meet the visionaries

  • Mecca McDonald

    Founder

    A scientific and creative thinker who majored in Psychology and Economics at Johns Hopkins University.

    In the bleak year of 2020, was Mecca stuck in her dorm at Johns Hopkins, yet comforted by the pandemic's change of pace. She searched for connection, but instead found endless TikToks and discovered people making resin art at home. This harmless craft, masked dark symptoms of fossil fuels – a tsunami of plastic waste choking Earth. Within those four walls, revolution brewed. Inspired by the pandemic's focus on climate and armed with "I can do better than that.” Mecca embarked on an impossible quest: creating and scaling a viable plastic alternative.

  • Lissie Garvin

    Lissie Garvin

    Advisor | 776 Foundation Director

    Lissie Garvin is the Program Director for the 776 Foundation and Fellowship Program. The Foundation was started in March 2022 by Seven Seven Six (“776”) and Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian with a mission to fund problem-solvers combatting inequity worldwide. Its first commitment is $20M toward climate change issues through the new 776 Fellowship Program - a two-year program for young people who want to build a better future. Garvin most recently served as Seven Seven Six’s Founding Chief of Staff working directly with Ohanian, where she managed the firm’s external and internal communications practices, social media strategy, and founder relations as a trusted advisor. Prior to 776, Lissie served as Chief of Staff to Ohanian at both Reddit and Initialized Capital. Garvin resides in Austin, TX.

  • Josh Ambrose

    Advisor

    Director of Student Ventures at Johns Hopkins University.

    FastForward U is Johns Hopkins’ hub for student entrepreneurship and innovation. We work with undergrads to post-docs, helping early-stage companies build the teams of tomorrow, launch innovative products and services, and expand opportunities for all.

  • Jurien Huggins

    Industrial Designer

    Jurien Huggins is a multidisciplinary designer and creative director based in New York. He specializies in systems building and is currently pursuing a Masters at Parsons school of Design