Justin DeGraff

Business owner and dedicated scholar, merited by Princeton Review, United Nations, Earlham College, US Air Force, and more. Leading and developing a UN Hult Prize praised AI database, app/extension to save shoppers money online while saving the environment, and developer of social & sustainable non-profits. Academic family and personal high-level research experience. Experience with business innovation & marketing strategy for Fortune 500 projects. Committed to learning, and developing skills in marketing, media, entrepreneurship, and sustainability for business and global innovation.

Passionate about business, and innovation sustainability to shape a profitable, cleaner, and greener future.

Growing up in a mixed-race household, with an immigrant mother from Southeast Asia, I have seen how global, mass communication, and media influence are what drive the world economically and culturally. Through the development of my own international businesses through the UN, international research, and government projects with various countries, I have dedicated my career to the triple bottom line (people, planet, profit), and the empowerment of societal and global issues in a pragmatic way. I am passionate about researching societal and environmental impact measurement through an economic and specifically communications-based lens. I have a burning desire to research the rhetoric, media, and solutions to entrepreneurially and economically empower those in marginalized countries and communities in the global market that are most affected by climate change and economic policy, and how to democratize sustainable innovation for those who need it most.

• Skalandaris Business Competition Winner 2019.
• United Nations Hult Prize Finalist 2020.
• Earlham Epic Grand Challenge Winning Team 2022.
• Princeton Review Accomplished College Entrepreneur and Student 2021.
• Business and Military Consulting Experience, Project Mercury & Project DAWG 2021.
• Championships Mens Rowing 2019.
• 3rd Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. 11 years experience

• Certified Professional Innovator (CPI): The University of Michigan & Innovatrium
• Certified Social Innovator: Cambridge University
• MBA Math Completion: MBA Math
• Skalandaris Venture Competition Champion
• Elevate Ventures Finalist
• United Nations Hult Prize International Finalist

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation $50Million Grant: Coastal Resilience Challenge: University of Michigan (Current)

Researching and implementing nature-based solutions to increase ecological and human resistance to poor water planning, policy and infrastructure of the greater Detroit area. 

• Detailed economic, sociological, communications & culture, and ecologically based research.
• Grant and project development & implementation

Renewable Energy Research: City of Kyoto, Japan.

Worked abroad on graduate-level research development through Kyodai University, in Kyoto Japan to implement and study profitable, and economically beneficial methodologies of renewable energy in the Kansai region.

• Used strong analytical and problem-solving skills to develop effective solutions for challenging situations.
• Developed hands-on research skills.

MBA Practicum Project: Unilever: Sustainability & AI Technology Impact Measurement (May-July 2024)

Research and implement sustainable and sociological impact measurement initiatives within company operations, with the use of open-sourcing and AI development technology.

MBA Turner MIINT Competition: University of Pennsylvania (Current)

Competing as an impact investment ESG firm, focusing on innovative solutions for sustainable agriculture and food equitability. Potential $2.5 million investment to our chosen company.