MacStartup Feature Ellie Corbett ’26

Fall 2025 Newsletter

A Frustrated Moment Leads to an Innovative Idea

When biology major Ellie Corbett ’26 saw students struggling with a simple organic chemistry test, she was inspired to find a better way. Ellie, a budding scientist, noticed a common frustration during Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) testing. Driven by a desire to make chemistry more accessible, Ellie set out to find a solution. 

In March 2025, she took her concept to MacStartups, a 10-week summer program that helps students turn ideas into reality. During the program, Ellie honed her understanding for defining her problem, ideal customer, and product value. She also built a 3-D printer to produce the solution: The Easel. 

Ellie followed the MacStartups process, moving from inspiration and ideation to research and prototyping. Her final pitch highlighted the product’s practical innovation potential for more accuracy and to help countless chemistry students.