On Monday, July 24, 2017, from 4 to 6 p.m., the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation will host its WI CleanTech Network Forum. These forums focus on advances in clean technology startups at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, particularly on the needs and challenges of entrepreneurs and others. Clean technology includes things like power systems, controls, alternative fuels, and more.

Two of the presenters at the forum are the founders of NovoMoto, Mehrdad Arjmand and Aaron Olson. Arjmand, who received his PhD in engineering physics in 2016, was advised by Materials Science and Engineering Professor Izabella Szlufarska. Olson is currently a PhD student in engineering physics, advised by Engineering Physics Professor Emeritus Gerald Kulcinski.

The pair founded NovoMoto in 2015 after taking the Weinert Applied Ventures in Entrepreneurship class in the Wisconsin School of Business to complete their PhD minors. “We came across the idea to provide electricity for off-grid communities in Sub-Saharan Africa. The feedback from the judges at the end of the class was very positive which encouraged us to start the company,” says Arjmand.