A new program at Vanderbilt School of Engineering, made possible by a recent gift from the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation, is helping engineering students commercialize deep-tech prototypes that address societal needs and aim for worldwide impact.
Called IMPACT – Innovation, Market-driven Productization, and Commercialization of (deep) Technologies – the program offers a hands-on learning experience centered on a three-phase journey: uncover, invent, and propel. Students design, prototype, and validate solutions that tackle real-world challenges.
The program is funded by $2.5 million in seed money from the Clark Foundation, which is part of an additional $16.5 million the Foundation recently invested in Vanderbilt’s School of Engineering and the Clark Scholars Program. That program emphasizes four key pillars that reflect the qualities Clark valued and sought to inspire in others: engineering excellence, business acumen, service learning, and leadership.
IMPACT is open to all first- and second-year Vanderbilt engineering students, who engage in seminars, classes, and skill-building workshops through The Wond’ry, the university’s Center for Innovation. The IMPACT program seeks to transform students’ technical expertise into practical solutions through a dynamic curriculum that equips them with strategic leadership and business development skills, an entrepreneurial mindset, and a strong foundation in ethical considerations to thrive in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
“The IMPACT program represents the very best of what Vanderbilt University, the School of Engineering and the Wond’ry strive to provide our students—an opportunity to take theory beyond the classroom and apply it in ways that create meaningful change,” said Lindsey Moloney, director of operations at the Wond’ry, which is now part of the School of Engineering. “Our vision is for students to leave this program prepared to become the kind of engineer-leaders who don’t just adapt to the future, they create it.”
The program unfolds through a dynamic, multi-year sequence designed to take students from idea to market. The journey begins with the seminar phase, where first-year students are introduced to the foundations of human-centered design and challenged to uncover unmet needs in deep-tech contexts. Guided by faculty, staff, and industry mentors, they build the mindset and skills that anchor the program. In their second year—the Invent phase—students dive deeper through a Design Discovery course, refining concepts and applying human-centered design to complex challenges. The third year marks the Propel phase, where participants gain critical business acumen and prepare their ventures for market readiness. At this point, junior engineering students who meet the prerequisites can also join the program, adding fresh technical perspectives to project teams. A signature milestone of the sequence is the Innovation Summit, where students present their inventions to industry leaders and Vanderbilt’s broader community, receiving invaluable feedback and forging connections that position their ventures for real-world impact.
“This is where ideas come to life,” said Cecilio Ponce, innovation design program manager at the Wond’ry and one of the course’s instructors. “Our goal is that, by completing the IMPACT program, students leave with a deep-tech venture ready for commercialization.”
Vanderbilt freshman Edley Regice is hoping to do just that. The mechanical engineering major is enrolled this semester in IMPACT’s inaugural seminar course. He said when he heard about the program he had to participate because he believed it would help him fulfill his dream of making and commercializing prosthetics to help people.
“At my public high school, I didn’t have a lot of experiences to apply what I learned when it came to engineering,” said Regice, who is from New York City. “I feel like with this program, I can outline that idea and turn it from a thought into something I can actually produce and have an impact on the world.”
Julianne Vernon, associate dean for academic success and head of the Clark Scholars Program, wrote the proposal for IMPACT and said she is excited about the future of the program.
“The long-term vision is to hit every engineering student in terms of entrepreneurial mindset and being able to see and address societal needs and gaps,” said Vernon, who hopes the program will attract additional donors. “I’m also pleased that more students are being exposed to the values of the Scholars program. Engineering excellence, business acumen and leadership are must haves for students’ successful commercializations.”