Laura Boccanfuso
Personal Information
Born: Unknown
Country of Birth: USA
Nationality: USA
Ethnicity: White
Education
George Mason University Dept of Communication BA; Bowling Green State University MSC Computer Science; University of South Carolina PhD Computer Science (Socially Assisted Robotics) 2013; Yale University Postdoc 2014-17; Excellence in Service Innovation with Impact to Society certificate, International Society of Service Innovation Professionals (ISSIP) 2022
Professional Life
Field of Study: Robotics
Institution/Corporation: Yale University; University of South Carolina Columbia; Van Robotics
Degrees & Memberships: Member: IEEE (2009)
Awards & Achievements
Awards: 2022 SC Woman in Business Award; named 1 of the Top 10 Most Influential Women in Technology, Analytic Insight; 2022 ISSIP Excellence in Service Innovation Award
Achievements: designed & developed new socially assistive robots to improve therapeutic outcomes in young children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), ADHD & other special needs
2020 appeared on Shark Tank asking for $300,00 in start-up funds for 10% of her company, all sharks opted out
developed & did all original coding for ABii a teaching robot that can adapt to the individual learning styles of students
spent 8 (or 10, depending on the source) years as a stay-at-home mother raising her 3 children before designing her robot
while seeking funding 1 venture capitalist refused to grant funding because her husband wasn't part of the business or heading it with her