Karl Ricanek Jr. Named to Harvard Business School Foundry

Karl Ricanek Jr., professor in the UNCW Department of Computer Science, has been accepted into the inaugural class of the Harvard Business School (HBS) Foundry. The HBS Foundry is a first-of-its-kind program designed to equip visionary entrepreneurs and innovators with the tools, networks and business acumen needed to transform bold ideas into lasting ventures of global impact.

Ricanek is one of a select cohort of innovators chosen for the inaugural class, a distinction that places him among the nation’s most forward-thinking minds at the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship and societal impact. An electrical engineer by training, with more than three decades of experience developing novel artificial intelligence solutions, Ricanek has founded and co-founded multiple technology ventures and serves as a champion for entrepreneurship regionally, nationally and internationally.

“Being selected for the inaugural class of the HBS Foundry is both an incredible honor and a unique responsibility,” said Ricanek. “I am thrilled to be part of such a transformative experience, but I am equally motivated by what it signals for the broader academic community. I want to plant a flag to show that professors, researchers and academics belong in the startup space. We bring deep technical expertise, a culture of rigorous inquiry and a mission-driven perspective that can fundamentally shape how technology is built and deployed for the good of society.”

Ricanek’s selection reflects his distinguished record as both a scholar and an entrepreneur. His AI-driven research has yielded innovations with applications in healthcare, public safety and commercial technology. He has successfully transferred academic research into the marketplace through startup ventures, demonstrating that the university laboratory can be a powerful engine for economic development and societal good.

“Dr. Ricanek’s selection to the inaugural HBS Foundry class is a proud moment for our college,” said Dr. Ron Vetter, dean of the UNCW College of Science and Engineering. “Our mission is to push the boundaries of what is possible at a teaching-and-research institution, building a culture where entrepreneurship is not a detour from academic excellence, but an expression of it. Dr. Ricanek embodies that spirit.”

The HBS Foundry is designed to serve as a launchpad for high-impact ventures led by exceptional individuals who are ready to scale their ideas. Members of the inaugural class join a legacy institution renowned for producing the world’s most influential business leaders, gaining access to HBS faculty, a global network of alumni and a rigorous curriculum tailored to the challenges and opportunities of building ventures from the ground up.

As a serial entrepreneur, distinguished academic and advocate for AI-driven innovation, Ricanek brings to the HBS Foundry a unique profile that bridges the worlds of deep-tech research and market-driven entrepreneurship. His participation in this program is expected to open new pathways for collaboration between UNCW and the broader innovation ecosystem, further establishing the College of Science and Engineering as a nationally recognized hub for transformative entrepreneurial activity.