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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 this year

New Venture Challenge

BeautiBook won $5K when placing 3rd place in the NVC Championships

Out of a total of 15 teams from class that competed in the NVC IT track semi-finals, 3 of our teams made it to the NVC IT Track Finals
• BeautiBook went on to win the NVC IT Track Finals and they were awarded $2,000 to use to further their company.
• Hearth placed 3rd in the NVC IT Track Finals and was awarded$750 to further their company
• Ticket Buffs was awarded$500 to further their company

Lambda Leaf placed 3rd in the NVC Research Track Finals and was awarded$1000 to further their company.

BeautiBook won $5K when placing 3rd place in the NVC Championships

MD5 Cybersecurity Hackathon

Mopsus pitched and demoed their Security Monitoring Suite and won $15,000 to advance their product in collaboration with MD5 / The DoD.

Catalyze CU

Congratulations to the two teams from our capstone who have been admitted to Catalyze CU, namely Framework Miner/Lambda Leaf and Hearth!


CU College of Engineering Expo

At the CU College of Engineering Expo Best Poster: (tie) Flatiron and Resonance
Best Demo: (tie) AppandTaps and Beautibook
Best Business: (tie) AppandTaps, Give and Go, Lambda Leaf
Best Presentation: Resonance
Best Technology: PowerStats

Companies

Companies that have been started in the Capstone

TicketBuffs

Proprietary Dynamic QR code technology to solve problems ranging from secure payments to ticket scalping.




Power Stats

Making data-driven strategies through customizable charts and dashboards has never been quicker and easier for professional and collegiate sports teams.

FellowTrips

Making travel easy.

BeautiBook

Organize, share, and discover makeup looks easily and beautifully.




Artisan

Share unique virtual objects locally with family and friends using Augmented Reality



Mopsus

Advanced Intrusion Detection as a Service

Lambda Leaf

Quality Assurance done right.

Quickjob.io

Save Time, Be Organized using the Salesforce of job applications

Resonance

SkillForge

Give and Go

Saving coaches thousands of hours so they can win more games

Hearth

Hearth Smart Vents monitor the temperature in each room and intelligently control the heating in your home, giving you ultimate control over your heating.

Flatiron

With Flatiron, authentic communication is just one tap away. Stay connected by utilizing a real-time map of your community and create experiences worth sharing

App & Taps

Minimize your search times, maximize your happy times. App & Taps.



Time Line

Rough layout of the 2017-2018 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.

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Instructors

Professor Rick Han

Associate Professor - Department of Computer Science

Zach Nies

VP of Education - Techstars