JACK O’HOLLAREN YOUTH ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD

The Jack O'Hollaren Youth Entrepreneur of the Year Award is named in honor of Jack O'Hollaren, a remarkable young entrepreneur whose life and vision continue to inspire. Jack was a standout participant in the TiE Young Entrepreneur Program (TYE) and a proud graduate of Lincoln High School. Known for his creativity, leadership, and commitment, Jack made a significant impact through his entrepreneurial endeavors. Tragically, in 2016, Jack's journey was cut short by an accident off the Oregon Coast. Jack’s legacy endures through the lives he touched and the dreams he ignited.

About the Award:

To celebrate Jack's remarkable legacy and ensure his entrepreneurial spirit lives on, the TiE Oregon Foundation, in collaboration with Jack's family, established the Jack O'Hollaren Youth Entrepreneur of the Year Award. This prestigious annual award recognizes a TYE alumnus who embodies the qualities that Jack championed: innovation, leadership, perseverance, entrepreneurship, and a commitment to making a difference.

The recipient of this award is chosen through a thoughtful nomination process each year, reflecting the values that Jack held dear. It is a tribute to his memory and a celebration of the talent and ambition of young entrepreneurs who follow in his footsteps.

Support the Future:

We invite you to support the Jack O'Hollaren Youth Entrepreneur of the Year Award and the TiE Young Entrepreneur Program. Your generous donations help sustain this award and fund vital programs that nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators. By contributing, you honor Jack’s legacy and invest in the future of aspiring young entrepreneurs.

Donate Today:

Your support makes a significant difference. Donate today and help us continue to celebrate and empower young entrepreneurs in Jack O'Hollaren's name.

2026 jack o’hollaren award recipient

Lakshya Bakshi, a standout alumnus of TYE (Class of 2015), has built an impressive path as both an entrepreneur and technologist. From an early foundation in innovation and problem-solving. Lakshya has continued to push boundaries in the tech and startup space.

A graduate of Jesuit High School, Lakshya participated in the TiE Young Entrepreneurs (TYE) Community Program during his high school years, where he began developing his entrepreneurial mindset. He went on to attend Duke University, graduating in 2020 on the Dean's List with a double major in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science, along with a minor in Chemistry.

In 2023, Lakshya cofounded ScholarAI with two peers from Duke's Melissa & Doug fellowship, creating an early AI EdTech app for researchers and students. In 2024, ScholarAI received the YouTube Silver Creator Award, highlighting its growing brand and business. In late 2025, ScholarAI exited to JenniAI in a seven-figure deal.

Today, Lakshya works with large organizations on applied AI acceleration and continues to grow the same YouTube channel with his former cofounders. After moving to San Francisco, he is in the early stages of founding his next start up.

Lakshy's innovation, leadership and achievements make him an inspiring example for young entrepreneurs.

2026 Emerging youth entrepreneur award recipient

Pippa Mirsky, a standout student in the TiE Young Entrepreneurs (TYE) program, has quickly distinguished herself as an emerging leader and innovator. From her early involvement in entrepreneurship to her continued growth through hands-on experience. Pippa exemplifies the drive and creativity that define the next generation of changemakers.

Currently a senior at Lincoln High School, Pippa first participated in the 2025 TYE Community Program, where her team earned 3rd place in the Oregon State Competition. She has continued her journey through Lincoln's TYE In-Class program, further developing her entrepreneurial skills and deepening her passion for innovation.

Beyond the classroom, she is the co-founder and manager of her school's Barista Club, where she leads a student-run coffee business serving both peers and staff, gaining valuable, real-world business experience.

Within TYE, Pippa has emerged as a strong team leader, guiding her group through key milestone including their prototype presentation. She is known for fostering a collaborative, inclusive team environment while maintaining a clear focus on user-centered design and execution.

Pippa is also a USPTO patent-pending innovator for her product, "The Bloom Case," and has shared her insights as a speaker at the Oregon Sustainable Business Startups networking event. A four-year varsity equestrian athlete, she brings discipline and dedication to all her pursuits, while her global perspective is enriched through volunteering and international ambassadorships.

Looking ahead, Pippa plans to attend the University of Chicago to study economic and entrepreneurship. Her leadership, initiative, and commitment to building meaningful solutions make her a truly deserving recipient of this year's Emerging Youth Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Come celebrate both Lakshy and Pippa on Sunday, May 17th!

PREVIOUS JACK O’HOLLAREN AWARD RECIPIENTS

ANJALI HARIPRIYAN

2025

serendipity lang

SERENDIPITY LANG

2022

NARREN GAURAV

2023

ASHLEY LIN

2022

ANIKA RAI

2024

  • Anjali Haripriyan has achieved remarkable success since her time with the program. As a key member of Team TasteBack, Anjali took her entrepreneurial mindset all the way to the TYE Global Competition, demonstrating drive and creativity from an early age.

    Anjali's innovative spirit emerged even before her TYE days—she earned the $10,000 Lexus Eco Challenge Award for a groundbreaking project that used technology to generate power for Portland's homeless community. Her work garnered widespread media attention, including features in The Oregonian and Willamette Week, and she reinvested the award funds to further develop the project.

    Following TYE, Anjali earned her Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Davis. Today, she works as an engineer at Zoox, the autonomous vehicle company, while also launching a new venture of her own continuing her mission to use technology to solve real-world problems.

  • 2024 - Anika Rai

    Anika Rai a standout alumna of TYE, has achieved remarkable success since her time with the program. She spearheaded the Student Ambassador Program at TYE for two years, leaving a lasting impact with a well-structured plan for future ambassadors. Anika was also a key member of the Melaknow team, which clinched victory in the 2018 TYE Global Competition with an innovative app for primary care physicians.

    Following her TYE experience, Anika pursued her entrepreneurial passion at Babson College, graduating with honors in May 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, focusing on Finance and Business Analytics. She joined K1 Investment Management post-graduation, where she now evaluates growth equity and buyout opportunities in enterprise software and leads M&A initiatives. Anika attributes her career path to the inspiration and skills she gained at TYE.

  • 2023 - Narren Gaurav

    Naren met a group of like-minded individuals in an online founder community, and together they developed a business idea. Although they never met in person, their friendship grew during the COVID pandemic and the rise of online communities. This inspired them to create software addressing a gap that emerged from the pandemic.

    Naren and his co-founders launched Altr to help community managers at startups and larger businesses grow their communities and translate that value into positive business outcomes.

    Within a few months of Altr’s soft launch, user numbers scaled to over 3 million across 250+ communities. This growth attracted interest from other companies, leading to Altr’s acquisition by Commsor.com in January 2022 for a sum in the low 7 figures.

  • 2022 - Ashley Lin

    Ashley Lin is currently a student of the University of Pennsylvania Management & Technology Program. She was a 2018 TYE program participant but then continued to participate in TYE through student leadership. Ashley had a tremendous impact in TYE. Beginning with her first year, building and leading the team for Summer App to being appointed as student director in the Community Program for the 2020-2021 school year.

    And to top it all off, she also managed to find time to write and publish a book (during the pandemic) while wrapping up her senior year of high school and TYE.

  • 2022 - Serendipity Lang

    At the time of the award, Serendipity (Sera) Lang was a senior at McDaniel High School and a 2021 TYE program participant. Sera has been the owner of a slime company since middle school where she sells slime online.

    When she became part of the TYE program, she wanted her team to do something more important for the community around them, and that is when they created The Hive. The Hive is a spot where houseless teens can be fed, get help with school, enjoy learning fun activities, and work with mentors. Within weeks, Sera and her female led team had created a pitch deck and participated in the TYE State Competition. Although they did not win the competition, Sera and her team received funding to bring their vision to life.

Make a donation or become a sponsor

Whether you plan to sponsor or contribute a tax-deductible donation, TiE Oregon/TiE Oregon Foundation ensures that your support is contributing to our next generation of innovators and strives to grow a workforce that understands the global marketplace and entrepreneurship.

Click below to make a donation, or contact Jaime.Burbach.Mustard@oregon.tie.org for more information.

GET INVOLVED / CONTACT:

Jaime Burbach-Mustard
TYE Program Manager
jaime.burbach.mustard@oregon.tie.org