When Alka Lakadia (’27) joined the UW Tech Exploration Lab in early 2025, she describes it as “a turning point” in her UW–Madison journey.
“I was creating cool projects,” she said, “but the Lab taught me to think: Is it going to matter? Is it creating a positive impact?”
That mindset shift sparked DermaVision, her first AI-powered teledermatology venture aimed at making skin care more accessible. After success in the Lab’s Spring Showcase, Summer Venture Discovery Program, and national competitions, Alka returned this fall with a new direction — MadGlow, a social platform she calls “the Instagram of skin,” designed to help people track, share, and learn about their skin health through AI and community insights.
“The Lab pushed me to connect my technical skills with real-world impact,” Alka said. “It gave me a place to experiment, get feedback, and actually build something meaningful.”
Alka’s journey from idea to launch captures what the Tech Exploration Lab is all about — helping students explore emerging technologies, apply entrepreneurial thinking, and turn bold ideas into ventures with real-world impact.
Read the full story on the UW–Madison Computer Sciences website:
Making connections: Alka Lakadia’s journey from international student to tech entrepreneur