YEREVAN, Armenia — The Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center (EPIC) at the American University of Armenia (AUA) has officially launched the Fall 2025 batch of its flagship startup Incubation Program. Now in its 17th edition, the Program remains one of Armenia’s leading platforms for early-stage entrepreneurs to validate ideas, discover customers, and develop market-ready ventures through a 15-week journey of mentorship, workshops, and community collaboration.
The new cohort’s journey began on October 11 with an engaging team-building session at AUA. Designed to strengthen collaboration and introduce participants to the entrepreneurial mindset, the session helped new founders connect, exchange perspectives, and align around shared goals before starting the 15-week program. The day opened with a workshop led by Dr. Brent Anders, adjunct lecturer in the AUA College of Humanities and Social Sciences, who spoke about professional communication and the ethical, effective use of artificial intelligence (AI) in entrepreneurship. Dr. Anders highlighted how understanding AI tools and responsible data practices can enhance startup operations, from idea validation to customer engagement, empowering founders to integrate technology into their processes thoughtfully and efficiently.
Reflecting on his long-standing collaboration with EPIC, Dr. Anders shared:
“It was my pleasure. It is such an honor to give classes on professional communication and effective, ethical AI use to entrepreneurs. They are, for sure, our future, and I am happy to be part of their development.”
Following the session, participants took part in team-building activities designed to foster collaboration and trust. Through interactive exercises and creative problem-solving tasks, founders connected with their teammates and laid the foundation for the months ahead.
Entrepreneurship Hack Night with Al Eisaian
Earlier in the week, on October 8, EPIC hosted its first Entrepreneurship Hack Night of the semester, welcoming Al Eisaian, co-founder and board member of IntelinAir, Inc., and board member of the Armenian Society of Fellows, for a talk titled “Human Creativity in the Age of AI: Lessons from a Serial Entrepreneur.”
Drawing a full house of AUA students, faculty members, alumni, and guests from Digitec, the event explored how AI is not replacing creativity, but amplifying it, pushing humanity into a profound and exponential growth curve.
Eisaian, a serial entrepreneur who has led and exited multiple tech companies, reflected on how curiosity, humility, and imagination remain the true differentiators in the age of automation. His message resonated strongly with EPIC’s new founders as they embarked on their own innovation journeys.
Meet the Fall 2025 Startups
This batch, eight startups join the Incubation Program, addressing challenges across education, finance, media, and technology:
Karda!
With children spending more time on screens and less on books, Karda! reimagines reading as a playful and social experience. The app uses gamified challenges, personal bookshelves, and story-sharing with friends to make reading engaging again. Designed for Armenian and diaspora children, Karda! inspires curiosity and builds lasting reading habits through fun, technology-driven storytelling.
Ignitia
Ignitia connects talented individuals who need financial support with investors interested in backing people, not just companies. Through its personal tokenization platform, individuals can raise funds by issuing their own blockchain-based tokens, allowing supporters to invest in their growth. Ignitia turns human potential into a new, investable asset class.
Film12K
Film12K is a global online platform that connects filmmakers, photographers, and production professionals through an AI-powered matching system. It solves the industry’s fragmentation by enabling creators and companies to find the right collaborators in seconds. The platform makes hiring, networking, and project management faster, smarter, and more transparent for the global creative community.
Erudite
Erudite transforms screen time into learning time for children aged 4-9. The app combines interactive lessons, AI-generated video content, and gamified progress to make education fun and meaningful. By turning digital engagement into a growth experience, Erudite helps kids build essential skills while keeping them entertained.
Dzenov
Dzenov is an audio streaming app offering educational and entertaining content for children. It helps parents reduce screen dependency while giving kids access to high-quality stories and songs. With curated, constantly updated content and easy parental controls, Dzenov makes learning enjoyable and screen-free.
Dramwise
In Armenia and many developing markets, banks lack tools to help users understand and manage their finances. Dramwise addresses this with an AI-powered analytics platform that categorizes expenses and provides clear insights into spending habits. The solution also offers an API for banks to integrate directly into their mobile apps, enhancing customer engagement and transparency.
ChamboPlay
ChamboPlay is a screen-free storyteller toy for children aged 2-8 that combines figurines with curated, age-appropriate stories and songs. It offers a safe and imaginative alternative to screens, fostering focus, creativity, and healthy play. By blending storytelling with tangible interaction, ChamboPlay turns learning into an engaging, hands-on experience.
Figurings
Figurings is a digital publishing platform that connects writers and readers through serialized storytelling. It empowers authors to publish as they write, earn revenue early, and build loyal audiences, while readers enjoy curated, bite-sized stories. The platform makes reading simple, interactive, and accessible for modern audiences.
Over the coming 15 weeks, the startups will participate in structured workshops on customer discovery, market validation, and pitching, supported by personalized mentorship from local and international experts. Teams will also benefit from legal advisory provided by the AUA Technology and Innovation Legal Clinic, access to EPIC’s collaborative workspace and resources, and networking with investors and advisors from Armenia’s growing innovation ecosystem.
The Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center (EPIC) is a platform of the American University of Armenia (AUA) for promoting entrepreneurial education, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and startup venture incubation. EPIC provides an ecosystem for emerging entrepreneurs consisting of first-class facilities and collaborative workspace, programs and events, and a network of mentors, advisors, and investors. EPIC fosters the understanding and application of entrepreneurship in students and faculty at AUA to craft high-impact multidisciplinary ventures.
