Georgia Techs impact reaches every industry, every part of the globe, and every aspect of peoples lives through the work of our esteemed alumni. These 40 talented individuals have made significant contributions in their fields at an early age. From saving endangered coral reefs in the Caribbean to building a space station near the Moon to paving the way for Black-owned businesses to thrive in Atlanta, these individuals are changing the world for the better.
Dane Witbeck, MSE 09,is an inventor, entrepreneur, and angel investor. Hes currently CEO and cofounder of Pinwheel, a mobile operating system built to foster healthy lifelong smartphone habits in kids. The company has grown to 25 employees over its first 18 months and is now in the hands of thousands of kids who are growing up learning to leverage their phones as tools, not as addictive tools for tech companies at kids expense. Previously, Witbeck built the startup Meshify, which constructed sensors and software to reduce the risk of property damage due to water intrusion and frozen pipes. The business was acquired by MunichRE in 2016. Since then, Witbeck has invested in 24 startups to help the next generation of entrepreneurs achieve their visions for a better, more efficient world.
Shaun Zhang, MSE 10, is a litigator and patent attorney at the nationally recognized law firm Goldman Ismail, where he counsels leading companies in the high-tech, biomedical, and industrial fields in matters involving complex technologies. Hes been recognized as a Rising Star by both Super Lawyers and IP Stars and a Promising Professional by the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers. Before his current role, he served as in-house IP counsel to Hewlett Packard Enterprise (formerly HP). As an attorney, he has made pro bono and community service an integral part of his identity. He was a team lead for HPs Street Law program, which aimed to create pipelines to the legal profession for young people from underserved high schools. For the last several years, Zhang has mentored with Chicago Scholars, an organization that helps high school seniors from under-resourced neighborhoods through the college application process and beyond. In recognition of his achievements and dedication to community service, the Chicago Scholars Foundation named him to their 35 Under 35 list in 2019.
Read on to learn about Georgia Tech Alumni Associations 40 Under 40 Class of 2021.