The market for searching for food online is exploding. According to one expert at Google, “there are over 1 billion restaurant searches on Google every month” (Kelso, 2020). To capture this market and ride the general digital trend of internet personalization (as evidenced by Google search results, ads, YouTube and social media algorithms, etc), we created Munch to be an algorithm meant to help people find food they’ll love. <br/>Munch offers the ability to search for food by restaurant or even as specific as a menu item (ex: search for the best Pad Thai). The best part? It is customized to your preferences based on a quiz you take when you open the app and from that point continuously learns from your behavior.<br/>This thesis documents the journey of the team who founded Munch, what progress we made and the reasoning behind our decisions, where this idea fits in a competitive marketplace, how much it could be worth, branding, and our recommendations for a successful app in the future.

Student academic performance has far-reaching implications, such as lifetime earnings potential, that are beyond the immediate impact it may have on any individual student (Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS], 2019). Colleges and universities also have a shared interest in the retention of their students as a poor reputation can depress enrollment and tarnish their brand. Public institutions have an especially large incentive for student success as many state and federal funding opportunities consider student retention and performance when allocating taxpayer dollars (Li, 2018). To assist in the mutual desire for students to succeed, the Calm Connection start-up venture formed with the goal of seamlessly integrating biofeedback therapy with a student’s unique education needs. Forming the foundation of the resulting Calm Connection app is software patented by NASA which allows for the collection and manipulation of biofeedback monitoring data on mobile devices with distinguishing features such as geolocation. For students, one of the largest barriers to effective learning is issues of focus and information retention, whether due to problems at home, conditions such as ADHD, or the high prevalence of test anxiety among students (Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health et al., 2012). The repeated use of biofeedback therapy trains students to overcome these focus issues and works in conjunction with our app’s study aid and scheduling ability (Henriques et al., 2011). Among those surveyed and participants in follow-up focus groups, the Calm Connection app and its use of biofeedback monitoring has generated much interest and documented traction.

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.

Through Founders Lab, our group ideated an innovative new way for people to track their health and wellness. The app uses a 4-part circle system where users track their everyday progress in the following areas: diet, exercise, development, and mental wellness. Users can form 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. The app also hosts a variety of ways for users to be recognized for their healthy routine 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.