Jessica Kuppan

Fusing Science, Style, and Entrepreneurship: My Journey with Lux and Nyx’s Gift Box Project

Jessica Kuppan, McKelvey School of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Pivot 314 Fellow

Summer Venture Host: Lux and Nyx

Description: “EMPOWERING HIGH-ACHIEVERS WITH REFINED AND MULTIFUNCTIONAL BAGS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD”

As a PhD student in biomedical engineering, my daily life revolves around the lab environment – conducting experiments, data analysis, and other scientific pursuits. Upon trying to expand my skill sets this summer, I found an opportunity to temporarily leave my world of science and intern at a fashion startup, Lux and Nyx.

Lux and Nyx’s core mission is to empower high achievers through their multifunctional bags and other products. While I deeply resonated with their mission, I was also very interested in their project – curating a gift box that highlighted products from local, women-owned and diverse small businesses. I was especially excited for this project because I knew this internship would provide me with invaluable experience in entrepreneurship and discover how I could apply my scientific background to a different field.

While I had a template to work on since Lux and Nyx first launched a gift box last year, there were several new elements involved in this year’s gift box that presented compelling challenges. At times, I found it quite difficult (and almost impossible) to juggle several tasks at once. Such as incorporating all these new elements within budget and communicating with vendors all at the same time. Surprisingly I found there were many components of this entrepreneurial project that were akin to the skills I acquired through my PhD experience. I had to manage this project for the summer, think critically and creatively, conduct extensive research on products, and find alternative solutions to problems. While these transferable skills are broad in nature, it made me realize that I (and anyone with a STEM PhD) would be able to cope and prosper in completely different fields than their expertise.

However, as expected, there were many concepts that were completely new to me. I found myself very fortunate to have the guidance of Lisa Hu, CEO of Lux and Nyx and other team members of the startup, mentor and provide feedback in a kind and supporting manner. Through their help, I was able to learn about the basics of financing and marketing.

My journey with Lux and Nyx’s gift box project demonstrated the countless possibilities when different disciplines converge. As the gift boxes came together, I felt a similar sense of satisfaction from completing a project that I found in a scientific lab. Ultimately, I learned that this project was more than just a gift box – it was about fostering connections, supporting a cause, and making a meaningful impact. This internship instilled in me the belief that having both passion and perseverance for your work can lead to a prosperous and fulfilling career.