Consider Steven Cryos’ words, “When disaster strikes, the time to prepare has passed.” Witnessing domestic water insecurity in events such as Hurricane Katrina, the instability in Flint, Michigan, and most recently the winter storms affecting millions across Texas, we decided to take action. The period between a water supply’s disruption and restoration is filled with anxiety, uncertainty, and distress -- particularly since there is no clear indication of when, exactly, restoration comes. It is for this reason that Water Works now exists. As a team of students from diverse backgrounds, what started as an honors project with the Founders Lab at Arizona State University became the seed that will continue to mature into an economically sustainable business model supporting the optimistic visions and tenants of humanitarianism. By having conversations with community members, conducting market research, competing for funding and fostering progress amid the COVID-19 pandemic, our team’s problem-solving traverses the disciplines. The purpose of this paper is to educate our readers about a unique solution to emerging issues of water insecurity that are nested across and within systems who could benefit from the introduction of a personal water reclamation system, showcase our team’s entrepreneurial journey, and propose future directions that will this once pedagogical exercise to continue fulfilling its mission: To heal, to hydrate and to help bring safe water to everyone.
Volunteers at Hand is an inclusive platform that focuses on creating an interconnected community of volunteers while providing an efficient and effective system that categorizes volunteer/service opportunities based on individual interests. The primary focus of our platform is to foster a compassionate community of individuals who will inspire each other as well as others, and provide hope through their contributions towards helping and healing people. The foundation of Volunteers at Hand will be established through development of an elaborate platform/website that would be equally and openly accessible to all individuals and organizations interested in contributing efforts towards volunteer/service experiences. The platform will implement a filtering system that would categorize service opportunities and events based on personal preferences and interests, thus enabling a more efficient and effective method of discovering various opportunities that an individual would be passionate in contributing their efforts towards. Our platform would also implement a community based aspect that fosters further communication and interactions amongst volunteers as well as organizations involved in volunteer/service experiences.
Volunteers at Hand is an inclusive platform that focuses on creating an interconnected community of volunteers while providing an efficient and effective system that categorizes volunteer/service opportunities based on individual interests. The primary focus of our platform is to foster a compassionate community of individuals who will inspire each other as well as others, and provide hope through their contributions towards helping and healing people. The foundation of Volunteers at Hand will be established through development of an elaborate platform/website that would be equally and openly accessible to all individuals and organizations interested in contributing efforts towards volunteer/service experiences. The platform will implement a filtering system that would categorize service opportunities and events based on personal preferences and interests, thus enabling a more efficient and effective method of discovering various opportunities that an individual would be passionate in contributing their efforts towards. Our platform would also implement a community based aspect that fosters further communication and interactions amongst volunteers as well as organizations involved in volunteer/service experiences.
Students for Success is a consulting firm designed to connect undergraduate ASU students with those applying to ASU. Our counselors are well versed in scholarships, housing, programs, clubs, and deadline information. This firm provides flexible work for undergraduate students, while giving applicants a custom experience from a student who truly understands the most recent application process.
This thesis explore how current tracking technologies such as the 1D barcode, QR code, and RFID commercialized in the business world. After a comparison of the current technologies, a pitch is created for DENSEC ID and a subsequent business plan is created.
A Skunkworks project is the name given to a small team of individuals leading an innovative undertaking, and conducting research and development outside of the normal scope of an organization. With this concept in mind, our team of six individuals was tasked with finding and conceptualizing innovative solutions within varying business markets of interest. Our team started off with five markets that we identified issues in and were passionate about solving. These included Sports Engagement, Education, Student Debt, Digital Literacy, and Viral Health. From extensive research, trial and error, and endless conversations we settled on creating business models in two final areas: Student Debt and Viral Health. Our research in Student Debt led us to the discovery that the average Arizona State student, takes out $21,237 in loans for their four year degree and in the whole state of Arizona, a student takes out an average of $22,253. Our solution to this problem was to create a student financial app that served as an efficient debt tracker that provided important information about finances, investing, and student loan information. Additionally, our team also wanted the address the issue of sexually transmitted diseases, just a small scope of Viral Health, within Arizona State University. Our research led us to discover that 50% of people report not getting tested, and from this population most reported it was due to anxiety and financial issues. From our research the StayInformed app was created to provide students with better accessibility to both at-home and clinic testing services, and updated education on sexual health. With this project model we hope to increase the rate of students testing and allow students more agency over their sexual health. Although these two services are addressing very different markets, they both utilize forward thinking technology to create much needed solutions and better the lives of students.