Alumni Startup Spotlight

The University of Washington Information School is delighted to highlight iSchool alumni who exemplify the ideals of entrepreneurship. These alumni have taken their enterprising notions one step further by either establishing or being employed at new business ventures. To nominate someone for the Alumni Startup Spotlight series, please fill out our form.

Nishit Bhasin, Incskill: iSchool MSIM alum Nishit Bhasin is a mission-driven entrepreneur recognized in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 for Social Impact. His initial entrepreneurial experience came when he founded a virtual reality production house that...

Rose Paquet, The Incluseum: "Rose Paquet co-founded The Incluseum alongside fellow Museology alum Aletheia Wittman, shortly after the duo graduated in 2012. Paquet’s commitment to the project continued throughout her Ph.D. studies from 2013 to..."

Angela Mele, Studio Understory: "Angela Mele’s startup, Studio Understory, is a women-owned company with an appreciation for localized stories.Run by Mele, a Museology alum with expertise in visual communication, and her partner, Laura Frick, Studio..."

Ishita Bhandari, Watto AI: "Ishita Bhandari is the co-founder of Watto AI, a 2023 Y Combinator startup. Bhandari, formerly a software engineer, and her co-founders, Suryansh Soni and Rishabh Panwar, both prior engineering managers, had the initial..."

News

Then, a vision; now, a force: Information School turns 25

Monday, November 10, 2025

Mike Eisenberg’s trademark enthusiasm was on full display. It was Jan. 6, 2001, and the nascent Information School threw a party in the newly opened, state-of-the-art Mary Gates Hall.In a few short years, the UW’s Graduate School of...

$1.5 million grant supports Indigenous data stewardship

Monday, November 3, 2025

Responsibly managing Indigenous research data takes a great deal of care and intention, especially given a long history of harmful practices. A research team at the Information School is charting a path forward that respects Indigenous...