TEAM comes first.Only together can we solve problems to better the world.
Nishant Shah
Engineer · Founder · Leader
- IB Diploma candidate · Cum Laude (Top 10%)
- Developed the first olfactory-integrated VR system
- Top 16 · NFTE National Pitch · Conrad Innovator · Diamond Challenge Global Finalist
- 4× Class President · Student Body President · passed a federal foster-youth law
- Academic Excellence Award in Engineering
- SAT 1540 · PSAT 1490
Hi, I'm Nishant.
My Leadership Equation:
Empathy+
Humility+
Selflessness+
Action=
Leadership
What I care about
- Collaboration. Nothing worth doing happens alone. Lift as you climb. Always care for the collaborators around you.
- Intellectual curiosity. learning about things that I find interesting: fusion physics, finance, politics, quantum.
- Helping others. the most important work that I do begins with the people that I can give back to.
- Solving problems. Identify areas where the people around me need support. Build and iterate a solution. Deliver to those who need it.
- Innovation & technology. new technology and agile innovation environments inspire me. As a result, I spend quite a bit of time researching fields like VR, AI, space, MedTech, FinTech, Energy, and more.
- Art. In a world increasingly dominated by AI, art reminds me of the value of keeping our lives and work human-centered. It also reminds me of what it means to be uniquely human: community, vulnerability, emotion.
Why dawn
My parents named me Nishant (निशान्त), a Sanskrit word meaning “dawn.” To me, it represents possibility—the start of something new and the bringing of positive change. I strive to live up to that meaning by approaching every endeavor as an innovator, artist, and advocate, with the goal of making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Words & research.
VC deckVC investment deck, Fabric8Labs (electrochemical 3D metal printing)→DramaAn original screenplay, Scholastic National Gold Medal & Voices of America→EssayJohn Locke Essay Competition, High Commendation→Video pitchInvestment pitch: is Rolls-Royce a buy?→DeckInvestment brief: valuing Capital One→ResearchIB Extended Essay, the physics of nuclear fusion→ResearchIB Global Politics IA, the tension between stakeholders in the data-center market→In progressIB Mathematics IA→In progressIB Physics IA→BookRe-Wired for Wealth, the psychology of money for teens→
Experience
Service & community
Ryan Nece Foundation A
Student Service Program
Penguin Project M
Peer mentor, theater with students with disabilities
See Us Now A
Foster-youth advocacy, national awareness & policy
HCYLC A
Hillsborough County Youth Leadership Council
Metropolitan Ministries A
Volunteer, meals & services for at-risk families
Disaster Relief A
Responded to four major environmental disasters
1,000+ hours of community service · 3× Presidential Volunteer Gold Service Award.
Internships & pre-professional
With Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Austrian World Summit · Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative
AtkinsRéalis T
Finance intern (US/LatAm), analysis for a C-suite Q2 QBR, ROI/NPV on a growth investment, M&A valuation & diligence, book-close, and accounting position papers on the Gorgon Gas Project.
2 weeks
Magnolia Pictures M
Created film-distribution strategy, evaluated acquisitions, and ran revenue & profitability analyses.
2 weeks
CharityBuzz E
AI deep-research that surfaced 10,000+ ICP-fit prospects; built a Youth Advisory Council framework and partnership proposals (Sidemen, FIFA World Cup).
2 months
Austrian World Summit A
Social-media campaign for the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative, content, interviews, event planning.
3 weeks
U.S. Congressional Office, FL-15 A
Constituent casework, legislative research, and drafted official correspondence and proclamations.
3 weeks
Safe House Project A
Helped launch the first National Missing & Trafficked Foster Care Awareness Week; supported anti-trafficking policy and awareness.
3 months
Summer shadowing T
Gelis Labs biochemistry (USF), Florida Pain Medicine, and Hill Ward Henderson law firm.
3 weeks
Aevum Capital T
Investment associate, investor outreach, pitch materials, and capital-raising for an insurance-arbitrage manager.
1 year
Osceola Capital T
PE AI Integration Project Intern, building AI-driven workflows to streamline private-equity operations and diligence.
2 months
Dirt on Demand T
AI Logistics Integration Project Intern, integrating AI into logistics and operations to improve routing and efficiency.
2 months
Misc. clubs
Economics Club
Wharton Investment Comp · National Econ Challenge · National Personal Finance Challenge
US Ambassadors / Eagle Emissaries
Chosen to represent the school at admissions events and give speeches
Athletics
Cross Country
Boys' Captain · freshman coach · district champions
Soccer
JV Captain → Varsity · Class 2A Regional Runner-Up
Track & Field
800m & 1600m mid-distance
Germany / Poland Exchange
Soccer exchange ambassador
Academics & certifications
IB DP
Full IB Diploma · 4.0 UW GPA
HL Global PoliticsHL Math: AnalysisHL EnglishHL PhysicsCum Laude · Top 10%
IB Diploma Programme
Candidate · Cum Laude Society · Top 10%
SAT 1540 · PSAT 1490
4.0 UW GPA · weighted > 4.2 · no grade below an A
Honor societies
NHS · Mu Alpha Theta · English · Science · Spanish
Certified Young Investment Analyst
Young Investors Society
Certified Young Financial Literacy Scholar
Young Investors Society
Rocket Science
Yale University
NYU Stern Future Business Leaders
Program graduate
AI Fluency for Small Businesses
Anthropic
Claude Code 101
Anthropic
IBM AI Developer Specialization
IBM
Agile Approaches for Modern Leadership
Duke University
Human Trafficking Prevention & Awareness
Natl Coalition
Leading Teams
University of Michigan
Microeconomics: The Power of Markets
University of Pennsylvania
Navigating Disruption in Energy, Biology, Quantum & Space
UIUC Gies
Managing Social & Human Capital
University of Pennsylvania
Introduction to Spreadsheets & Models
University of Pennsylvania
Fundamentals of Quantitative Modeling
University of Pennsylvania
Selected honors & awards
Presidential Volunteer Gold Service Medal (2022, 2023, 2024)
Top 16 · NFTE Nationals
Conrad Innovator Award
Diamond Challenge Global Finalist
John Locke · High Commendation
Congressional Art Award
Tampa Bay Magazine cover
National Speech Champion · Beta
4th · NCFL Speech Nationals
DECA ICDC Roleplay Award
2nd · States DECA Entrepreneurship Team Decision Making
Scholastic National Gold Medalist
Voices of America Award
CDS Faculty Award
Engineering Excellence Award
Physics Excellence Award
Broadway Stars of the Future
6× Thespian Superior
Princeton Book Award
Cum Laude Society
Duke of Edinburgh · Silver
FL Boys State Senator
$15K Annual Merit Scholarship