Music streaming services have affected the music industry from both a financial and legal standpoint. Their current business model affects stakeholders such as artists, users, and investors. These services have been scrutinized recently for their imperfect royalty distribution model. Covid-19 has made these discussions even more relevant as touring income has come to a halt for musicians and the live entertainment industry. <br/>Under the current per-stream model, it is becoming exceedingly hard for artists to make a living off of streams. This forces artists to tour heavily as well as cut corners to create what is essentially “disposable art”. Rapidly releasing multiple projects a year has become the norm for many modern artists. This paper will examine the licensing framework, royalty payout issues, and propose a solution.

Through Founders Lab, our group designed an innovative new way for people to track their health and wellness. We created an app that uses a 4-part circle system where users track an everyday activity in the following areas: diet, exercise, development, and mental wellness. Users form small groups with friends and family members to provide support to one another. Through tracking their daily activities, users can earn tokens which are redeemable for relevant discounts with partnership brands. The app also hosts a variety of ways for users to be recognized for their healthy routines such as challenge trophies, activity history, and other social features. Overall, Circle Up aims to improve the daily routines of individuals to propel them into a healthier lifestyle, without the pressure of a curated social media feed.

This thesis project focuses on the creation and assessment of the "Simple Stocks" app, a straightforward investment tool specifically developed for people who are new to investing and find it challenging to comprehend the complexities of the stock market. We identified a significant gap in the availability of easy-to-understand resources and information for beginner investors, which led us to design an app that provides clear and simple data, professional advice from financial analysts, and an advanced machine learning feature to predict stock trends. The "Simple Stocks" app also incorporates a voting feature, allowing users to see what other investors think about specific stocks. This functionality not only helps users make informed decisions but also encourages a sense of community, as users can learn from each other's experiences and opinions. By creating a supportive environment, the app promotes a more approachable and enjoyable experience for those who are new to investing. Following the successful release of the "Simple Stocks'' app on the App Store, our current objectives include expanding the user base and looking into various ways to generate income. One possible approach is to collaborate with other companies and establish an advertising-based revenue model, which would benefit both parties by attracting more users and increasing profits.

Through Founders Lab, our group designed an innovative new way for people to track their health and wellness. We created an app that uses a 4-part circle system where users track everyday activity in the following areas: diet, exercise, development, and mental wellness. Users form small groups with friends and family members to provide support to one another. Through tracking their daily activities, users can earn redeemable tokens for relevant discounts with partnership brands. The app also hosts a variety of ways for users to be recognized for their healthy routines, such as challenge trophies, activity history, and other social features. Overall, Circle Up aims to improve the daily routines of individuals to propel them into a healthier lifestyle without the pressure of a curated social media feed.