Civil engineering alumnus Yaw Aning has transformed the passion for technology and innovation cultivated at Rose-Hulman into a successful entrepreneurial journey—a career pathway that’s been as steadfast as the millions of packages his innovative e-commerce delivery company will be tracking throughout this holiday season. 

Along the way, the 2007 graduate has positioned himself at the forefront of the intersection between technology and the customer experience. And he’s encouraging future college graduates to follow him in exploring their entrepreneurial ambitions. 

Aning has spent the past six years growing Indianapolis-based Malomo into an award-winning tracking application that’s raised more than $8.2 million in capital investment and shown growth of 500% in revenue. Along the way, it has helped more than 400 clients empower Shopify brands to market to customers throughout the shipment process.

“We’re not just building a product; we’re creating a movement where brands can connect with their customers in meaningful ways. The delivery process is an opportunity for businesses to engage customers meaningfully, rather than just a logistical hurdle,” he explained. 

E-commerce became a crucial element for companies during the COVID pandemic, with a quality shipping experience being a strategic necessity for business.

“We’re part e-commerce, part logistics, and part customer branding – helping our clients manage all those things,” he said. “Our growth has been insane, and it has kept things interesting and exciting.”

Aning was named the Indiana tech community’s Entrepreneur of the Year at TechPoint’s 2021 Mira Awards, while Malomo was named Startup of the Year at the same event. The next year, Malomo was honored nationally, listed among SMBTech’s inaugural group of the top 50 private companies serving small- and medium-sized businesses. Meanwhile, Aning’s expertise in the tech sector has been featured in publications such as TechCrunch, Business Insider, Forbes, Yahoo, and Pitchbook. 

His journey to success began during his time at Rose-Hulman, where he honed his skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, and engineering principles in civil engineering while also excelling as a four-year varsity letterman in soccer. He was the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference’s Most Valuable Player, an all-region selection, and inducted into Rose-Hulman’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017.   

Rose-Hulman’s rigorous curriculum not only provided him with a strong technical foundation but also fostered an entrepreneurial spirit that would serve him well in his future endeavors. Aning and some classmates spent time creating a website for students to buy and sell textbooks and despite some setbacks, the experience drove him to learn more about business.

“I studied engineering because I really appreciated the intersection of art, math, and science. Civil engineering offered a great combination of those elements to build structures that can stand the test of time. Rose-Hulman taught me how to approach complex challenges systematically and think outside the box. This mindset has been crucial in the fast-paced world of technology startups,” Aning said.

After graduation, Aning participated in the Orr Fellowship program, designed to retain top Indiana college graduates and provide exposure to entrepreneurial leadership. At Indianapolis’ City Securities Corporation, he worked as a financial analyst in corporate finance, gaining crucial insights into mergers, acquisitions, and fundraising, along with making valuable business and community contacts – elements that would later prove invaluable in his post-Rose-Hulman journey, which now has included leading three successful startups.

Now, Aning is committed to giving back to the community and supporting the next generation of engineers and entrepreneurs. He shares his insights and experiences with current students. “I want students to understand that their unique skill sets can make a real difference in business. If you have the drive and determination, there’s so much potential out there,” he emphasized. 

Aning continues to embody the innovative spirit of Rose-Hulman graduates and proves that technical education can be a powerful catalyst for entrepreneurial success.