motivated by opportunities to combine technical expertise with accessibility and human-centered design.

Greg Lomason

Major: Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Graduation Year: 2026
Bio: Greg Lomason is the founder of 3F Athletics LLC and holds a bachelor's degree in exercise and sports science. He developed the company's Elite Performance Blueprint and Core 6 Protocol to help clients improve performance and reduce injury risk through individualized programming. His work combines exercise science, movement analysis, coaching strategy and applied research.

James Latstetter

Major: Finance and Actuarial Mathematics
Graduation Year: 2028
Bio: James Latstetter is the founder of Basis Financial and a Wayne State student studying actuarial mathematics and finance. He is building tools that help consumers connect budgeting, goals and major financial decisions through personalized planning and AI-powered insights. His work focuses on making advanced financial decision-making more accessible to everyday users.

Arya Mahajan

Major: Computer Science
Graduation Year: 2029
Bio: Arya Mahajan is the founder of FloodGuard, a cybersecurity project designed to protect vehicles from CAN-bus flooding attacks. Motivated by the growing risk of vehicle intrusion, he created the platform to detect and block malicious message spam. His work focuses on improving vehicle security and resilience.

Mithun Nandhakumar

Major: Electrical and Computer Engineering
Graduation Year: 2029
Bio: Mithun Nandhakumar is an electrical and computer engineering student at Wayne State and co-founder of SynpSys. He is passionate about entrepreneurship, technology and building products that solve meaningful problems. His interests include software engineering, artificial intelligence and healthcare innovation.

Jamal Norman

Major: Computer Science
Graduation Year: 2025
Bio: Jamal Norman is a recent Wayne State computer science graduate and software developer with experience building AI-powered workflow systems and automation tools. His work includes developing backend services, intelligent workflows and interactive user interfaces using modern software development tools and frameworks. He is particularly interested in full-stack development, intelligent automation and building systems that make work more efficient.

Vaishnavi Paliwal

Major: Industrial and Systems Engineering
Graduation Year: 2028
Bio: Vaishnavi Paliwal is the founder of Nihongo Journey, an AI-powered language learning platform focused on Japanese language acquisition. She created the platform to make learning more personal and measurable through daily practice and adaptive feedback. Her work sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence and education.

Sadana Saravanan

Major: Neuroscience Honors and Psychology
Graduation Year: 2028
Bio: Sadana Saravanan is an honors neuroscience and psychology student at Wayne State with aspirations of becoming a physician-scientist. As the founder of NeuroCap, she is exploring how wearable neurotechnology can improve awareness of cognitive fatigue in high-focus environments. She is passionate about combining neuroscience, healthcare and technology to solve real-world challenges.

Shaping Detroit's innovators and entrepreneurs

Programs like Live Innovate Play are central to Wayne State's and Detroit's economic development strategy. By opening the program to all participants, not just Wayne State students, the program pairs academic learning with workforce readiness while helping ensure local talent remains at the center of the region's growth. Through partnerships and applied learning experiences, Wayne State, TechTown and their partners are building a more dynamic and inclusive economy across Detroit and Southeast Michigan.

"What excites me most about Live Innovate Play is seeing these folks realize what's possible when they have access to these experiences as part of a supportive community," Vaughn said. "As someone who has built and worked within these spaces for a long time, I know how important that community aspect is. This program ensures more people can participate in and contribute to Detroit's growth. And I am so proud to be a part of it."

Learn more about Live Innovate Play.

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