By: Elle dela Cruz
Brilliant ideas often do not wait for adulthood, nor did the vision behind DRIPBL. This student-led innovation incubator was founded by educator and STEM disruptor Rachna Nath to catch the ideas that traditional classrooms might overlook. As a woman in science and a champion for untapped talent, Nath saw what others may have missed: that students, especially those who don’t fit the mold, are often incredibly passionate. They just need the space, support, and belief system to believe in and act on their instincts.
Through DRIPBL, students as young as fifth grade have been able to file patents, launch community impact projects, write grants, apply for licensing deals, and reshape what academic success could look like. In this interview, Rachna Nath discusses how she built a legal-technical framework kids can use, why she blends classical dance with scientific research, and how DRIPBL students have turned $178K in grants into more than $16 million in scholarships with further opportunities likely to come.
Q: As a woman-led business, what inspired the creation of DRIPBL, and what vision guided its early growth?
Rachna Nath: DRIPBL started because I was tired of watching brilliant kids miss out and underprivileged kids not receiving the resources to excel. As a science teacher and immigrant woman in STEM, I saw how much untapped potential there was in our classrooms, especially among students who didn’t fit the “traditional” mold. I wanted to build something that treated students like the innovators they already are, not just who they could become someday.
From day one, my vision was to give young minds, starting as early as 5th grade, the tools, mentors, and belief system to take their ideas seriously. DRIPBL isn’t just a program; it’s a space where kids are told, “Yes, your ideas matter. Let’s work on them.”
Q: Your students have filed patents as young as fifth grade, when most schools limit innovation to science fairs. How did you architect DRIPBL’s legal-technical mentorship framework to make IP creation accessible to pre-teens?
Rachna Nath: It started with a simple question: What if every child could dream of the impossible and make it happen now, not just hypothetically, but for real? I reached out to IP attorneys, researchers, and mentors who believed in that vision, and together, we built a step-by-step framework that makes legal and technical processes manageable for kids without watering them down.
We scaffolded everything, from how to write a research paper to how to talk to a patent lawyer, so students could navigate the complexity with confidence. It’s not about making it easier; it’s about making it achievable. And once students see it’s achievable, there’s no going back.
Q: DRIPBL treats patent filings as learning outcomes, a radical departure from standard metrics. What assessment frameworks validate that IP creation improves educational outcomes?
Rachna Nath: For us, a patent isn’t the end goal, it’s a proof that learning has happened in the most meaningful way. When a student goes from idea to invention, they’ve mastered research, problem-solving, communication, and grit. We track those milestones, not just grades. And yes, it’s unconventional, but it’s real.
Our students leave with portfolios full of applied knowledge, not just report cards. Colleges, scholarship boards, and industry partners see the difference. They’re not just admitting students, they’re bringing in thinkers and builders.
Q: As a STEM disruptor and classical dance academy leader, how do you integrate disparate cultural elements into DRIPBL’s innovation philosophy?
Rachna Nath: Honestly, I never saw them as separate. Whether I’m choreographing an Odissi performance or guiding a student through a STEM research project, it’s all about rhythm, structure, and storytelling. In dance, you tell stories with movement. In science, you tell them with data and design. DRIPBL encourages students to bring their whole selves to the table, culture, curiosity, and creativity. That’s where innovation lives, at the intersection of identity and imagination.
Q: Your students transformed $178K in grants into $16.8M in scholarships. What specific portfolio strategies make DRIPBL projects compelling to Ivy League admissions committees?
Rachna Nath: We treat every project like it matters, because it does. Students don’t just write about change; they create it, often in their communities. We show them how to document that journey: how to write a research abstract, speak to impact, and communicate their ‘why.’
When you pair technical depth with personal story, you don’t need flashy stats; the work speaks for itself. That’s what admissions committees are seeing: not just grades, not just leadership roles, but students who’ve already changed the world around them and are just getting started.
Q: What are your strategic goals for DRIPBL in the next few years, and how do you envision the company evolving?
Rachna Nath: My goal is to scale DRIPBL without losing its heart. I want every student, no matter where they come from, to have access to this incubator, where their ideas are valued and nurtured. We’re building partnerships with cities, schools, and companies to take this national, and eventually global.
I see us launching DRIPBL micro-sites in under-resourced communities by partnering with corporate sponsors, offering onsite/virtual mentorship, and building an innovation ecosystem led by students. I don’t want this to be a one-time opportunity. I want it to be the new normal for all kids who have the heart to do something big, those who have no clue how to start, and students who are not traditional kiddos but think unconventionally.
