WiSys has named University of Wisconsin-Platteville alum and inventor Isaac Lange as a Carl E. Gulbrandsen Innovator of the Year. The award is bestowed annually and presented during the WiSys SPARK Symposium.
"Receiving Innovator of the Year from WiSys felt gratifying, knowing all my hard work and discipline has paid off, while also giving me the motivation to keep pushing forward. Accomplishing this milestone in the adolescence of my company will help connect me to pathways I never knew were possible and I am very grateful for WiSys to have chosen me for this award," Lange said.
Lange graduated from UW-Platteville with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and has since embarked on a journey as an inventor and entrepreneur. He has submitted multiple disclosures to WiSys and is working with WiSys on his most recent business venture called Scentinel. Previously known as FreshSteps, this innovative idea is comprised of a personal care device designed to eliminate unwanted shoe odors through a combination of ultraviolet light to kill the bacteria, heat to dry and extract odors, and customizable scents to refresh the footwear.
Lange joined the Fall 2024 Level Up! Launch Pad program with the idea for Scentinel, and continued to work and grow his idea through the 2025 Level Up! Pre-seed Accelerator at VentureHome-Eau Claire, graduating from the program in May. He is currently refining his prototype and intends for athletes, military personnel, and tradespeople to be his target consumer audience.
“Isaac is a role model for other budding UW Platteville student entrepreneurs. He is a young innovator with new ideas, who is not afraid to take risks, receive feedback, and pivot to make his idea come to fruition,” said WiSys President Arjun Sanga. “He is the prototype of an entrepreneur who built his idea through WiSys programs and WiSys VentureHome services. His grit and determination to launch, build, and grow his business, Scentinel, make him a deserving recipient of this award.”
The award recognizes the achievements of Universities of Wisconsin faculty, staff, students, or community members who make exemplary contributions as a WiSys innovator and is named in honor of Carl E. Guldbrandsen, the former managing director of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, who supported WiSys throughout his tenure.