It is a well known fact that universities are research based institutions where both community and spirit are essential to growth. That is why StudentBusinesses.com is glad to feature a venture that takes the idea of research and transforms it into a sustainable online community. Research communities, since ancient times, have existed out of a desire to know, understand, and most importantly to explore the univerise (All men naturally desire knowledge. - Aristotle). Also, history has shown that research done of any kind is not only valuable to society practically, but also good for the individual who desires to understand more than anything else. Therefore, why not make a business and a research community and combine the both of two worlds? That is what SciVee has done:

"SciVee is an online science community where scientists can make their research known to their fellow peers as well as the general public. Scientists can create "pubcasts" which are online presentations that allow a scientist to combine their publication with media such as video, audio, images, and text to allow visitors to quickly grasp the key concepts of their publications, as well as an increased chance for citation. Scientists can also form communities around their research/projects/interests and can start discussions or plan events with their group."

The scientific community is already a well respected one which has contributed immensely to human understanding. By building on those foundations with current technology and innovation, the future seems set to make science more accessible to both scientists and the layman. SciVee plans to take this innovation and this community and offer them as much as they can handle in the social networking and media universe. All legalities and scientific in-fighting aside, SciVee is open to the scientific community as a whole and can only help in the spread of ideas and work. With enough of their niche users and the side-liners and spectators of scientific work, SciVee can become a great social networking tool and might hopefully be the place of showcase for something great in the sciences.

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Labels: science venture, scivee, startup, studentbusinesses.com

Posted at 10:17 PM  

Students understand students well; there has been an abundance of web services created by students that cater to students. This is no surprise considering that many great web services have started out as student ventures. Since web services target college students because of their higher-than-usual knowledge of the Internet, students are useful customers and users of these businesses. However, a student business that caters to students and is useful to them singularly is something else entirely. Koofers.com, started by Virginia Tech students, aims to help students throughout their academic education:

"Koofers.com provides an interactive community that serves the academic needs of college students through information sharing. Students benefit from collaboration with their peers and the experiences of former students. Many helpful services span the entire academic calendar from course selection through final exams, and include collaborative note taking, course & instructor ratings/grade distributions, and an online library for sharing past exams & study materials."

Koofers works for several reasons: Firstly, it is targeted at college students (which is essential to constantly bring in new, younger audiences as they grow older), secondly, it is useful to college students while in college, and thirdly, which is probably redundant, it is immensely useful to college students. Though the second and third points overlap, it is the third point which makes all the difference: college students want to earn good grades and Koofers helps them do that. The service aspires to open up the doors on becoming more knowledgeable by offering experience, papers, exams, essays, and whatever else a student has to contribute to the classroom. Regardless in the type of college you are attending (unless you don't have Internet access at your college), Koofers can help you with your academic experience. If one student does very well and shares their experiences then other students can use their knowledge, tips, or advice and push further than they could have before.

To see more details about these businesses you can login at StudentBusinesses.com to view full business plans for these and other top startups around the country.

Labels: education, koofers.com, student startup, studentbusinesses.com, web service

Posted at 9:53 PM  

Throughout the history of humankind, students have been studying politics with great purpose. In all forms, great politicians tend to be good students either in the classroom and out; politicians understand that the way to influence, power, and reform lies in how well they understand the world around them and the people in it. Even though people's opinion on how politicians should act vary there are few who think politicians are not important to civilization. Since today's student have so much to learn from current and past political leaders it is relevant in today's world to understand the positions that current influential politicians have. That is why Will Ruben, a student from Harvard University, created Vote Gopher, an information site to help people understand the positions the presidential candidates hold:

"Vote Gopher is a one-stop Election 2008 hub -- non-partisan, interactive, and informative. Learn about the presidential candidates. Compare their positions on the 15 biggest issues. View videos, articles, blogs, and quotes. Share election coverage. Discuss the candidates' platforms. We dig up the best information. You decide how to vote."

Since Vote Gopher is a site comparing the republican and democratic presidential candidates, it is important that people consider the site reputable and factual instead of left or right-leaning. Vote Gopher does just that and does it so that people can easily navigate and trust the information that comes to them. Since it is non-partisan, people can also expect updates on position changes without the usual American mud-slinging. As a website that might not seem to have much of a future after the presidential elections the ideas behind it still remain well rooted: information and simple facts are what the public citizenry need to make informed decisions.

To see more details about these businesses you can login at StudentBusinesses.com to view full business plans for these and other top startups around the country.

Labels: politics, startup student startup, studentbusinesses.com, votegopher.com

Posted at 6:46 PM  

Today's economy especially warrants smart investment and an eye towards financial planning. Student entrepreneurs, students in general, and graduates tend to lack financial experience and knowledge. The ever increasing student debt, which is attributed to taking out loans, paying for apartments, and spending money outside of the home is difficult for the young adult to understand. Coming up with a long-term plan is hard enough for the student let alone the financial way in which they are actually going to afford everything. That is why Steven McDonnough, a student from Virginia Commonwealth University, started Wyndham Financial Group, LLC. The business and student venture may be like many other finance firms except that it targets the young professional desiring a future with financial security:

"Wyndham Financial Group, LLC, is a full-service financial planning and tax accounting firm. The purpose of Wyndham Financial Group is to help meet the increasing demand for integrated financial services by a growing number of underserved young professionals. Our vision is to be the premier firm developing relationships, championing trust, and providing innovative financial solutions to make quality financial services accessible to all individuals, especially young and upcoming professionals who are just beginning their long-term financial journey."

The young professional, depending on their background will be within the spectrum of very knowledge about financial matters to very unknowledgeable. However, fortunately for either on opposite sides of the spectrum WFG will help them both with financial planning. The great thing about this student venture is that it is started by a student who is more likely to understand the plight of the young professionals because the founder is himself young and in touch enough to understand the needs. By perfecting their approach to "young and upcoming professionals", WFG could be a great financial planning firm for any professional, despite financial ignorance or fear.

To see more details about these businesses you can login at StudentBusinesses.com to view full business plans for these and other top startups around the country.

Labels: student startup, studentbusinesses.com, wyndham financial group

Posted at 4:27 PM  

The research currently being done in the sciences are amazing; the cleverness of new technologies amaze every year. That is why StudentBusinesses.com is happy to feature a student venture that takes a scientific and methodical approach to the business world. Led by a number of highly qualified individuals that have or are working in NASA or at universities as scientists, astronauts, and professors, iShoe is a student venture that is serious about using technology to help people. The practicality of the product and innovation has surprisingly great application:

"One quarter of senior citizens chronically fall down, leading to over 300,000 broken hips a year. Developed by NASA and tested on astronauts, our patent-pending insole diagnoses poor balance. iShoe has attracted press coverage all over the world and in over 10 languages, including CNN, Engadget, Gizmodo, and the Discovery Channel. An article about us was the #2 most recommended news item on Yahoo! We are also looking for financing, and we need someone with experience bringing medical devices to the retail market."

Coming from a respectable institution as NASA and the universities that foster the same type of scientific practices it is no wonder that such a simple idea could be realized. There are two motivating aspects behind the iShoe: 1) There is a market for seniors who need help with their poor balance and 2) this is a great help to those in need across the world. Not only will this save tons of money in medical expenses but it will reduce the overall misery and psychological pitfalls of injuries accrued. The iShoe, with the right funding, could be a great product to invest in with good return in money, safety, and innovation.

To see more details about these businesses you can login at StudentBusinesses.com to view full business plans for these and other top startups around the country.

Posted at 12:30 AM  

Social networking is for anyone and today's featured business is no exception. The Internet is one medium which increases the ability to network and find those who you would not have previously known. By using social networking tools you can follow those you know well or to find those who you would like to get to know. Students, as evidenced by Facebook, Myspace, and StudentBusinesses understand the untapped potential of the Internet. No matter the interest or the area, students will un-tap this potential and create a startup that is all about the people.

Created by students that all met in Southern California (team: Trevor Beckes, Patric Fitzsimmons, Wes Hartman, and Tyler Williams), AthRoom.com is a social networking website dedicated to the athlete. For that fan in everyone or the athlete practicing their sport, AthRoom.com wants to help sport-people connect:

"AthRoom.com is a sports social networking website that helps athletes interact with other athletes across the nation while getting the recognition they deserve in a fun, safe, friendly environment. Fans, athletes, coaches, and scouts can interact with a click of a button. AthRoom.com allows members to build a sports resume or a personal profile with includes statistics, videos, pictures, and all other relative criteria. AthRoom.com also intends to revolutionize the recruiting process by taking it "green," with the elimination of paper sports resumes and video tapes."

The uniqueness of this student startup is that it is a social networking for a special niche: the young athlete looking to connect with other passionate athletes. The young athlete, depending on how serious they are about their sport, is looking to get noticed. In addition to this, coaches and scouts can use this website to search for young athletes in high school or college. Since this is a niche which isn't that well developed on the Internet, it is advantageous for the young athletes to connect with as many people as possible to get more information on their sport. AthRoom.com has the potential to satisfy curiosities, to educate, and to provide entertainment. With the current level of money being poured into sports advertising, AthRoom.com has the potential to be the next big student venture.

To see more details about these businesses you can login at StudentBusinesses.com to view full business plans for these and other top startups around the country.

Labels: AthRoom.com, social networking, student startup, studentbusinesses.com

Posted at 12:00 PM  

Today, StudentBusinesses.com is featuring a student startup that actually reaches out to those in need of assistance. In the twentieth and twenty-first century technology has boomed and has only become better, more efficient, and more complex. The growing technology industries, although very useful to humankind in regards to its practical side, can also seem like a boon; everyday more and more people have to learn about how to use a complex piece of technology. That is why some students, with an eye toward ease and functionality, have created a system where people do not have to learn everything.

Three students from Babson College came up with the idea of creating a computer company that is all about simplifying computer functions for senior citizens. As a result of this idea, HotCake Computers was born:

"HotCake Computers is a computer company targeting senior citizens. Through the creation of a unique user interface, HC aims to eliminate the fear that elderly people have with computers. HC's product will bring the most essential benefits of using a computer to the elderly population. Currently, we are contracting to build a prototype while at the same time trying to solidify our supply chain."

The great potential of this student startup is that it has all the necessary criteria to do well in the market: it is about a new type of technology and software with a high amount of demand. HCC might even broaden out from their current format to include simplifying functions to help children or other people who have had not had access to a computer, creating the potential for a revolution in computer design. Another upside to this company is that it will lead to innovation of current computer technologies which will help their selected audience greatly. Though they are not yet done with the product, HotCake Computers has the potential of becoming a highly innovative business.

To see more details about these businesses you can login at StudentBusinesses.com to view full business plans for these and other top startups around the country.

Labels: HotCake Computers, student startup, studentbusinesses.com

Posted at 7:39 PM