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Computer Science Entrepreneurial Capstone at the University of Colorado Boulder
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About

Learn more about the Capstone

The Goal of the Capstone is to provide Computer Science students with the tools to be successful technical co-founders of their own startups. We will explore the initial stages of founding a startup, including team formation, idea validation, pivoting and pitching, while employing an iterative methodology. Student teams will develop a minimum viable product, pitch their final startup concept, and be evaluated on product/market fit.

Feel free to reach out to Professor Rick Han with any questions! [email protected]

Achievements

Accomplishments from the companies in the Capstone for the year 2019-2020

CU New Venture Challenge

AI arena, Techucate and ZeroIn made it to round 2 of CU new venture challenge.

Out of a total of 150 teams that competed in the NVC IT round 1, 3 of our teams made it to the NVC IT Round 2.

Boulder Boomtown Accelerator

Congratulations to Chase Dudas and ZeroIn on being admitted to Boulder's Boomtown accelerator.

Companies

Companies that have been started in the Capstone

Certish

The web's notary: a public key infrastructure for the public

Bevara

Connecting outdoor users with outdoor nonprofit organizations to preserve our outdoor spaces for future generations.

Data Harbor

Redefining Information Access Systems

Sundown

Making fun nights safer!

Terbo

To Tuned a Faster and Safer Automobile

Cartable

Helping the community by connecting the community.

Charito

Competetive fundraising events for video livestreaming with StreamElements and StreamLabs integration.

Ciel

Connecting high-quality artists to high-quality clients.

PLANR

Collaborative trip planning made easy

Techucate

The best startup in the world

Aux

Take the Guessing Out of Music

Herbanite

Taking the concrete out of the jungle.

Lawliet

Shared virtual environments, without the excruciating pain!

Libnosis

Machine Learning Infrastructure as a Service

OnTab

Spend less time at the register, and more time with your friends

AIArena

Online competition platform between user-made AIs

V2

E-commerce platform for musicians

Boost

A new way to share your story

Modscholar

A modern directory for Open Science

SmartGuitar

Personalize your guitar playing

Time Line

Rough layout of the 2019-2020 year long capstone

  • August

    Form Teams

    Within the first few weeks of class, students pitch ideas to each other and with the goal of forming teams. Some students come to class with multiple ideas, while others come with just one. Students self select there teams, however students may switch of leave teams throughout the year.

  • September - October

    Idea Validation

    Once students form teams, they are taught to go out and validate there ideas. Students are encouraged not to build products or MVPs. Students go through the steps of learning how to validate not only idea/market fit, but founder/market fit. The thought of idea validation is present through the Capstone.

  • November - December

    MVP Creation & Pitch Practice

    Now that students have validated there ideas, they are encouraged to create MVPs to test the assumptions that they have made about their business. They also learn and practice how to present there business to others. At the end of the first semester they present to a group of industry professionals from all across Boulder.

  • January - Feb

    Ramping Up

    Students spend the first couple of months of the second semester building out their products. To assist in this numerous industry professionals are brought in to teach about marketing, tax law, intellectual property, scaling, hiring, and more.

  • March

    CU New Venture Challenge

    Now that the students businesses have gained sufficient traction, the students practice their pitches in preparation of the CU NVC.

  • April

    College of Engineering & Applied Science Expo

    Students get prepared to present their business in the College Expo by working further on building out their working products.

Instructors

Professor Rick Han

Associate Professor - Department of Computer Science

Zach Nies

VP of Education - Techstars

Joshua Abdulla

Faculty member - Department of Computer Science