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In addition to the funds won through DifferenceMakers’ “First to Market” Idea Challenge, this team has also had a very successful crowd-funding campaign on Indiegogo that can be seen here: [http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/grab-a-bite http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/grab-a-bite]<br/><br/>Grab-a-Bite has also been recognized by the Boston Globe and was the people choice at the Mass Innovation Foodie Night. Most recently Founder and CEO Aldo Beqiraj presented a Grab-a-Bite pitch at UMass Lowell’s new student convocation to over 1,500 new students who texted voted and awarded Grab-a-Bite $1,500 to continue to move their project forward. The team is currently in the process of redesigning their website and mobile applications to launch themselves forward.
'''NonSpec (formerly Developing Nations Prosthetic)'''
The $5,000 award has allowed Nonspec to move their initiative forward by creating their first batch of prosthetic limbs. With a projected 15% market share in the next five years, Nonspec plans to use this market presence to launch a foundation called “Give a Hand”. The purpose of this foundation would be to spread their mission, goals, charitable cause, and products around the world in order to make a difference in developing nations.
Since Nonspec’s success at the Idea Challenge they have gained great publicity in other arenas. They were recently named one of the top 10 semi-finalists in Entrepreneur® Magazine’s “College Entrepreneur of 2013 Contest”. In addition, they were invited to attend The International Association of Plastics Distribution (IAPD) “Plastics Application Design Competition”, which will be held on October 2, 2013 in Miami Florida. They will have 20 minutes to present their project to a live audience and answer any field questions that may arise. Lastly, the team was utilized as a role model by being featured in a video that was shown at all DifferenceMaker freshman orientation sessions throughout the summer [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwLg4XHrck http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwLg4XHrck] due to their motivation and high entrepreneurial spirits.
'''Lowell SproutsRobotic Feeding Arm''' The Robotic Feeding Arm is an assistive technology for patients who are not able to feed themselves. Currently, these people depend on being fed by a health care professional. This technology was invented by Philip Colangelo, a graduate student in computer engineering. Previously, Philip earned an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering with a minor in robotics from UMass Lowell. The Robotic Feeding Arm is designed to feed people in need with the proper proportion of food in each spoonful. This technology will make the health care facilities staff more effective with their time and increase productivity while giving some independence back to the patients in need. “Eating can be a stressful, rushed experience when relying on others especially in assistive care facilities that are understaffed,” said Philip Colangelo when asked about his project. Philip entered his technology in the first annual 2013 DifferenceMaker Idea Challenge. After progressing through a series of workshops to help prepare and refine his idea, he was selected to pitch in the Preliminary Round of the Idea Challenge. After impressing the judges in the semi-finals, Philip progressed to the final round of the Idea Challenge. After a three minute rocket pitch to a panel of alumni judges, the Robotic Feeding Arm was awarded first place in the “Innovative Technology” category which was a $3,500 award. The Innovative Technology award represents a new technology that has the potential to change an industry, as well as change the lives of the people who use it. Since the Idea Challenge, Philip has entered the Robotic Feeding Arm into the Merrimack Valley Sandbox Accelerator Program which gave him insight towards getting his product into the marketplace. Philip also plans on incorporating the Robotic Feeding Arm into his master’s thesis by implementing new technology into the device, therefore making it more adaptable to nursing homes and other assistive care facilities. Philips Robotic Feeding Arm has received recognition outside of the Idea Challenge. The project earned second place in a High-Tech Pitch Contest over the summer, was voted the fan favorite at the Merrimack Valley Sandbox Summit Event and became a finalist in the Merrimack Valley Sandbox Accelerator Program.
'''Lowell Sprouts''' Lowell Sprouts is an organization focusing on providing gardening spaces on school grounds, senior centers, and the many rooftops of Lowell. Along with pushing the planting of gardens in Lowell, a focus is also put on educating the community about alternative ways gardens can be grown in urban places like Lowell, and to teach the community as a whole that crops can be grown and harvested in an urban environment.
The team is made up of Mary Beth Burwood (Alumni), Sean Hicks (Junior in Marketing), and Christopher Horne (Junior in Economics), who came together in the DifferenceMaker Idea Challenge to win the $3,500 first place award in the Sustainable Environment category.
Following the Idea Challenge, Lowell Sprouts shifted their focus from elementary and middle school education and rooftop planting to building sustainable green roofs around Lowell. The team gathered more funding throughout the summer, including a spot on a Merrimac Valley Sandbox video. They plan to create a green Lowell presence that will educate the community on urban garden growing and help grow rooftop gardens on various buildings around Greater Lowell.
'''PointStick'''
PointStick is a product that gives tactile and kinesthetic feedback to patients for both correct spinal alignment and breathing mechanics, which are the essentials for movement quality. Through experience, the team noticed that physical therapists often experience difficulty when having patients use the correct motions during their PT sessions. The PointStick device provides therapists with a product that patients can wear that will assist them in having the correct movements which leads to a faster recovery process.
Ramez Antoun, a double River Hawk, founded PointStick after receiving a bachelor’s (10’) and master’s degree (13’) in Physical Therapy from UMass Lowell. He then recruited a Graphic Design major (10’), Nicholas Bleil to help work on and market the product. Ramez and Nicholas then recruited two additional students; Mike Tadros and Robert Roufail, alumnus from Northeastern University with majors in business and engineering, respectively.
After hearing and learning about the DifferenceMaker Program, PointStick was ready to apply for the DifferenceMaker Idea Challenge. Here they pitched their idea to a panel of alumni judges in the preliminary round. The judges then decided to move them onto the final round. In the finals of the Idea Challenge the judges awarded PointStick 2<sup>nd</sup> place in the “First to Market” award category. This came with a prize of $1,500 that the team could utilize to move their idea forward. In addition, they gained access to other DifferenceMaker resources including space, networking, mentors and additional funding opportunities. A video of their pitch to the judges can be found here: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpqdUeF8DKk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpqdUeF8DKk]
Since the Idea Challenge the team has focused primarily on beginning their careers. In fall 2013, Ramez accepted a residency position in Vallejo California where he is currently residing. Robert also accepted an engineering position in Michigan. After speaking to Ramez, the team leader, he insisted that his team is still willing to collaborate on the project from across the country to further its success. They are currently in the process of researching the intellectual property of the PointStick to ensure they do not infringe on any current issued patents.
Idea Challenge Pitch Video: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpqdUeF8DKk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpqdUeF8DKk]
'''Healthy Habits'''
After researching and realizing the increasing demographic of overweight and obese children in public school systems, Healthy Habits was formed. The team consisted of senior nursing majors Michelle Racioppi, Haley Mayne, Katerina Kafkas, Nicole Leblanc, Meghan Hathaway and Jacqueline Bradley. The team developed a method for children to learn about the various “healthy habits” they can engage in. The goal of this project was to teach fitness and well-being to young children so they do not grow up to be unhealthy, overweight or obese.
Healthy Habits has a structured curriculum that educates and engages children in healthy eating and exercise habits. The curriculum includes:
· Examining the students nutritional knowledge
· Introducing healthy foods and exercise to the students
· Having the students perform the exercises
· Asking the students to evaluate the program after they participated
In the first series of curriculum, over 40 children joined. This outlines the importance of Healthy Habits within the community.
The team entered the 2013 DifferenceMaker Idea Challenge where they pitched their project to a panel of judges. The team won first place in the category called “Significant Social Impact”, and was awarded $3,500 to further implement their idea. This team is proof that business expertise is not necessary to implement and pursue a project or idea.
The Healthy Habits team graduated in May 2013 and continued on to becoming certified nurses. Since then, The Community Health Club (CHEC) at UMass Lowell has become the new leader of Healthy Habits and will continue to implement the project within the community and region.
=== Coursework ===