Executive Leadership Team
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Aaron Siddiky is an American entrepreneur, leader, and computer scientist. He is a full-ride scholarship recipient and incoming freshman concentrating in Computer Science and Financial Economics at Columbia University.
As a computer scientist, Siddiky is interested in artificial intelligence and machine learning. During the pandemic he developed a facial recognition based attendance system model for video conferencing sites like Zoom and Google Meet. His model automated the manual attendance taking process for professors through facial detection. By extension, the program maximized digital learning productivity and increased lecture time. While this line of development has merit, data privacy legislation confines its commercialization. Alongside his deep rooted interest in research, he works as a frontend development intern at Advisory Aerospace OSC, a boutique aerospace consulting firm in Minnesota.
Aaron is the founder and chief executive officer at AxaBlock LLC, the Minneapolis-based software company pioneering the next generation of solutions to tackle social media addiction through financial incentives and behavioral economics. In 2023, AxaBlock became the Minnesota Start-Up Business Plan State Champion at Minnesota's largest High School business competition (MN DECA State Conference). The company then qualified for and attended the 2023 International Career and Development Conference in Orlando, Florida, competing against hundreds of youth entrepreneurs to win coveted glass. In 2024, the company was once again District Champion, taking first place for Independent Business Plan in the MN District 7 Competition.
Across his various involvements, Aaron is a strong believer in research, entrepreneurship, and innovation. He is committed to making a positive change in the world.
Computer Science & Financial Economics at Columbia University
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Co-Founder & Chief Operations Officer
Dhruv Gupta is an Indian American entrepreneur, national merit finalist, and incoming freshman at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Gupta is one of the Co-Founders of AxaBlock LLC, a Minneapolis-based software company pioneering productivity applications using behavioral economics principles. The company is one of his many entrepreneurial involvements. Through international business competitions, he's honed an astute understanding in start-up development, and financial forecasting, with a learning understanding of coding, problem-solving, leadership, and project management. In 2024, his other start-up venture VitaGain took second place in the largest High School Business Competition in the state of Minnesota.
As a biotechnologist, Gupta is a research intern at the Agricultural Robotics Lab at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Under the purview of Dr. Ce Yang, Professor of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, he is currently working on applying machine learning, deep learning, and computer vision technologies to phenotype wheat-scab disease.
Gupta is also an advocate for equitable STEM education. In 2023, he founded the non-profit organization Project Frostbyte 501(c)(3). The Wayzata-High School based initiative is apart of a broader initiative to provide free computer science educational resources through interactive project based learning in Java, Python, and C++. He is also adamant about increased funding in STEM education. In 2024, Gupta worked with other student collaborators to reach out to potential corporate sponsors to fund the Minnesota Academy of Science (MAS), effectively raising $4,000 to spread awareness regarding MAS events.
Gupta is a strong believer in advocacy, social entrepreneurship, and biotechnology research and believes in making his mark on the world.
Computer Engineering & BME at
Georgia Institute of Technology
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Co-Founder & Chief Financial Officer
Darrel Zhao is a highly accomplished incoming college freshman from Plymouth, Minnesota with a strong passion for instituting change. Through his extensive extracurricular involvement in DECA, Science Bowl, and the Biology Club, Darrel has honed his technical skills in biology, engineering, leadership, management, business, and communication. In the fall, Zhao plans on majoring in Biomedical Engineering and Economics at Northwestern University.
As the current VP of Community Involvement for DECA, Zhao has demonstrated exceptional organizational and mentorship abilities, increasing chapter membership by 50% and recruiting over 100 community members annually to support competitions. His achievements include creating four business projects focused on startups and international expansion, as well as managing an investment portfolio. He has attended the DECA International Career Development Conference three times, with his highest honor being a Top 16 International Finalist for Innovation Plan.
Zhao’s interests extend to science competitions as well; in Biology Club, he has taken on the role of Co-President, planning engaging labs and raising over $4,000 for the Minnesota Academy of Science.
As an avid filmmaker, Zhao brings his passions for advocacy and STEM to life through his engaging and inspiring short films. Among his notable achievements, Zhao won first place in the statewide LiveMore ScreenLess Digital Wellbeing Contest for his thought-provoking video exploring the social harms of technology addiction, which was featured and interviewed by the Star Tribune.
With his well-rounded skill set encompassing STEM disciplines, business acumen, leadership experience, and strong communication abilities, Darrel Zhao is a strong advocate, leader, and researcher that hopes to make a real difference in his community.
BME & Economics at Northwestern University
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