What Happens Between Sessions: How Bird AI Is Reimagining Mental Health Support
There is a question I have carried with me throughout almost ten years of clinical practice as a therapist: what happens to a person between sessions? A client leaves the office having made progress, feeling heard, maybe a little lighter. And then life continues. The anxiety comes back at 2am. The hard conversation happens on […]
Celebrate Leonardo da Vinci’s 574th Birthday
VCU da Vinci Center Hosts Interactive Arts & Crafts Event for Leonardo da Vinci’s Birthday Richmond, VA – The VCU da Vinci Center at Virginia Commonwealth University is hosting a creative and engaging event on Wednesday, April 15th, inviting students to take a break, get creative, and connect with others. Inspired by the innovative spirit […]
Demo Day Spotlight: Spencer Strebe and Clear Ballot
Spencer Strebe is a VCUarts student known for bold ideas and a creative spark that shows up every time he steps into the Shift Retail Lab. As a two time Shelfie alumnus, Spencer has built a reputation for bringing fresh and unexpected concepts to life. This year at Demo Day, he introduced a venture that […]
Demo Day Spotlight: Natalia Rooks and Tati Tortillas
Tati Tortillas not only taste good – it does good. VCU School of Business student, Natalia Rooks, started the idea for Tati Tortillas with one simple mission: to bring delicious, authentic tortillas to the United States. Natalia first joined the Shelfie program in the Spring of 2025 to start testing her idea, “I lived abroad […]
Demo Day Spotlight: Kendall Liverpool and The Ballad of a Senior Hawkeye
Kendall Liverpool is a VCUarts student whose creativity shines not only through visual work but also through storytelling. At this year’s Demo Day, he introduced The Ballad of a Senior Hawkeye, a novel crafted by a rising author with a clear voice and a strong sense of character. His project brings readers into the world […]
Demo Day Spotlight: Justin Samson and RADLabs (DeepRunAI Labs)
Justin Samson is a VCU College of Humanities and Sciences student with a growing passion for cybersecurity and a commitment to building tools that keep people and systems safe. At Demo Day last fall, he introduced RADLabs DeepRunAI Labs, a venture focused on creating AI driven protection for modern cybersecurity challenges. Justin’s concept centers on […]
Demo Day Spotlight: Gabby Reed-Carlock and Giddi
Gabby Reed-Carlock originally developed the idea for her app, Giddi, as part of a first-year VCU Brandcenter course taught by KT Schaeffer. The assignment was to address a need or pain point that they noticed, and develop a product or service to solve that problem. Gabby and her group addressed the question that, on average, […]
Demo Day Spotlight: Alex Croce and High G Brain Strain Platform
Alex Croce is a VCU College of Engineering student with a passion for tackling problems that others rarely think about. At this year’s Demo Day, he introduced the High G Brain Strain Platform, a venture designed to support people who regularly experience high g force in flight, training, and specialized environments. The platform aims to […]
Demo Day Spotlight: Frances Odoi and CoCoGin LLC
Frances Odoi is a VCU alum, a Shelfie Program alum, and a valued community member whose passion for fresh, natural ingredients led her to create CoCoGin, a juice and beverage brand centered on clean flavors and nourishing blends. At this year’s Demo Day, Frances introduced CoCoGin with a clear mission to offer drinks that taste […]
Demo Day Spotlight: Malique Middleton and Gewd Ag
Malique Middleton is a VCU MPI alum and a multi cohort Shelfie Program alum whose work centers on food access, community knowledge, and empowerment. At last fall’s Demo Day, Malique presented Gewd Ag, a food focused venture built to help people grow their own food and reconnect with where it comes from. Gewd Ag was […]
