In a world where over 109,000 Americans lose their lives annually to laced drugs, YES! Program alumni Vienna Sparks and Skye Lam are taking bold action. Their company, MabLab, is developing a revolutionary 5-in-1 rapid test that screens for the five deadliest lacing agents in recreational drugs, designed to save lives through its accessibility and unparalleled accuracy in screening for lethal substances in under three minutes.

The co-founders bring complementary strengths to this ambitious venture. Vienna Sparks, CEO and Columbia University graduate, combines biotechnology expertise from her research at Columbia University Irving Medical Center with proven entrepreneurial success, having previously scaled a social enterprise to over 70,000 active users. COO Skye Lam, a Harvard University graduate and Roberts Family Fellow at Harvard Business School, brings strong business acumen developed at prestigious firms like BlackRock and Bank of America, along with an impressive track record of generating over $1 million in sales revenue at Harvard Student Agencies.

Since graduating from BizWorld’s YES! Program, MabLab has achieved remarkable momentum. The company recently emerged as a Top 5 Finalist at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024’s Startup Battlefield, joining an elite alumni network that includes tech giants like Dropbox, Discord, and Cloudflare. They’ve also secured first place victories at multiple prestigious competitions, including the Life Changing Labs Demo Day, Columbia Engineering Fast-Pitch Competition, and the Evolve Founders & Funders Summit.

What sets MabLab apart is not just their innovative technology, but their commitment to addressing a critical yet often overlooked public health crisis. The founders are passionate about decreasing the stigma surrounding recreational drug usage, particularly in marginalized communities that are frequently overlooked by startups and investors. Their mission-driven approach, combined with scientific rigor and business acumen, positions them at the forefront of harm reduction innovation.

MabLab exemplifies the transformative power of supporting young entrepreneurs who dare to tackle society’s most challenging problems. Through their continued growth and success, they’re proving that business innovation can be a powerful force for saving lives and creating positive social change.

Learn more about MabLab’s mission at mablab.tech