Carleton University entrepreneurs presented their first startups during two successful Venture Demo Days on April 6 and 9.
After their first term in an entrepreneurship class offered by the Sprott School of Business, a total of 36 venture teams comprised of 183 undergraduate students from all faculties demonstrated the value of their products to customers and their business models.
“The Sprott School of Business enables undergraduate students from all faculties to make ideas happen,” said Jerry Tomberlin, dean of the Sprott School of Business. “At Carleton, we do entrepreneurship, not just talk about ideas.”
“When we look for good entrepreneurs, we look for people who can change the world for the better,” said Tony Bailetti, entrepreneurship teaching area co-ordinator and director of the Technology Innovation Management Program (TIM). “I found these people in Carleton’s Venture Demo Days.”
Typically, several startups emerge from Venture Demo Day as entrepreneurship students turn a class project into a real company. These students then seek a GREEN rating, the gold standard for young entrepreneurs in Canada’s capital region, from the Lead to Win Opportunity Review Boards.
In the end, students voted for People’s Choice startup teams. The elected teams were:
- 4U Navigation— A visual impairment assistance system. Led by Mohamed Mahmoud, Jessica Rowe and Menan Vadivelpillai;
- DRONE MEDIA — An aerial photography business using drone technology targeting a number of applications. Led by Gordon Cockell, Krisjan Hanson, Sandeep Mathew and Carly Patterson;
- OUNCE — A cocktail mixing app with social community ties. Led by David Brechin, Thomas Gibson-Gamache, Ghassan Kaddoura and Dustin Lee;
- Smart Stove—An app that can control and adjust the heat and timing of a stove, enabling cooks to complete dishes at the same time. Led by Printille Diabouga, Nigel Ali-Digmeed and Mark Gagnon; and
- Thumbrella—Mobile devices that adhere to everyday objects, including a phone that attaches to an umbrella. Led by Shaun Sarazin, Steven Daniluk, Giordano Mingarelli and James Hannah.
“These ventures are now part of Carleton’s entrepreneurial community,” said Stephen Davies, Sprott instructor. “If they are serious about launching and growing their ventures, we are there for them all the way. Today was a great first step in making things happen, and going for what they want.”
Venture Demo Day is the brainchild of Davies and Tom Duxbury. Both instructors are serial entrepreneurs, part of the Lead to Win faculty and members of the Lead to Win Opportunity Review Board.
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Friday, April 10, 2015 in News Releases
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