New Ashlar Ridge “Start-Up” in Disrupt 2026

Lena Vasquez ’19 and co-founder Devon Park ’19 started Shelfwise as a senior project in Founders Hall — a tool that helps small libraries share inventory. This month they pitched it on the national Disrupt stage, in front of four thousand founders and investors.

From Classroom to Main Stage

The idea was born during a service-learning placement at the Ashlar Heights branch library. “The catalogue terminal was older than we were,” Lena laughs. “Our professor said: stop complaining, start building. So we did — that night, in the design lab.” Three alumni angels from the Ridge network wrote their first checks.

What's Next

Shelfwise now serves 140 libraries in six states and is hiring engineers and a head of customer success — Ridge graduates to the front of the line. The founders return to campus in April to judge the student startup showcase at the Annual Meet-Up.