Claudia Hajjar
Class of 2023-2024
College of the Holy Cross
Chemistry, Pre-Health
Why did you choose ESTEEM?
I chose the ESTEEM program because the unique combination of STEM and entrepreneurship drew me in and empowers me not only to contribute to cutting-edge research in STEM fields, but also to effectively bring those ideas to market and make a meaningful impact on society.
What is your Capstone Project and why are you excited about it?
Låkril Technologies imagines a future where bio-based sugars serve as the raw materials for widely used petrochemicals. Their groundbreaking solution enables the creation of environmentally friendly acrylic acid and acrylates, which can seamlessly replace existing ingredients in paints, coatings, adhesives, and superabsorbent polymers. For more than fifteen years, the acrylic sector has been in pursuit of this solution, but economics have consistently posed a challenge. Låkril Technologies is confident the cost of producing bio-based acrylics using their catalytic innovation will be comparable to or even lower than that of conventional petroleum-based acrylics. This capstone project aims to develop a financial model that reflects a projected revenue model for their licensing model. These revenue and expense projections are combined with beachhead opportunity data to present financial cases to prospective investors and to help the Board of Directors decide how much capital to raise. This project seeks to understand how the various one-time and recurring revenue streams available in a licensing and catalyst sales business model should be combined for optimized bottom line revenue with good top line revenue growth.
What do you hope to do after ESTEEM?
After ESTEEM, I am planning to find a position that will allow me to integrate my passion for science, business strategy, and healthcare. My hope is to land a role in the sectors of biotechnology and/or clinical drug development.
What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time, I enjoy cycling, cooking & baking, trying new foods/cuisines, spending time with friends, and going for walks. It is really important to me to take breaks throughout the day and take care of myself.