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In between balancing academics and executive roles in organizations on the New York City campus, computer science student Gunn Aggarwal runs her startup company, LiveliHood, which she founded last fall in the class.

At the NESTS Flyoff Demo Day in December, Aggarwal鈥檚 idea earned her a $150 third-place tuition scholarship, validating that all the late nights, doubts, and hard work were worth it.

鈥淭he NESTS class pushed me to think about real-world problems and build a solution around them,鈥� the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences student explains. 鈥淚 began by talking to mainly international and out-of-state students, asking about their experiences and challenges with finding housing. That feedback helped shape the concept.鈥�

Designed to provide students with a safe, transparent, and scam-free housing experience, LiveliHood connects them with local residents who are paid to tour rental properties on their behalf, rather than needing to rely on commission-based real estate agents

鈥淭he community-driven aspect sets LiveliHood apart,鈥� says Aggarwal, whose minor in business, along with help from fellow computer science student and LiveliHood鈥檚 chief technology officer Evelyn Zhinin Tacuri, is the boost she needs to grow her platform. With its already up and running, she hopes to launch LiveliHood鈥檚 mobile app within the next six months.

The next steps for the company include sales, marketing, and product refinement based on customer feedback. In the long term, Aggarwal envisions LiveliHood becoming a nationwide platform and community for local insights and experiences, complete with virtual reality technology to enable virtual tours.

Outside of running LiveliHood, for the past two years, Aggarwal has been the Society of Women Engineers New York City student chapter鈥檚 treasurer and will join the New York City Student Government Association (SGA) as treasurer for the 2025鈥�2026 academic year. Inspired to 鈥渟tep into a different kind of leadership role,鈥� where she can apply what she has learned on a broader level, Aggarwal is excited to influence decisions that directly impact student life.

As SGA treasurer, she will manage the annual budget for all New York City campus student organizations, ensuring that funds are distributed fairly and used responsibly, and support clubs in understanding financial processes so they can run successful events. Her personal goals include working with advisors to improve and promote the university鈥檚 study abroad programs, making them more accessible and visible to students, and encouraging clubs to spark creativity through resourcefulness鈥攗sing what鈥檚 already available on campus instead of always purchasing new materials.

Tapping into her passion for computer science, Aggarwal is working on a robotics project in collaboration with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. After her team was selected as design finalists in the College Challenge: Vehicular Tunnel Catwalk Robotics, they will now build their prototype of a robotic machine to move on the Lincoln Tunnel and Holland Tunnel catwalks.

Named the Autonomous Response and Emergency Sentinel (ARES), it is designed to autonomously navigate the tunnels鈥� catwalks to perform routine safety inspections, detect obstacles, and monitor traffic flow. It carries essential supplies, such as a fire extinguisher and first aid kit, enhancing safety and operational efficiency while reducing risk to human workers.

While she still has two years before earning her undergraduate degree, Aggarwal is already identifying possible paths for post-graduation life. She is considering studying for a master鈥檚 degree in business or computer science. She is also debating whether to pursue LiveliHood or a traditional job for her full-time career.

鈥淲herever I go, my career goal is to apply technology in two meaningful areas鈥攔eal estate and environmental science,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 want to be part of work that uses tech to drive positive change in both how we live and how we treat the planet.鈥�