Student Entrepreneur Features and a Successful Year In Review
Commemorating A Successful Year at Blackstone LaunchPad



The 2014 to 2015 year at Blackstone LaunchPad saw the emergence and rapid progress of many student entrepreneurs here at UC Irvine. From the world's first selfie sticker to innovative networking applications, many new ventures have been established through the Blackstone LaunchPad at UC Irvine. In this special newsletter, we at the Blackstone LaunchPad wish to commemorate and recognize innovative and ambitious ANTrepreneurs.
Celebrate Entrepreneurship at the ANTrepreneur of the Year Awards



We at the Blackstone LaunchPad will host the ANTrepreneur of the Year Awards at CALit2 on June 2, 2015 from 6pm-8pm. The event will celebrate the progress and innovation of entrepreneurs here at UC Irvine. We have come up with multiple categories to recognize entrepreneurs for their specialties. 

Please nominate yourself and/or other deserving ANTrepreneurs here

Register to attend here. Students, ANTrepreneurs, Mentors, Office Hour Volunteers, Lunchtime LaunchPad Guests, you are all welcome and encouraged to attend! 
Simple and Dynamic Networking: 
Malik Ahmad of Pushr
Malik showing Irvine Mayor Choi how Pushr works!

 

Malik Ahmad, a fourth year Biological Sciences major here at UC Irvine realized the importance of networking, especially when his friends started their careers through the skill of knowing the right people. Through job fairs and networking events, Ahmad noted the inefficiency of exchanging paper resumes and business cards as these failed to give him connections. Ahmad developed Pushr to help other college students expand their networks faster and digitally, eliminating the discrepancies of printing outdated discrepancies on paper business cards.  



Pushr is a smartphone application that enhances the networking experience, allowing users to better organize their accounts and facilitate the connection with others across all social media platforms, making Pushr the go-to smartphone application for real-time networking and targeted information sharing. 

Download the app for your Android or iPhone
Develop Your Own iOS App: 
Alec Kriebel's iOS Development Course


If you own any type of smartphone, it's highly unlikely you've never explored the world of apps. Whether you're playing a game, adjusting a photo's filter, looking up local businesses, or social networking, the world of smartphone apps is right at your fingertips.  Alec Kriebel, a first-year Computer Science and Business Management student at UC Irvine, wants to teach you how to develop your own iOS app. He has just launched his 10.5-hour video course series, the "How To Develop iOS Apps Course," on April 15, 2015, which comprises of 68 video lessons divided up into nine chapters. 

 

Learn more about Alec Kriebel and his iOS Development Course here.

 

Alec was also featured on the main ics.uci.edu site. View the full article here

The World's First Selfie Sticker: 
Eric Casavantes's Snappie

 

Snappie, the world's first NFC Selfie Sticker, allows businesses to create meaningful interactions with customers and utilize the selfie as an advertising platform. Snappie allows businesses to create custom watermarks for selfies taken at their venues and allows them to develop brand rapport. Learn more about Eric and Snappie here.

Promotional Services for the Startup Community: Khaila Amazan's Amazan Creative Solutions

If a small business is looking for a way to get started, Amazan Creative Solutions is the solution! Khaila Amazan is a first year Film and Media Studies major at UCI who is a part of the on campus club FADA (Film Arts Drama Alliance) where she makes short films. She is currently an administrative intern and "ANTrepreneur" at the Blackstone LaunchPad, which came to be the inspiration for her company: Amazan Creative Solutions. 

Learn more about Khaila and Amazon Creative Solutions here.

Daniel England and His Many ANT-ventures
  
Daniel England, one of UC Irvine's own Alumni and fellow anteaters, is a man of many directions and ideas. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Economics and a master's degree in Business. Currently, he is on the board of directors for an entrepreneur organization that works with Blackstone LaunchPad. England is also a competitive rock climber, is fluent in Polish, is an "ANTrepreneur", founder of the gas company Convert Coal Incorporated, and author of the children's book Hobo and the Frisbee. 

Learn more about Daniel and Convert Coal here.
Gardening Made Simple: 
Grow Your Own Food, One Seed At a Time 

 

Stella Liu wanted to solve a problem. She knew that her peers were passionate about local organic food and curious about growing their own fruits and vegetables. But many of them had no gardening experience, lived in apartments or were intimidated by massive home improvement stores, with their endless options for soil, fertilizer and tools. That's where OneSeed comes in. It's a subscription-based gardening kit that arrives on the doorstep with three plants in a handcrafted redwood planter. Each season, new seedlings are delivered so that subscribers can exercise their green thumb year-round. 

 

Learn more about Stella and OneSeed here

Blackstone LaunchPad Startups Sweep Paul Merage Business Plan Competition

The 2015 Business Plan Competition at The Paul Merage School of Business is one of the nation's premier business plan competitions offering all UC Irvine students, staff and researchers the opportunity to form a team, create a business plan and potentially fund their business idea all within six months. Blackstone LaunchPad Startups have been sweeping the cash prize awards based on their innovation and concepts.

Learn more about the competition  here.
So-Cal BLP's Will Showcase Startups at Massive Sustainable Conference in LA!

Founded in 2009, Sustainatopia remains one of the leading events in the world for social, financial and environmental sustainability & impact. Attendees have participated from more than 60 countries.

For the first time in the conference's history, all three Blackstone LaunchPad schools in Southern California (USC, UCLA, UCI) will be participating at the Lohas Marketplace Expo. As part of a regional effort between the BLP schools, student startups will be showcasing their businesses and products. 

We have secured 100 free tickets to the EXPO or BLP students. Register for them here

In addition if you are interested in vollunteering at the Expo, you can gain access to the main conference for free. Please email

BlackstoneLaunchPad@uci.edu for more details!
Ideas worth Starting!

TEDxUCIrvine has just opened applications for next year's CORE team this is a great opportunity for Blackstone LaunchPad ANTrepreneurs to get involved with a great group. The team is looking for ambitious individuals who are fueled by ideas and a desire to showcase our community. 

See the positions here, and apply here

Deadline to apply is Friday, May 29 
Never a Dull Moment!
  
 

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May 27, 2015 

 


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Summer Internships Available!

We have 17 of the coolest summer internships  available in Orange County! Some are with the Blackstone LaunchPad at UCI, some are with awesome startups, and some are with major companies that are key parts of the OC Entrepreneurial Ecosystem. 

To be considered, please email your resume to BlackstoneLaunchPad@uci.edu!

What Can Blackstone LaunchPad Do For You?

 


 

As UCI students learn more about the services that the Blackstone LaunchPad offers, they realize how many different ways that we can help out. Lets take a few snapshots of students who have come to see us, and what they came to see us for!

If You Have No Idea...


 

We Can Help!

 

Meet Arturo, a UC Irvine Senior studying Social Ecology. He came to the Blackstone LaunchPad because he wanted to learn how to start a business. We talked about the lean startup concept, ideation tactics, and got him two books from our lending library. He is inspired and now has a few ideas to work with. Entrepreneurship can be for anyone. What's stopping you? 

If You Have a Basic Idea and Need to Know if it is Feasible... 


We Can Help.

 

Meet Suzana Verduzco, an undergrad studying Social Sciences at UC Irvine. She has been a nurse for 20+ years and has a Medical Device idea that she wants to take to market. After being referred to the Blackstone LaunchPad, and after a few meetings, she now has direction, is super excited and is forming her plan of attack. Don't let not knowing where to start, stop you from starting! We are here to help the starting process.

Tackling a Tough Business Challenge? 


 
  

We Can Help!

 

Meet Scott and his business partner. Like many early co-founders, the issue of equity can be a difficult conversation to have. But with some help from the Blackstone LaunchPad and a whiteboard, they were able to communicate what each is to bring to the table, and they are now closer to understanding the right equity split!  We make startup issues easier. If u need help to talk equity with your business partner, come on by! 

Competition Prep? 


 
 

We Can Help!

 

Congrats to Blackstone LaunchPad team

Shoelace Wireless, who won the OCTANe

FastPitch contest. They had their eye on the prize and met with us a few times specifically to prep for this competition. The work paid off, and they took home first place! UC Irvine and other Anteaters were very proud. The other teams who competed, FastEVAC and Pushr also did great. Life is a pitch, keep practicing! 

Have an Idea You Want To Patent?


 

 We Can Help!

 

Meet Adrian, a UCI Engineering student who

discovered a problem that made his feet hurt.

He came to the Blackstone LaunnchPad for help, and has since met with five Intellectual Property lawyers for free. He is now working on his first Provisional Patent application. If you have an idea, we can help you learn the process of how to protect your idea.

Ready to Incorporate? 


 

 We Can Help!

 

It's official. Shelby, founder of SolSisters has made her first prototype of her UV protective fashion line ! Did we mention she is a Freshman! She meets with the Blackstone LaunchPad weekly, and she is making great progress. The time will come soon when she incorporates! We are here to help through all of the startup processes!

 

Need to Prep Your Investor Pitch?


 
We Can Help! 

 

In preparation for the Paul Merage Business Plan Competition, many teams came in to the Blackstone LaunchPad to have us help with their Investor Pitch. We brought in special mentors like Angel Investor John Lasko to help students get feedback on their presentation powerpoints. We are happy to share that each of the top winners of the contest worked with the Blackstone LaunchPad. We are proud of all those who competed, and encourage all of the startups to keep pushing past the contest. Each day is a new competition that you should be striving for!  

We are here to help you with all of your startup needs. 


Do you have a friend or friends who have ideas but might need help with developing them? Do you have a friend who are trying to start a company and could use help?

Help them out by forwarding this email to them! 

Network with OC's Leading Entrepreneurs: 
1 Million Cups
  
1 Million Cups is the best way to learn about entrepreneurship in your community. Every week two entrepreneurs are given the opportunity to present 6 minute pitches and gather feedback from a community of mentors, advisors, and entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs gain knowledge as to how to improve their business by receiving feedback from a community that truly cares for their progress. 

Are you an entrepreneur who wants to present your idea in front of a supportive crowd that will give you live feedback? If so, you can apply to present here

1 Million Cups Irvine takes place every Wednesday from 8-9am at 
WANT TO GET INVOLVED?

It is easier than you may think. See below, and let us know what you may be interested in helping with. 

1 Million Cups:
Want to present at our weekly event to share your startup with the community? apply here
 
Office Hours:
Share your wisdom with students, apply here.

Event Speakers :
  
Lunchtime LaunchPad Guests: 
Share your experiences with students during lunch. Apply here.
  
Mentor/Venture Coach: 
Learn more here.

Event volunteer:  
To volunteer at events, click here.

Peer 2 Peer Mentor:
Are you interested in mentoring fellow students? Apply here

Internships: 
Does your company have internship opportunities to offer to our entrepreneurs? Please submit positions here.
Watch out for this team, they have built technology that will save lives. More to come next time! 
Want to get started?

It is as easy as going to BlackstoneLaunchPad.uci.edu and click the button in the top right corner to Sign Up!

See you soon!

Have You Been to the Lunchtime LaunchPad?

Every Monday @12pm
Every Thursday @ 12:30pm