Bernard Kozel StartUp @ Saunders

Customer Discovery

Prototyping

Leadership and interpersonal skills

Protecting intellectual property

Demo Night Presentations
Kozel StartUp Program @Saunders - Demo Night banner graphic

Event details

Join aspiring entrepreneurs, business leaders, mentors, and the startup community for Demo Night Hosted by the Bernard Kozel StartUp Program @ Saunders. See Saunders student startups showcase how they're bringing innovative ideas to life.

🗓️Wednesday, August 6
📍Sklarsky Glass Box Theater, Student Hall for Exploration and Development (SHED)

Event Details

About the Bernard Kozel StartUp Program

Bernard Kozel Headshot

The Bernard Kozel StartUp Program @ Saunders provides entrepreneurial-minded students with the resources, mentorship, and funding necessary to bring their innovative ideas to life.

Formerly known as the RIT Student Accelerator, the Bernard Kozel StartUp @ Saunders empowers students of all majors by offering hands-on learning experiences, networking opportunities, and strategic mentorship from RIT advisers, industry experts, and investors. Student teams accepted into the program receive a summer stipend and participate in an immersive, experience-based curriculum. The program culminates in a high-profile Demo Night, where teams pitch their ventures to the RIT community and beyond.

The effort is made possible by support from RIT’s Bernard Kozel Endowed Fund for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Kozel was well respected for his roles as a businessman and entrepreneur, innovator, investor, and connector. Kozel’s entrepreneurial journey began post-World War II, when he successfully established various companies dedicated to structural steel, semiconductors and high-tech electronics. Central to his accomplishments was a deep belief in mentoring, evident through his co-founding of KG Capital Associates and his emphasis on guiding and investing in emerging entrepreneurs.

Barbara Kozel, longtime donor and daughter of the late Bernard Kozel, is the fund’s creator and a dedicated supporter of RIT and its entrepreneurial initiatives. 

Bernard Kozel Mentor Award

In 2022, the Bernard Kozel Mentor Award was established by his daughter, Barbara, to commemorate his legacy. It acknowledges Kozel StartUp program mentors who emulate his commitment to guiding young talent. Award recipients demonstrate unwavering dedication to nurturing student growth and encouraging their pursuit of excellence. The award underscores the lasting impact of mentorship and Bernard Kozel’s enduring belief in the potential of individuals to shape a better future.

Apply        |       View Mentor Awards

Program Details

Each team receives a stipend, mentoring, coaching, and workspace for your team. The program culminates in a Demo Night where each student team has an opportunity to pitch their business to the greater RIT community.

Applications for the Bernard Kozel StartUp Program are now open 

Eligibility

The Bernard Kozel StartUp is for teams and does not accept single-person applications. Each team must be well-rounded and multi-disciplinary in order to have the skills necessary to accomplish the program goals.

Requirements

Students should expect to work significantly more than 40 hours per week. Students in the past have worked upwards of 50-60 hours because they were driven to make their idea a reality.

Teams are not allowed to take classes during this program but may be considered for co-op credit, pending department approval. 
Funding is available for teams with a max of three students, with each student receiving a $4,000 stipend and access to a small prototyping fund (based on pre-approval).

Start Your Application

Application Details

 

Application Process

The application process is done on a rolling basis. Teams will be reviewed as applications are received, so it is to your advantage to apply early. The program committee will invite selected teams to interview with us.

Before starting the online application, be prepared to answer the following:

  1. What will your company do or make? What is the basic idea? You may include a 3-4 minute video of your idea if you like)
  2. What stage is your business in raw idea, developed concept, developed prototype, beta testing, earning revenue?
  3. Who are your customers?
  4. What is new or different about your company/idea that isn’t already out in the world?
  5. Who do you see as your competitors? How are they similar or different than you?
  6. Explain how your company will make money.
  7. Why should we choose you? Sell yourself!

Contact

For more information, please contact:

Program Director

Anthony Testa headshot

Anthony Testa

Visiting Lecturer
atesta@saunders.rit.edu
585-475-6504

Program Manager

Evan Vershay headshot

Evan Vershay

Program Manager Executive MBA
evershay@saunders.rit.edu
5854756709

Past Teams and Participants

A full roster of past teams with their projects is listed below. Participant names link to their LinkedIn profiles.

Kosovo Wind Garden

Strong Arm

Tags

Danger Zone

Artwork Evolution

ChronoWave

 

Concussion Headband - Concussion minimalizing headband.

Grade Snap - Class management/ Grading Software.

Attache' - Online tools for job search.

UrLocker - Skins for lockers, tech equipment.

Clean Tag 

APPlicable Solutions - Eco-Friendly Mobile Solutions.

Scopur - Social Network Scanner.

AdKois - Web tool that will secure and privatize your web browsing experience, so you can surf, sign up, and purchase with ease of mind.

APPture, LLC - Developing a device that connects all technology tools like your smart phone, laptop, notebook, desk top, tv, tablet, etc. 

CausBuzz - Website/Database tool to connect volunteers with not for profits or coorporations.  Focus on parental involvement at schools.

MotionSavvy - Sign Language Translation Tool.

SyncYourFactSheet - Job Applicant Tracking Systems.

The Learning Stone - Electronic Flash Cards.

Empire Design Labs

Flow

Mobile Centrifuge 

Skyvo - Classroom management made easy - Unlike other learning platforms that bring analog material to iPad screens, Binder allows teachers to create a digital book filled with items such as tests and handouts along with easy to create interactive material; including games, video and in class questions to integrate with their lessons.

ThermoCheck Company - Allows retailers to combat customers who buy a product with the intent to return a defective version of the same product.

UEState - Allowing the average home buyer to sell a house using their own social network.

Cascades - We create a simulation platform to and the models reflecting the most current cyber attackers and exploits. These are then adapted to a customer's network to give context of what these cyber attacks mean to them.

Happy 2C 

HZ Innovations - Hz Innovations will develop and distribute Hz Systems. The systems will be offered as start-up kits consisting of: three miniature microphones, a bridge/hub, an app, and a specific number of sounds that it will recognize. Initially, the sound recognition software will be licensed while we develop our hardware. Miniaturized wireless microphones placed in rooms around the home will create a blanket of coverage that will effectively capture sound, which will then be relayed back to the bridge, linking the hardware to the app. Unlike our competitors, we have simplicity-inspired technology, this allows our system to capture sounds more than 300 feet within the home, enabling effective awareness of different sounds such as door knocking, doorbell ringing, appliances turning on and off, even a Deaf individual’s name being called out, then a notification will be sent to their Smartphone, wearable device, and/or web interface. Our product is also distinct because of its independence, trainability and automation; our system can be customized to capture specific sounds - for example, home appliances (oven, microwave, laundry machines) produce beeps when they complete a task and our system can distinguish these different beeps then alert the user through the app.

LiftForce - LiftForce Vulcan attaches to power racks and analyzes weightlifting form in real time (it uses a couple of sensors and a touchscreen). We’re also building an app called Atlas that syncs with Vulcan (and any other smart equipment we build) and provides subscribers with detailed biomechanical analysis to learn which areas need improvement (and a bunch of other stuff). Vulcan was partially inspired by racing games. The generalized correct form will be displayed in the manner of a “ghost”. This allows anyone to receive real time feedback on their weightlifting form without being distracted or confused.

Myspiderweb - Myspiderweb.com aggregates social networking services in a unique way so that users can easily manage information between the multiple services in a seamless fashion. It is essential for us to tailor to these unique users so that they feel a part of the community. Both our premium and free versions offer the ability to integrate different social networking services into one location through the use of one simple login process. Once the user links their services to Myspiderweb.com, all of their content will be pulled into the respective content aggregator. This can be accomplished by enabling the user to login to the services that they want to incorporate on their initial account creation. Our free version's initial product includes customizable posting. Our premium version’s initial product includes analytics, keyword monitoring, on call/text customer support, scheduled posts, and a single stream inbox.  With these tools, we are able to tailor our service directly to small businesses that do not need an excessive amount of abstruse tools. Once these tools are fine-tuned, we will systematically add services such as auto-responses, automatically generated customer contacts, and multiple-account management.

Spynalyn

UNA Team - Our company is a startup that was just created as a partnership between three RIT graduate students and will act in the coffee market, providing solutions to coffee lovers and electronics addicts. We wish to develop different technological products to our clients to provide new experiences for their daily routine, focused on the simplest activities like making a coffee or riding a bike. As UNA is our first product, our intention is to build a company that supports the business that we are focused. Our revenue for the first product will be related to the UNA Coffee Maker and UNA coffee pod sales. The UNA portable coffee maker is a new and innovative product that allows you to brew your own coffee whenever and wherever you are. More than a common thermal bottle, UNA is capable of making your coffee on the go. UNA is a device that works without any external power supply, and also offers wireless connection with smartphones, offering a wide range of possibilities. The UNA project was created from intense brainstorming, where Socratic questioning concepts were applied and as result we created a solid solution: a product that, more than a coffee maker, is intelligently space-optimized to be a new personal gadget. Just add water at any temperature, one UNA Coffee pod, and click the button. In few minutes your high quality coffee will be ready. Let UNA open up the possibilities for people to enjoy their favorite coffee anywhere and anytime! Our vision for the future of the company is to keep developing products with the same innovative excitement as UNA.

Wyvern - We will provide platform as a service (PaaS) solutions to higher education institutions. Platform as a service (PaaS) is a cloud computing model that delivers applications over the Internet. Our company is the cloud provider that delivers the application, and our users are students at higher education institutions. We will provide hosting for the petition application, as well as contracting on how to integrate the petition service into an academic environment that is effective, and yields a positive impact on the academic institution and the affiliated community.

Anova

AWARE - AWARE is a sleep sensor for truck drivers. It can detect the early signs of sleep and exhaustion, alerting drivers that it is time to stop and take a break.

Band Toy - Sensory toys for children with mental disabilities. 

Flux Keyboards - Flexible, modular keyboards for mobile musicians.

Form Eyewear - Modern glassware made from recycled wood.

Muscle Dispenser - Vending machine that mixes and dispenses a protein shake for the user.

ShoRaq - ShoRaq creates a point-of-purchase window that lets you instantly purchase the products you love while watching your favorite TV shows and movies.

SimHealth - SimHealth is a medical technology company with the mission of facilitating communication and growth in both healthcare and educational settings.

SpotMe - In the most basic form, it is uber for fitness. It is a fitness app that helps you find tutors around you.

Thermapparel - A low-profile cooling vest that allows people with MS to live a life that isn't dictated around staying cool.

Ugyo - This company focus on producing relevant and inexpensive access technology designed to solve  problems specifically for the DeafBlind community.

Ambient PV - Cool tech that converts light into energy. 

ASL Storyteller/ HEDE Education - Veekaboo - ASL Storyteller is an early childhood language app that reinforces visual association and language processing using a unique way of telling  stories.

  • Sam (Hanxu) Liang
  • Logan Lugo
  • Christina (Joo Yeon) Chang

DADCo - DADCo seeks to bring Electromyography (EMG) into the consumer marketplace by creating an electrode-integrated wearable smart device.

Green Phoenix - Grow the ashes of loved ones into a plant. 

GRETA Technologies

HiBeams - Smart lights for your skateboard so you can see better at night.

Pixture - Pixture is an automatic photo tagging software based on proximity and time that will take the concept of photo taking to next generation.

Ripple - Ripple aims to connect individuals with working professionals to gain personalized mentorship and guidance to create their own path to success.

Shareeek/ Fanous Studios - Huruf - The idea of our product is to help children from age 2-5 year old acquiring specific skills such as letters, numbers, colors and shapes.

Vign - VIGN is a video streaming website for the signing community that enables them to watch and enjoy numerous videos in one place. This means VIGN collects countless signed videos from famous sign language producers such The Daily Moth, Seek the World and DeafNation and many more. VIGN lets you watch video content in sign language anywhere, anytime.

Backpack for Gamers - A backpack designed for gamers to tote their gaming consoles around while being protected. 

Hive Refrigeration

Op-Siix - Providing emotion support and a sense of community for veterans. 

WinutRx - App that monitors a patients prescriptions and food intake to stop harmful food-medicine interactions.

PAL 

Phase Innovations LLC - Developing an air purified for in home and commercial uses.

Project Object Tracker 

QuickTix - Ticketing platform designed for use by small theatres and schools. 

SerVu - Personality software for bars to determind which applicants would best fit in with their bar.

Sniffy - Dog training app that allows pet owners to train their dogs on their schedule with virtual trainers.

T.E.R.P - Interpreting App

terp - Interpreting App

TigerCGM - An app that allows diabetic users to continuously track their glucose levels on an app. 

VeeTV - Original signed deaf content on a streaming service. 

Venator Technologies - Small scale 3D printing manufacturing & prototyping

Blueprint - Training program for kids with disabilities (allows them to learn new skills). 

Friendzone - An app that helps friends coordinate their busy schedules to find a time to get together. 

Payble - Mobile payment app that allows resturant goes to pay from their table without waiting for ther server to bring the check. 

Quick Tix (2.0) - Ticketing platform designed for use by small theatres and schools. 

Sign- Speak - App that allows two-way communication between dead/HoH signers and hearing/speaking individuals. 

Sniffy (2.0) - Dog training app that allows pet owners to train their dogs on their schedule with virtual trainers.

VeeTV (2.0) - Original signed deaf content on a streaming service. 

WinutRx (2.0) - App that monitors a patients prescriptions and food intake to stop harmful food-medicine interactions. 

Brazenhaus (Martone) - A multi-dimensional instrument that is tuned through a phone application. 

Dext - A wearable hand unit that allows users to type with simple finger movements. 

EMGo - A wearable head unit that detects neuron signals and  allows in-audible individuals to type on a virtual keyboard. 

Envision - Developing an open world sandbox game. 

Foldify - Machine that semi-automatically folds your laundry.

Kaleidoscope ME - Social-emotional training program for children.

Med Dimensions - 3D printing service for vets to plan their surgical procedures on a to-scale bone model. 

Thinking Hands - Learning platform for Deaf/HoH to stay on track with education compared to hearing students.

VISION - Allows engineers to develop and collaborate on CAD designs using a VR headset. 

WetWare - A headset that can be used in helmets and by first responders that reduces the affects of a TBI. 

Zephair - Redesigning the asthma inhaler to be more pocket friendly.

Scentablez - A popable air freshner product.

Niche Industries Corp. - Mission planning software for the military to help plan routes for refueling, etc.

PrisAM - 3D printing software that develops lattice structures that are lighter and stronger than most other structures & materials. 

Foster Industries - A manufactuirng 6-axis robotic arm that is able to change its own end-defectors.

DOST - A mental health app that connects students in need with a trained student to talk to. This will help them during the waiting period for them to get into the mental health office. 

Great Lakes Gaming - A gamers lounge for gamers to gather and play together under once roof. 

Trendsetter - Like Instagram, but for rating and giving feedback on fashion outfits. 

Nexthops - A non-alcoholic seltzer drink made with hops. 

Scentablez (2.0) - A popable air freshner product. 

AgCorder - The AgCorder is a multi-functional sensor package that allows commercial plant growers to gather and interpret a wide range of real-time, in-vivo data directly related to plant growth and health. As a grower’s portable assistant, the system utilizes cutting-edge optical technology and analysis techniques to see beyond what is apparent to the naked eye.

B Respirator - A respiratory safety company, that focuses on innovative and creative solutions that are comfortable, compact and compatible for bearded men.

Defeat the God - Defeat The God is a game dev team creating action multiplayer games that will challenge you as much as you challenge it.

Hangout App - Hangout is a social networking application that helps planning meetups with friends and discovering new people by combining schedules, common interests and geo-location.

Mingle - Mingle is a mobile application that helps build connections for travelers who want travel companions or local guides.

Local Sports - Local Sports is an online sports community platform that connects players and facilities nearby.

Smart Pillow Helper (I2A) - I2A is proud to release its first product the Bugle Smart Pillow for people who lack awareness of audio alerts.

Local Sports - Local Sports is an online sports community platform that connects players and facilities nearby.

CookIY - Our company will create a new social media application that aims to bring users around the world to search, post, share, and rate home recipes. Our goal through this application is to create a welcoming community that allows users to collaborate with other home chefs in the safety of their homes through the pandemic and even after the pandemic is over. Through this application, we hope to make home cooking more accessible to people stuck at home and bring a social aspect into collaborative cooking with others.

Mass Vaxx - We are developing a point of distribution management system to help distribute vaccinations for the COVID-19 pandemic. We are specifically developing for emergency management services that, according to our 40ish customer interviews and our large network of sources, are woefully underprepared.

Emergency Record Solutions - We develop record management software with dispatch capabilities, built to department specs. Our goal is to turn 1 hour of paperwork into 10 minutes.

Vendr - Vendr is a web and mobile application in which we aim to create a marketplace offering a window shopping experience by fusing online marketplaces with the online dating experience.

Jogo - We are a Virtual Reality education platform. We provide teachers with 3D models and tools to enable them to create their own teaching content in virtual reality and we make the lessons available to students who are using the platform.

Synesthesia 

NeurGear - NeurGear is developing a headgear device that provides enhanced focus and memory for people looking for increased productivity.

Sous Soleil - Sous Soleil provides exotic, cocktail-flavored hard seltzers that are refreshing and packed with unique flavors, unlike traditionally flavored hard seltzers.

Ø(not)Wasted - NotWasted is an expiry notification app geared towards sustainability, aiming to reduce the amount of food waste at home.

Intelleplant LLC - Intelleplant creates home aeroponics systems for home growers who want to grow plants inside year round.

Forward Forestry (Mill Market) - Mill Market is the first online marketplace for loggers to auction off their logs to paper and lumber mills.

Tapaut - Tapaut is a platform that connects bars and restaurants with young adults looking for local events and promotions. 

Taste-Trotters - For dessert indulgers seeking new varieties of artisanal ice cream, Taste Trotters provides a variety of super-premium, internationally-inspired ice cream flavors.

UNiM8 - Getting into U.S. universities for high school students both domestically and internationally is a nightmare-like experience. At UNIM8 we plan to change that through our website which will help high school students get into top U.S. universities.

Jdocs - For small law firms who need a digital information solution when it comes to handling e-discovery, case management, and research our JDocs platform will provide a comprehensive solution for managing and processing data. Unlike the competition, our product will be cheaper and more secure. Additionally, It wont require any sort of pre-existing legal team to set up. It should be simple enough for one person to use. Our software is newer, simpler, and easy to use. Additionally it is great for customization and creating a tailored solution easily.

Greenify - Greenify will provide a simplified dashboard overview of the sustainable impacts of individually-held portfolios and stocks to general consumers.

Watermark VR - Our company is developing empathy trainings that will be used in VR to help associates in healthcare experience what their patients/residents are going through. Doing so by simulating health conditions the elderly population goes through such as macular degeneration, floaters, cataracts, and hand tremors. They will experience these while walking around in an interactable VR environment.

SWIPS - SWIPS aims to be the frontline brand leader in the market to provide an efficient expense-sharing experience for young adults, roommates, or even travelers. Offering a SWIPS payment card, SWIPS takes away your worries and splits a bill in a few taps. It automatically sends each of your connections a money request. How does it work? SWIPS is a monetary app that allows users to easily split the expense with others. To split the expense with others, the user has the option to make the transaction by using a SWIPS payment card then the SWIPS app recognizes the transaction from the merchant. Users can also use SWIPS with a regular card or the in-app balance to pay their bills. Through the use of receipt scanning, you can immediately transfer the contents of a bill into the app and manually split them between everyone. The transaction appears in the user's app and enables the user to perform a simple operation to split the payment with others. SWIPS also solves customers' complex situations when splitting the expense. One of the instances has occurred in the past; the waiter at the restaurant cannot separate the bill check for people on the same table after requesting to separate the check. The possible outcome of people has experienced the hassle situation because it would take them a while to calculate the expense cost, lose track of many payment methods, and refuse to pay or make late payments from others. With that being said, the goal of our app is to provide the best solution, which can give users the easiest and simplest experience when splitting the bill.

Code Hack  - Provide employable technology skills to young women aged 17-28years in Kenya in web development, Mobile development, and digital marketing with the aim of empowering them to be economically sustainable.

DeliverU - DeliverU is making software that enables colleges and universities to offer easy and simple delivery solutions for all products sold on campus.

The Box2Go - Box2Go intends to deliver affordable meals to students by aggregating orders supplied by the partnered restaurants. Then, the products are delivered on a scheduled time to multiple locations under a subscription plan.

The Descendents 

Lavendar Archives - The Lavender Archives is to helping to increase accessibility to queer media and help build community. to do so, we are creating anLGBTQ+ book subscription box providing hand-selected book choices that readers can relate to. 

Neureka 

The BlackBoook - The company will create more productive and enhanced search experiences for black individuals online that are users of current search engines through a web extension.

Atlantis Smart Shower - Our product, the Atlantis Smart Shower, is a touchscreen control panel that allows the user to control everything in their shower from temperature and pressure to controlling and playing media.

RHM Innovations - Creating an independent shower solution for aging, sick or disabled individuals to be able to shower safely on their own.

 

 

Conoted - Conoted connects college students in a course-specific online community to collaborate, discuss, and master course material.

VRtex Studios - VRtex Studios makes 3D avatar creation simple so anyone can create and express themselves through their high-quality avatar. 

H20B - H2OB is a water filtration company that provides highly efficient, low cost, anti-organic membrane filtration.

Arcade Darts - Our company designs, constructs, and sells dart boards. Our boards are not your classic dart boards. We bring the high scoring gameplay of being at an arcade to the game of darts. As dart players who have gotten tired of the trite gameplay, our goal was to create a dart game you cannot get tired of. Arcade Dart boards not only have interesting shapes to aim for, but interesting spaces too which could multiply your score or even make you lose darts. This wacky board design combined with over 9 different round options allow for a game you can pick up at any time and never get tired of.

Campus Credit Food to World - Our company is creating a food distribution system that functions as a support circle to subscribed members. The idea is to add collective force to the fight for global food security and nutrition, by providing a food delivery service that assures steady food (nutrition) access; and utilities barter-designed supply chains to reduce food wastage. It involves a network of smallholder farmers, farms, farmers markets, food cooperatives, food sourcing experts, supply chain managers, and  Agronomy schools, that earn income from agro foods distribution directly to households. Production at our farms responds primarily to preferences expressed by individual households through a mechanism of pre-orders.

Mimir VR - Virtual Reality currently appeals to a small segment of gamers. I seek a blue ocean to bring new customers to the VR space with a more comfortable, customizable and affordable VR headset.

Bitbtc - To solve the problems of high price of BTC and slow transfer speed, we split BTC into BitBTC across chain through smart contracts, that is, 1 BTC(bitcoin) = 1 million BitBTC. BitBTC: Faster speed, Lower fees, More eco-friendly and More convenient in DeFi.

HedsUp - The problem we're trying to solve is meeting new friends in an environment where you know no one and have no mutual friends. Our team wants to provide a localized social platform service through a mobile application to speed up the process of meeting new friends. The platform provides an easier means of communication through auto generated prompts, public chats bubbles layered on top of a map and leads users to meet in person through public events provided on the map.

Universal M - This business model proposes an online platform that connects machine manufacturers and customers across the globe, offering a wide range of machines with local servicing provided by certified partners. The platform aims to bridge the gap between markets with strong demand and manufacturers with high potential.

Smart Ship - Gig-economy platform helping people return packages without leaving the comfort of their home. Smart Ship picks the package up at your door and returns it to the appropriate store/location on your behalf. 

Cue Tech - A visual alerting device for Deaf and HoH drivers to help make them more aware of approaching emergency vehicles.

Dream Machine - Software that helps you harness the creativity and power of your dreams. Helping creatives and artists alike remember and recreate their dreams to aid the creative process.

PenPal - A conversational AI chatbot that integrates with small businesses' websites to help with abandoned shopping cart issues.

Mobi - Mobi is a car rental platform in Central Asia that will enable vehicle owners to lease their cars and potential clients to rent vehicles seamlessly, without the need to go anywhere.

eDiploma - eDiploma uses blockchain and other modern technologies to turn paper based diplomas (and other documents) into NFT, so they can be stored indefinitely, cannot be changed after the deployment and transparent, so everyone can prove it's a valid document. This helps graduates to prove their achievements and helps employers to distinguish if a person really finished listed universities and received certifications. Our portal is already working as "ediploma.kz" and earning revenue from Kazakhstan (our birthplace), but needs improvements that we are working on currently which will help it expand to US. Our aim is to conquer falsification of documents and achievements by implementing blockchain technology. We also plan to add already implemented AI to make employers life even easier. It will help to find candidates that suits given task or job description.

Better Bonds - We're a digital app designed to nurture friendships through engaging interactions, personalized event suggestions, and shared calendars, making it easy and meaningful to stay connected.

Cortex Labs - Levangie Laboratories creates innovative robotics technologies focused on integrating modern AI solutions. Our first product is the Companion Core - an adaptive social assistant and companion to all. It can adapt to your lifestyle and learn more about you to be the best companion, assistant, and friend.

EduSim - Our company will provide education and training using interactive 3D Simulations.

EZSpike - EZSpike is a product that will optimize a common practice for track and field athletes. Spikes are worn by almost every competitive track athlete from middle school to the Olympic level. Each shoe has removable spikes that must be replaced frequently due to general wear and tear. This tool is essentially a powered wrench specifically designed to insert and remove spikes at higher speeds. Every pair of spikes comes with a spike tool but the manual operation of these becomes very tedious for someone about to compete. This tool decreases distractions for the competitors as they try to focus on preparation for their race. Although the main customer for this product is track athletes, the design can easily be adjusted with attachments to work for other equipment such as golf shoes.

Fashion Swipe - A curated platform for fashion-conscious individuals to meet likeminded people, get outfit inspiration, and trade/sell clothes. 

Hart Homes LLC - Hart Homes LLC is an ethical real estate investment company dedicated to providing sustainable and socially responsible housing. Our mission is to create positive social and environmental impact to Urban Rochester through our real estate investments.

HeartBox - The core objective of HeartBox is to establish a sophisticated digital platform designed to cater to the diverse needs of mental health support and enhancement. HeartBox will offer an array of meticulously curated features and services geared towards facilitating individuals in comprehensively understanding, managing, and enhancing their mental well-being. This encompasses provisions for self-assessment tools, personalized mental wellness resources, access to accredited mental health professionals, and community support networks. The overarching aim is to establish an intuitive and inclusive environment wherein users can actively participate in their mental health journey, avail support as required, and contribute to the broader advancement of mental wellness awareness and advocacy.

HOGEN - We intend on building a grid scale energy storage platform relying primarily on the production of green hydrogen. This system is meant to allow for maximum power delivery from renewable energy systems to the grid scale while minimizing loss.

OnCall - Oncall is a digital nursing agency that connects nurses to shifts at nearby healthcare facilities. Our product will be an app sort of like an “uber for nurses”, where hospitals, nursing Homes, etc can request a nurse when short-staffed to fill a gap in their schedule.

Ramsey Family Innovation Fund logo 
   Endo Automation is sponsored by the Ramsey Family Innovation Fund
  Visit website for more details

OpenInk - Our company will make an open-source inkjet paper printer, with support for easy refills using generic inks and a focus on user experience. We will also provide technical support, repairs, and enterprise services. A longer-term goal is to expand into less developed inkjet markets, including printed electronics, 3D printing, bioprinting, and holistic device printing. Our very long-term goal is to build a printer that can print a working copy of itself.

Steel Echoes - Steel Echoes is a Sci-Fi Tabletop Roleplaying Game which has a functional prototype and moderate following already with little to no advertisement.

Autonomous Warehouse Drones -  As warehouses grow larger and more complex, they face new challenges in maintaining an organized layout and tracking inventory in real time. To address this, we are developing automated warehouse drones equipped with the latest technology, such as swarming capabilities, AI-driven mapping, and seamless interoperability with human workers.

Bone Bros Orthotic Shoes - We are looking to build a shoe around orthotics to directly connect foot health with footwear, through personalized 3D printing techniques. This will be a modification to the drop-in-midsole system to create custom midsole-orthotics providing a bridge between custom footwear/orthotics with modern mass production. While we believe foot health is a growing issue amongst the entire population, we found that current orthotics users and those in pain are not satisfied with their current options. As a result, our initial goal has shifted to creating a baseline daily use model targeted towards orthotic users, catering to those who are on their feet, with plans to expand to other footwear fields in the future.

CollegeGO - Our company will improve the transition of students from high school to college. Our company will create a social network/app where students can create personal accounts to share their experiences and academic achievements throughout their academic journey during their high school years. The idea is to have this social network exclusively focused on the academic environment. In the future, we also believe that this social network could be used by the admissions offices of various universities as a way to better understand their candidates.

Cyper - cyberPASS is a cybersecurity self-assessment tool designed to help small businesses evaluate their cybersecurity maturity and identify areas for improvement. The idea is to offer businesses an easy-to-use tool that assesses their cybersecurity posture based on their operations, risk management approach, and technology use. Many small businesses lack the resources or expertise to assess their vulnerabilities effectively, and our goal is to simplify that process for them. Traditional cybersecurity consulting can be expensive and time-consuming, so cyberPASS offers an affordable and scalable solution that simplifies the process. 

Endo Automation - Endo is a hardware device that enables seamless outdoor operations without relying on cellular or satellite data. We develop a wireless, network-free solution that allows users to operate devices and capture sensor data over long distances (10km+ range). We are starting with smart irrigation for farms, leveraging my background in farming. Our system consists of: remote sensors and valve controllers, managed through an app, a central gateway with WiFi/4G LTE connectivity to control heavy-duty equipment like water pumps, and LoRa-based substations, self-powered by solar and batteries, to relay commands across vast areas. Our software optimizes irrigation by dynamically adjusting schedules based on real-time sensor data, evapotranspiration models, and rainfall patterns. Farmers gain insights into water usage, crop health, and can leverage LLMs for decision-making to maximize yields. Beyond farming, Endo's modular hardware scales across industries like mining, factories, and water monitoring. With no need for WiFi repeaters or power cables, our system enables cost-effective sensor deployment in challenging environments, whether for tracking temperature hotspots in factories or monitoring remote water bodies. Our goal: Make industrial-scale automation and monitoring accessible anywhere‚ without the limits of existing networks.

Ramsey Family Innovation Fund logo 
   Endo Automation is sponsored by the Ramsey Family Innovation Fund
  Visit website for more details
 

GroupSoup - GroupSoup was born out of a simple yet frustrating experience. When I, Zevez, first moved to Rochester, I was eager to find a spoken-word poetry group that met in person. I assumed it would be easy with a metro area of over a million people, but I was wrong. It took me eight hours of searching across Facebook Groups and other platforms just to find one in-person group that matched what I was looking for. That‚ is where GroupSoup comes in; fresh take on modern social media that bridges the gap between online connections and real-life communities. Instead of endless scrolling, our platform makes it effortless to discover, join, and engage with local groups, clubs, and teams that may already exist; like the spoken-word group that I searched for! When users open the app, they'll see an interactive map highlighting nearby groups tailored to their interests, which will be a part of our onboarding experience. If they are searching for something outside their usual interests, they can update and add changes to what they initially answered or remove filters from their search. And when it's time to meet, GroupSoup encourages deeper social interactions by offering an optional feature that temporarily disables non-essential apps (e.g., Instagram, TikTok) upon check-in‚ helping users stay present and engaged rather than resorting to awkward phone scrolling. To ensure safe and structured in-person gatherings, all groups on the platform collaborate with GroupSoup hubs or partnered small businesses‚ places like public libraries, coffee shops, and family-run restaurants. For businesses, this means more foot traffic, longer customer stays, and increased online visibility through Google reviews and word-of-mouth promotion. To help GroupSoup stay relevant after the first meet-up, we will have a sticker on the door where you'll typically see GrubHub or DoorDash stickers. Additionally, if businesses have the space, we will have a board that helps new people discover the platform and the events at that specific GroupSoup hub. This board could be a physical calendar or an interactive kiosk that draws new people into a world bustling with community. At its core, GroupSoup isn't just about meeting new people‚ it's about rediscovering your city, exploring new hobbies, and fostering real, meaningful connections. The digital world has made it easy to connect, but we‚ are here to ensure those connections happen in the real world, too. Are you ready to stir up something new? Let's build stronger communities‚ one group at a time.

ModuDesk - Your desk, your way. Our company makes a magnetic, modular desktop organizer, featuring mainly office desktop organization. A wireless phone stand+charger, pencil holders, lamps, and many more! A cluttered desk for a cluttered mind. We've all been there, Pens rolling away, can't find the one thing you are looking for. A workspace that never quite fits your needs. ModuDesk aims to create a desktop organizer that evolves with you. Limitless customization, as far as your imagination can carry you, our desktop organizer will be able to do. We believe that your workspace should adapt to you, not the other way around.

Obscura - Ethos is an artist empowerment tool that gives digital artists and creators the confidence to continue their passion without fear of having their artwork plagiarized by AI. The breakthrough success of AI technologies such as ChatGPT and Stable Diffusion have revolutionized the business world‚ however, numerous people are left vulnerable due to these advances in technology. Artists who have been crafting their distinct style have seen AI replicas flood the market. Professionals who have been working for decades are being accused of generating AI art. Artists and creators have seen their earnings greatly decrease due to AI models providing cheaper derivative artwork. Our mission is to help individuals take control of their artwork and to balance the power between large tech companies and creators. Our solution is simple: provide art platforms (e.g. Instagram, Pinterest, etc.) a way to display digital art that is human readable, but completely unusable for AI training. Images uploaded to an Ethos-guarded platform are displayed in a protected container. To users, there is no detriment to image quality. However, when an AI company scrapes the website for the images, it cannot see the underlying image‚ it is opaque to third parties who want to download the image data directly. With the help of Ethos, artists can regain their confidence that the work that they have put in to create something new will not be stolen and sold without their permission.

OpenSeek - A platform that allows UX designers to put out their projects in public get help from the community and contribute to other projects. An open-source platform for UX designers, like how GitHub is for programmers. Our mission is to provide a helping hand to all the designers looking to gain experience and contribute collectively to make the design industry a better place to share and learn together.

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