Project Invent

Meet Kerry Santullo — our 2026 Volunteer of the Year.
Kerry is the Communications Manager at Ralph Appelbaum Associates, the world’s largest practice dedicated to museum and narrative environment design. With 10 years of experience in digital communications for museums and nonprofits, she specializes in strategic campaigns that engage diverse audiences and elevate institutional impact. Her career spans the Children’s Museum of the Arts, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and MoMA PS1 — and she’s also the founder of cassette tape label Soap Library.
We’re so grateful Kerry brought her expertise and energy to Project Invent students this year. Thank you, Kerry! 🎉

The energy from Demo Day LA is still with us!
Nearly 70 student inventors took the stage this past Sunday with bold, community-driven solutions tackling everything from insulin temperature management and the dangers of va**ng, to smoke visibility for firefighters, clogged storm drains, and plastic pollution in our oceans. The creativity, empathy, and ingenuity in that room were truly inspiring.
These young changemakers are building a better future.
To everyone who joined us in person or cheered from afar: thank you for championing the next generation of inventors, problem solvers, and changemakers. 💙✨
STEMforGood YouthInnovation

We’re still buzzing from Demo Day San Diego!

Nearly 60 student inventors took the stage with community-driven solutions addressing emotional wellness, runner safety, elder healthcare, immigrant communication access, and more.

Thank you to everyone who came out and everyone cheering from home!

Find upcoming Demo Days here: projectinvent.org/demo-day

Join us on May 18th for Project Invent Demo Day NYC—where student teams will unveil inventions created alongside real community partners, and where the next generation of leaders takes its first steps toward lasting impact.

Last year at Project Invent Demo Day NYC, the keynote speaker was Anaid Chacón, CEO & Founder of Minette.ai. Anaid discussed the future of AI-driven retail and why we build in the first place.
She reminded students that technology is more than algorithms or data. It’s people, empathy, and purpose.
And she left them with an important message:

“Trust your instincts. You already have what it takes to lead and to build something that matters.”
Now, it’s time to see what this year’s students have built.
Register here: eventbrite.com/e/demo-day-nyc-2026-tickets-1981446226001

Join us for Project Invent Houston Demo Day on Wednesday, May 20th to hear the next generation of student inventors tackle real-world challenges and engage with leaders who are redefining what’s possible in STEM.

Last year at Project Invent Houston Demo Day, three leaders took the stage and told a story that resonated deeply without young inventors: there is no single career pathway in the innovation economy and the most meaningful careers are often the ones you don’t plan.

Paula Harris reflected on leading in the energy sector through constant change, proving that STEM isn’t just about innovation—it’s about resilience and responsibility.

Robert Prather shared how a career rooted in precision and safety evolved into shaping the future of workforce training—reminding students that technical skills are only as powerful as the people they serve.

And Joanna Nathan spoke about building at the intersection of biology and entrepreneurship, showing what it looks like to turn bold scientific ideas into real-world impact.

These leaders reframed what success in the innovation economy can look like:

 ✨ It’s nonlinear
 ✨ It’s interdisciplinary
 ✨ And it’s deeply human

This year, we’re building on that momentum! Join us!

Register for Demo Day Houston here: https://lnkd.in/gF_8Jf49

Project Invent teachers go far beyond the traditional classroom, they empower students to lead with curiosity, empathy, resilience, and creativity.

Our teachers guide young people through real-world problem solving, encourage them to take risks, embrace failure as part of learning, and believe in their power to create meaningful change in their communities.

Thank you to the incredible educators who help students see themselves as inventors, innovators, and changemakers every single day.

Join us on May 2nd for Project Invent Demo Day San Diego, where student teams will showcase inventions designed alongside real community partners—and take their first steps from idea to impact.
Last year, we had the privilege of hearing from Sydney Thomas of Symphonic Capital, who left students with a powerful idea: building something is just the beginning—what comes next is where impact scales.

She started simply—reflecting on her own San Diego roots and the activities that first sparked her curiosity. But quickly, the conversation opened up into something bigger:

💡 What is venture capital, really?
Sydney broke it down as a way to take ideas—sometimes just early prototypes—and help turn them into companies that can scale their impact.

💡 Could today’s student inventors be tomorrow’s founders?
Absolutely. She emphasized that VC isn’t just for seasoned entrepreneurs—it’s for people solving real problems in thoughtful, persistent ways.

💡 What actually matters when building something?
Not perfection. Not having all the answers.
But teams that are curious, mission-driven, and willing to learn through every iteration.

She also challenged a common myth: venture capital isn’t just about chasing profit—it can (and should) fuel solutions in critical spaces like health and wealth, where innovation can change lives.

For students wondering “What’s next?” after Demo Day, Sydney left them with a clear message:
Stay curious. Stay committed. And don’t underestimate how far a small idea can go.

Because the journey from prototype to impact might just start sooner than you think.

FutureFounders

This Volunteer Appreciation Week, we’re celebrating the Idea Reviewers, Prototype Supporters, Pitch Coaches, and Demo Day volunteers, speakers, and judges who show up for our students each year.

Learn more about volunteering for Project Invent at our website!

projectinvent.org/volunteer