After completing his undergraduate degree in physics at Lehigh, George Awad ’22 ’25G found himself chasing something unexpected: the flavors of Thailand. His passion for mango sticky rice—a classic Southeast Asian dessert—sparked the idea for Aroi Mango, LLC, a food startup focused on reimagining the dish for U.S. audiences. Now, as he wraps up his master’s degree in Lehigh’s Technical Entrepreneurship (TE) program, Awad is blending culinary creativity with business savvy to bring his idea to life.
This past fall, Awad took first place in the 2024 StartUp Lehigh Valley Pitch Competition (pictured above), earning a nearly $25,000 prize. “I didn’t go in expecting to win,” he says. “There were so many strong tech competitors. I just wanted to have fun with it and share what I’ve been working on.”
From Bangkok streets to the Lehigh Valley
Awad first discovered mango sticky rice while living in Thailand, where the street food culture left a lasting impression. “Mango sticky rice stood out,” he says. “It wasn’t just the flavor—it was the experience. I wanted to bring that to people here.”
What started as a small pop-up in the Lehigh Valley quickly gained traction. Awad built the brand around the idea of preserving the traditional dish while adding playful variations—like unique rice flavors and creative toppings. With support from the TE program, he began refining his business model and exploring ways to scale.
Building the business
Lehigh’s Technical Entrepreneurship program has helped Awad learn the ropes of running a business. “I had no background in business,” he says. “Everything from trademarking and intellectual property to understanding the difference between employees and subcontractors—it was all new to me.”
Conversations with faculty and peers have also helped him think more strategically about growth. “You don’t realize how important these details are until you start talking to investors or planning for scale,” he says. “That’s where TE really made the difference.”
“George is the quintessential entrepreneur," says Michael Lehman, faculty director of the Technical Entrepreneurship program and a professor of practice in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics. “He listens to the voice of the customer, he balances product development and venture creation, and he takes calculated risks.”
More than a meal
Aroi Mango is now entering a growth phase. Awad sold from his booth at the Manayunk StrEAT Food Festival in Philadelphia, and will have a ten-day presence at Musikfest, the nation's largest non-gated free music festival.
After testing new flavors and building customer loyalty through such pop-ups, Awad is planning to expand. His next goal is to launch a kiosk in a regional mall, with the Lehigh Valley and King of Prussia as potential sites. Eventually, he hopes to design a custom food truck that will stand out both in style and function.
“The food truck is something I’m being very intentional with—I don’t want it to look like anything else out there,” he says. “We’re still experimenting, but the idea is to build something that’s exciting and different.”
For Awad, Aroi Mango is about more than just dessert. “We’re at a point where people really value unique experiences,” he says. “Aroi Mango gives them that. It’s something new, a little outside their comfort zone—but really fun, and really good.”
With momentum from his pitch competition win and the support of Lehigh’s TE program, Awad is finding a way to blend creativity, culture, and entrepreneurship—one scoop of sticky rice at a time.
—Safwan Hoque ’26 is a student writer for the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science
