Two NDSU doctoral students selected for Harvard Business School Bootcamp
Olabode Amusan and Nof Yasir, doctoral students in NDSU's electrical and computer engineering program, have been accepted into the Harvard Business School’s (HBS) Foundry Bootcamp. The program helps founders transform research breakthroughs and early-stage ideas into fundable ventures.
The HBS Foundry Bootcamp is a four-week virtual program designed to help founders evolve early-stage ideas or research breakthroughs into structured, fundable ventures. The camp offers a guided, hands-on experience focused on sharpening problem definition, mapping the market landscape and building a credible traction strategy.
The students were nominated for the bootcamp by Josie Hayden, NDSU Research Foundation business development and licensing manager. NDSURF facilitates the commercialization of intellectual property developed by North Dakota State University faculty, students, and staff.
“The NDSU Research Foundation is proud to support NDSU start-ups and emerging ventures. Nominations and referrals to programs like the HBS Foundry Bootcamp are one way we help researchers move promising technologies closer to market,” Hayden said. “Both Nof and Olabode are passionate researchers whose commitment to translating technology into real-world impact has sparked a strong entrepreneurial spirit. Their participation in the HBS Foundry Bootcamp will provide valuable support as they continue building and refining their ventures,”
In support of NDSU’s missions of teaching, research, and public service, NDSURF enables and encourages faculty engagement in research, product development, and entrepreneurial initiatives. It also builds and manages collaborations with domestic and international industry partners, helping accelerate the translation of university research into market-ready innovations and commercial opportunities.
“We are so energized by the level of graduate student engagement in translational/start-up activities and ecosystem supports like the Harvard Foundry Bootcamp,” said NDSU interim vice president for research and creative activity Heidi Grunwald. “The NDSU Research Foundation plays an integral part in NDSU’s Research and Creative Activity RCA technology transfer efforts. Recognizing and encouraging faculty, students, and postdocs who have a glimmer for entrepreneurship is an important step in helping to move basic science out into the world. Helping to solve real-world problems and improving the lives of North Dakotans and the region is an integral focus of our land-grant mission. Congratulations to Olabode Amusan and Nof Yasir and thank you to Josie Hayden for being the nominating official.”
“Being accepted into the HBS Foundry Bootcamp is a great privilege and a major opportunity for personal and professional growth,” Amusan said. “Coming from a technical research background, the program represents a bridge between engineering innovation and entrepreneurial leadership. To me, this acceptance into the Bootcamp is a recognition of the potential impact of my research beyond academia.”
Amusan’s research focuses on developing graph-based learning techniques to help bolster the security and resilience of electric power systems. Specifically, the work uses Phasor Measurement Unit data to develop real-time anomaly detection methods for modern power grids.
“My work involves modeling the power grid as a graph and using graph learning techniques to detect and locate abnormal events, disturbances, or potential threats in the system,” Amusan said.
Yasir’s research aims to enhance the resilience and reliability of integrated power and natural gas systems. The work uses machine learning, artificial intelligence and reinforcement learning to build predictive models that identify vulnerable components and help prevent large-scale energy interruptions.
“Being accepted into HBS Foundry Bootcamp is a tremendous honor and a meaningful milestone for me,” Yasir said. “As a researcher, much of my work has focused on developing technical solutions to real-world infrastructure challenges. This opportunity is an important step toward understanding how research innovations can move beyond the laboratory and be deployed for broader societal impact.”
“I have developed simulation frameworks, reinforcement learning models, and vulnerability assessment tools to identify critical components in interconnected energy systems,” Yasir said.
The program uses a cohort model, allowing participants to learn alongside other founders facing similar challenges. The ultimate goal is to help participants move their ideas to a more pressure-tested pitch in a fairly short time.
“It meant a great deal to me that the NDSU Research Foundation nominated me for this opportunity,” Yasir said. “The Research Foundation has been very supportive in identifying pathways to translate research into practical impact. I am especially grateful to Josie Hayden for her guidance and encouragement throughout this process. She has been incredibly supportive in connecting my research with commercialization opportunities and entrepreneurial programs. The Research Foundation’s support has been highly motivating and has reaffirmed the broader importance and real-world potential of the work I am pursuing at NDSU.”
Amusan added how the nomination carried a deeper meaning. “It told me that I'm ready for something more, and it's encouraging for NDSU to say this person should be in that room. It also reframed how I think about my own research. For a long time, I measured my work by publications, citations, and technical rigor. This nomination was a pointer that what I'm doing in power-grid security and resilience is being seen as something with real-world urgency, not just academic output. If anything, it raised my own expectations of myself and challenged me to grow into the potential that is being seen in me.”
The HBS Foundry Bootcamp will be held in early June.