Northwestern Engineering Alum Earns Recognition on Chicago Inno's '25 Under 25' List
The annual recognition celebrates emerging innovators shaping Chicago's future
Northwestern Engineering alum Ohm Vyas has been named to Chicago Inno's 2025 "Under 25" list, which recognizes young entrepreneurs and innovators making an impact across the Chicago region.
Vyas (MS in Mechanical Engineering, ’25) was honored for his role as cofounder and chief operating officer of ShotHawk, a startup focused on developing technology designed to improve safety during active shooter situations. ShotHawk’s Spot technology uses AI to detect potential threats and respond by deploying a pepper gel deterrent, aiming to neutralize attackers while minimizing harm.
As COO, Vyas oversees operations and strategy at ShotHawk, which recently gained national attention after being selected for TechCrunch’s 2025 Startup Battlefield 200, an annual showcase of the world’s most promising early-stage startups. The company has also received support from Peoria city officials and, in December 2024, secured $75,000 in funding from the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition to deploy 30 systems.
Chicago Inno’s annual list highlights individuals under the age of 25 who are leading startups, launching new technologies, and contributing to the region’s growing innovation ecosystem.