Fifteen student startup companies are engaged in an intense summer experience at the University of Utah through the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, an interdisciplinary division of the David Eccles School of Business.
Each startup applied and was admitted earlier this year to be startups in residence at Lassonde Studios, a large innovation and residence facility on campus. All the startups receive office space and many resources to work toward a wide variety of development and revenue goals.
“Over the last year, we have worked with hundreds of startups through our many programs, and our startups in residence this summer are some of the most impressive and promising,” said Troy D’Ambrosio, the executive director of the Lassonde Institute and an assistant dean at the David Eccles School of Business. “We look forward to seeing how they progress in the next few months as they receive many forms of support, including space, tools, mentorship and grants.”
The startups vary from beauty products and game-development studios to CAD consultants and health-care devices. They have different goals for their work this summer. But they are all using resources provided by the Lassonde Institute to advance their ideas. (See below for a complete listing of the startups and descriptions.)
Item Rescue is one of the many startups in residence at Lassonde Studios this summer. They provide software for hotels and other companies to manage lost-and-found items.
“Item Rescue is all about making it easier for guests to get their items back and providing hotels an effective way to do it,” said Beau Buehler, the founder of Item Rescue, who graduated with an information systems degree in May. “It can be stressful to lose something of value, and a hotel that can turn that negative experience into a positive one will have more satisfied and loyal guests.”
Bushwhack is another startup in residence. They invented a camping device that combines a tent, chair and hammock into one. They are refining their product’s design and working toward selling it.
“The ultimate goal would be an outdoor equipment company to create adaptive gear to be able to adventure without limits,” said Chase McMicken, the founder of Bushwhack and a double major in a double major in entrepreneurship and marketing.
The startups in residence at Lassonde Studios this summer are participating in one or more of three programs provided by the Lassonde Institute. Those programs are the Company Launch program, which provides startup support; Rush to Revenue, which drives teams toward revenue goals; and Summer Internships, which allows students to create their own internship experience by working for a startup.
Sponsors for these programs and activities include Zions Bank, Ballard Spahr, Workman Nydegger, Impact Hub and Samir Patel.
Learn more about the all of the programs offered by the Lassonde Institute, including summer programs, here: lassonde.utah.edu/directory. Learn more about startups at the Lassonde Institute here: lassonde.utah.edu/launched.
2018 Summer Startups in Residence
Here are the startups in residence at Lassonde Studios for summer 2018 (in alphabetical order):
- BasicallYours— BasicallYours is organic beauty and body product company with eco-friendly flair to it. They have a wide variety of scented deodorants along with facial and body products and other add-on accessories. Their products are made with the purest ingredients from around the world and organic, GMO free and cruelty-free with most of our products being vegan. They provide a high-end beauty and body product experience without the huge price tag or sacrificing on the quality. basicallyours.com
- Bitrageous — Bitrageous’ mission is to entertain, educate and empower people through technology. bitrageous.io
- Bushwhack — Bushwhack is an outdoor equipment company currently working on a design called the TIO Tent, a revolutionary tent that combines a hammock, a tent and a chair all into one unit!
- Foster the Children— Benefit corporation dedicated to raising funds for children in foster care through marketing their designs on apparel, with proceeds going back to the children. fosterthechildren.org
- Gear Hold Technologies— Gear Hold Technologies is a CAD services company that keeps industrial companies focused on their product not their CAD. The majority of CAD service companies focus on what they know best, but we focus on what you need most. With our certified CAD professionals and smart API’s, we provide accurate and modern CAD models.
- Item Rescue — Item Rescue is a business software application targeted towards hotels with over 150 rooms. The system streamlines the lost and found process, saves hotel staff time and increases guest satisfaction. Some of the key time-saving features include: quick item entry, intelligent inquiry matching, automated notifications with review links and integrated shipping for the return of items. itemrescue.com
- MounTins — MounTins wants to provide an incentive for locals and tourists in the Park City area that encourages the support of locally owned and operated restaurants. This is done by partnering with 20 iconic restaurants in the area and featuring them in a promotional pack. This pack contains 20 drink coasters with a value of $10 off your tab of $25 or more at each corresponding restaurant. moun-tins.com
- Nebucore — Founded in 2015, NebuCore is a SaaS-model enterprise resource planning (ERP) company focused on wholesale distribution and e-commerce industries. Currently powering about 40 live setups, NebuCore’s solution is utilized by a wide range of segments from electronics to building materials to food and medicine. nebucore.com
- New Breath— Developing a superior laryngoscope solution using computer vision and doctor-friendly design.
- SDG Footwear— SDG Footwear is a minimalistic, yet humanitarian, shoe company tasked with aiding the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), all which aim to better our world. Each shoe design will specifically benefit a sub-group of one of the 17 SDGs. sdgfootwear.com
- SecondSole — At SecondSole, they aim to eliminate the problem of one shoe wearing down faster than the other while skateboarding and foot braking. Their product is a sleek cover for the bottom of your braking foot that keeps your shoes in the perfect condition they were when you first bought them.
- Sit Up — A company developing an air-filled, adjustable remote-control bed pad that can lift and lower a person while they’re laying in bed. The product is designed to increase the end user’s comfort while making everyday tasks easier for caregivers.
- Sole Case Displays — At Sole Case, they believe in being a trusted brand that creates elegant products while inspiring positivity in others. Their mission is to be the leading provider of premium footwear displays and create a brand that positively contributes to fashion and society as a whole. solecasedisplays.com
- Thoreau Living— Thoreau Living is a real estate development startup that seeks to create affordable, sustainable living spaces for communities by harnessing technology and simple living principles.
- Venture Roots— An alumni engagement and investment platform designed to strengthen startup ecosystems at top universities.
About the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute
The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute is a nationally ranked hub for student entrepreneurship and innovation at the University of Utah and an interdisciplinary division of the David Eccles School of Business. The first programs were offered in 2001, through the vision and support of Pierre Lassonde, an alumnus of the Eccles School and successful mining entrepreneur. The institute now provides opportunities for thousands of students to learn about entrepreneurship and innovation. Programs include workshops, networking events, business-plan competitions, startup support, innovation programs, graduate seminars, scholarships, community outreach and more. All programs are open to students from any academic major or background. The Lassonde Institute also manages Lassonde Studios, a new five-story innovation space and housing facility for all students, in partnership with Housing & Residential Education. Learn more at lassonde.utah.edu.
