Derek Urben, a sophomore in finance and economics, took the top prize in the New Ventures competition for Coinigy, a digital currency startup. The technology Coinigy has developed overcomes flaws of competitors like Bitcoin, while offering asset-holders fast, cheap and secure transactions. (UWM Photo/Derek Rickert)
Music grad student and pianist Shixuan Zhang wanted to eliminate the need for a person to turn the pages of sheet music for her during concerts. Computer science students Julian Ziman and Ke Chen conceived a mobile app that displays the notes on a digital device, like an iPad. (UWM Photo/Troye Fox)
Alexis Nash is interested in helping people achieve economic independence. That led the master’s student in human resources and labor relations to create Popspace, a web-based marketplace for affordable temporary retail and event space. The idea won both student entrepreneurial competitions this year. (UWM Photo/Derek Rickert)
Charlene Olive wants to help adults with a range of developmental disabilities build creativity, confidence and community through art exploration. She launched Effio Arts, offering workshops that provide individualized support and guidance in creating art. The social entrepreneurial endeavor won support in the Student Startup Challenge. (UWM Photo/Troye Fox)
Engineering grad student Joe Pliner is creating shoe insoles that will tell people when it’s time to replace their footwear. One prototype contains foam and gel-based materials that breakdown over time to indicate wear on shoes. A second one contains sensors that collect data on shoe wear. (UWM Photo/Troye Fox)
Art and design alumnus Joe Kotlan remembers seeing a Facebook “Craig’s List” for UWM students and thinking he could vastly improve the concept as a web and mobile app. He created the website as a class assignment and UniversityExchange.trade was born. Seed funding followed from two campus competitions. (UWM Photo/Derek Rickert)
Meet eight UWM students and recent alumni who are turning their ideas into products and services with support from two campus contests – the Student Startup Challenge and the New Ventures Business Plan Competition. To see the full range of entrepreneurial programs on campus, attend the Innovator Expo on May 3 in the fourth-floor conference area in the Golda Meir Library.
The deadline to apply for the 2016-17 Student Startup Challenge is July 15.
