15 Student Startups in Residence at Lassonde Studios for Summer 2018
The startups are engaged in intense programs on the University of Utah campus with products ranging from beauty supplies to software
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June 13, 2018 – 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):
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.