Meet the Trio of UVA Alumni on the 2022 Forbes ‘30 Under 30’ Lists

December 23, 2021 • By Andrew Ramspacher, fpa5up@virginia.edu Andrew Ramspacher, fpa5up@virginia.edu

December 23, 2021
Headshots: from left to right, Thomas Sherman, Mike Shebat and Natasha Sheybani

UVA is represented among the latest Forbes “30 Under 30” lists via rising industry stars, from left to right, Thomas Sherman, Mike Shebat and Natasha Sheybani. (Contributed photos)

Forbes, the longtime staple business publication, has released its annual “30 Under 30” lists and three University of Virginia alumni are among the “brightest young entrepreneurs, leaders and stars,” according to the magazine.

Now into a second decade of identifying these individuals, Forbes this year relied on judges such as musician Miley Cyrus, Peloton Global Head of Marketing Dara Treseder, National Human Genome Research Institute Director Eric Green, Whoop founder Will Ahmed, Human Ventures CEO Heather Hartnett, New York Times staff writer Jazmine Hughes, supermodel Tyra Banks, National Geographic chairman Jean Case and basketball Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady.

Forbes categorizes this class of honorees as “resilient and destined to change the world.”

Let’s meet the three Wahoos who made the lists.

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Natasha Sheybani – Science

Sheybani, who in 2020 received her Ph.D. from UVA in biomedical/medical engineering, is an assistant professor in the School of Engineering and Applied Science’s Department of Biomedical Engineering.

Once named a “Wunderkind” by health news site STAT, Sheybani is being honored by Forbes for her work in developing therapies to treat cancer using ultrasound.

Sheybani in November was announced as the recipient of the National Institutes of Health Director’s Early Independence Award. Her lab, as a result, will receive nearly $2 million in funding over five years.

Mike Shebat – Consumer Technology

After five years in a variety of managerial positions at Uber, Shebat helped launch the mobile app Traba over the summer. Forbes notes Shebat, who in 2014 received his degree in economics, is “trying to help solve the current staffing shortage while giving workers flexible, well-paying wages.”

According to its site, Traba connects the top 1% of workers with open shifts at warehouses, fulfillment centers and event venues.

Forbes reports Traba, which was cofounded by Shebat and Akshay Buddiga, raised $3.6 million this summer from Founders Fund, General Catalyst, Lux Capital and Village Global.

Thomas Sherman – Energy

Six years after receiving his UVA degrees in mathematics and environmental science, Sherman cofounded CRCL Solutions as a way to help stakeholders to keep up with a dynamic energy landscape through artificial intelligence.

According to its site, CRCL Solutions, led by Sherman and Daniel Vassallo, “has developed a state-of-the-art wind and solar forecasting tool to reduce risk for power traders.” Forbes reports CRCL Solutions has received funding from the National Science Foundation.

Media Contact

Andrew Ramspacher

University News Associate University Communications

Article Information

December 23, 2024

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