Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship

The Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship is proud to announce its fourth cohort of the Terp Startup Fellows program, made possible by a generous donation from Dingman Center board member Bill Boyle ’81. This program was created due to the success of Terp Startup Accelerator, the center’s eight-week summer program which has been running for eight years. Terp Startup Fellows aims to further advance the most promising student startups and selects student founders from the accelerator program who have demonstrated a strong commitment to their ventures and the ability to innovate as they push toward commercialization. The Dingman Center has named three Terp Startup Fellows ventures for the 2023-24 academic year: Wise Cities, Mindgrasp, Korion Health, and Platybase.

The founders of these three ventures will receive up to $20,000 in non-dilutive funding, coaching, and co-working space to work on their businesses for 10 hours a week with the Dingman Center. These founders have all been heavily involved with the Dingman Center’s programs and have all participated in the Terp Startup Accelerator. The founders have also w966.on several awards and accolades outside of the university through the entrepreneurial community.

Throughout the next year, the Dingman Center team including Tsega Tadesse Belachew, Lottie Byram, MPH, Michael Hoffmyer, MPA, and Alex Onufrak ’21, will work directly with the selected fellows and their ventures.

“During the last few years, the Terp Startup Fellows program has provided individualized support and funding for our most advanced founders,” said Belachew, director of venture development at the Dingman Center. “The fellowship has enabled founders to grow their ventures by capitalizing on initial business traction and securing additional funding. We are excited about a strong and diverse cohort of founders this year leading technology ventures that are working to solve problems across industries: mental health, food delivery, and architecture.”

Student ventures selected to participate in the 2023-24 Terp Startup Fellows

Korion Health, founded by Akshaya Anand 23′ and Anna Li, is developing an electronic stethoscope and guided user interface to allow anyone to record their heart and lung sounds independently from the comfort and convenience of their own home. Korion Health has accomplished several milestones, most notably the submission of its non-provisional patent. This past summer, Korion Health grew a large community of over 900 supporters and surpassed its crowdfunding goal, raising over $150k from 176 investors. Additionally, Anna and Akshaya received top awards in several pitch competitions such as the Johns Hopkins Healthcare Design Competition and Terp Startup Demo Day. They are also finalists in the American Heart Association and BNY Mellon UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge pitch competitions. Live Streaming of the American Heart Association pitch competition will be available on Oct 19!

Mindgrasp, founded by Thai Cao ’24 and Shayan Khanlarbeik year 22’, is a platform that aims to make learning easy, fun, and accessible for students. Mindgrasp provides a suite of tools that will personalize your learning experience – granting you the ability to create AI-powered flashcards, notes, and quizzes, and get answers based on any content you upload. Mindgrasp had its official launch in November 2022 with 0 subscribers to their platform. Since then they have reached 15k+ active subscribers. Mindgrasp has amassed over 50 million views on social media and plans to refresh its entire product to service even more of its total addressable market.

WISE Cities, founded by Marie Brodsky ’24 and Katherine-Aria Close ’23, is a women-run startup creating accessible technology for seniors experiencing social isolation to connect with their communities. The team completed the design and development of their Version 1 web platform and is now onboarding their first cohort of older adult users, community centers, and local businesses. WISE Cities participated in the Terp Startup Accelerator, working full-time on the venture. WISE Cities won 3rd place in both Pitch Dingman and the Do Good Challenge, Top 10 in the US in the Smith Draper Competition for Collegiate Women, and 2nd place in the TiE DC University Pitch Competition. The venture earned the award for “Most Potential” in the international U21 RISE Sustainability & Social Innovation Showcase.

Platybase, founded by Colleen Baldwin and Olivia Bruno, is a HIPAA-compliant visual diary that celebrates milestones between families and providers of autism care centers while increasing behavioral outcomes, creating community, and allowing center operations to emerge competitively from a historically analog industry. Platybase is a company founded exclusively by disabled women, for the disability community. With approximately 500 users actively engaged on their platform and three organizations utilizing their services, Platybase has established a substantial user base, demonstrating its value and relevance in the industry. The successful development of both iOS and Android mobile applications, as well as a web portal, showcases their commitment to accessibility and convenience for users across various devices. Notably, each new product release has proven to be a catalyst for increased engagement rates, underscoring Platybase’s dedication to continuous improvement. Furthermore, the heartwarming testimonials from caregivers and parents, highlighting specific stories of how Platybase has enhanced the individual care of children, serve as a testament to its real-world impact and the trust it has garnered from its user community.

DC: What is your name, major, minor, and anticipated graduation years? 

Gaffney: Jessica Gaffney, Double Major in Communication and French, 2001 

DC: Which Dingman Center programs have you been involved with?

Gaffney: Dingman Center Fridays have given me access to incredible mentors, specifically Evan Shubin, who is a brilliant serial entrepreneur and an incredible person who was instrumental to me the successful acquisition of my company.

DC: In two to three sentences, how would you describe your startup?

Gaffney: Wavework is a one-stop VIP experience management platform that powers the premium (a.k.a. suites, clubs, etc.) business of professional sports teams, leagues, and venues, to accelerate personalization capabilities and deliver unforgettable experiences all year long. Through easy integrations and real-time insights, Wavework brings full transparency to all of the value being delivered to the premium buyer relationship.

DC: Why did you decide to start a business in this industry?

Gaffney: After 20 years in the business of sports and entertainment premium hospitality, I knew there had to be a better way to manage and execute the VIP customer experience.

DC: What updates or significant accomplishments can you share with us about your company from the last six months?

Gaffney: The most exciting update from the last six months is that Wavework was acquired by Multilot!  Our acquisition has added deep resources that will allow us to accelerate reaching our goal of becoming the standard best practice of Premium Experience Management throughout the sports and entertainment industry worldwide!  
DC: What’s the most important thing you are working on right now and how are you making it happen?

Gaffney: The most important thing we are working on right now is continuous product improvement so that we can scale more quickly.  We are expanding our team and putting the right people in key positions to achieve optimal outcomes at every stage of our growth.

DC: When it comes to your startup, how do you define success?

Gaffney: At Wavework, success means we are continuously improving….from product, to operations, to sales, we measure and we improve.

DC: If you could give advice to any aspiring entrepreneurs, what would it be?

Gaffney: The best advice I can give to aspiring entrepreneurs is to do the hard work others aren’t willing to do and ask for and accept help!  Nobody can do it alone forever.  

To learn more about Wavework, please visit the website here.

This summer, the Dingman Center will be conducting interviews with the 11 student startups participating in our in-person Terp Startup summer accelerator since 2020. Participating student entrepreneurs will receive a stipend of up to $5,000 that will enable them to work exclusively on their startups over the next eight weeks.

Founders: Celine Liptrot ’24, International Relations & Economics, Kilian Liptrot ’23, Law

DC: In two to three sentences, how would you describe your startup?
Liptrot: My start-up is a camera lens cap design and manufacturing company. We create innovative solutions for design flaws in today’s camera accessory industry.

DC: At what point did you know you wanted to create your own startup?

Liptrot: It initially started as an idea between the both of us that over time just became more and more of a reality with every bit of research and effort we put in. It was exciting to see it grow to a point where other people saw real potential in our product being an innovative solution to not only camera lens caps but all protective optic gear.

DC: Who or what is your biggest influence for your startup?
Liptrot: I would say that my brother is my biggest influence. I always felt this idea was an innovative and creative solution, he really transformed the idea into reality through his persistence.

DC: Why did you decide to start a business in this industry?
Liptrot: I’ve always had a love for photography, my brother is an enthusiastic hobbyist. My brother and I traveled a lot as a family when we were younger, and he was the first person to give me my first camera together we found a passion in both traveling and photography that lead us to the Tessen lens blade.

DC: What updates or significant accomplishments can you share with us about your company from the last few months?
Liptrot: So we currently have a provisional patent and are officially incorporated. We’ve had negotiations with larger design and manufacturing companies for camera accessories, but we are currently focusing on prioritizing prototyping.

DC: When it comes to your startup, how do you define success?
Liptrot: We’ve had our fair share of wins as far as pitch competitions and progress on our product are concerned. However, there have been lots of changes in the design process and business plan since we began so I would define our success as every strategic decision we’ve made to make the lens blade a more tangible reality.

DC: What are you hoping to achieve during Terp Startup Accelerator this summer?

Liptrot: As someone who doesn’t have a business background, I really saw this as an opportunity to not only learn skills that add value to Tessen as a company but add value to me as a professional and entrepreneur.

DC: If you could give advice to any aspiring entrepreneurs, what would it be?
Liptrot: Network and collaborate! Build relationships with like-minded individuals and mentors. Even with companies and ideas that are not directly aligned with what you’re doing, the entrepreneurship community is filled with driven and innovative personalities! Take advantage of that.

This summer, the Dingman Center will be conducting interviews with the 11 student startups participating in our in-person Terp Startup summer accelerator since 2020. Participating student entrepreneurs will receive a stipend of up to $5,000 that will enable them to work exclusively on their startups over the next eight weeks

Founders: Sung Hyun (Thomas) Noh ’24, Immersive Media Design, Erik Chou ’24, Product Design & Human-Computer Interaction

DC: In two to three sentences, how would you describe your startup?

Noh: For brands struggling to handle incoming social media messages and comments, Sociable AI offers a solution. Our easy-to-use web app enables the customization of conversational AI, automating customer interaction while boosting engagement and retention rates.

DC: At what point did you know you wanted to create your own startup?

Noh: My journey as an entrepreneur started back in my Junior year of Highschool. I came to a realization that my happiness derives from when my creation inspires others. A startup is one of the few ways to fulfill my life.

DC: Who or what is your biggest influence on your startup?
Noh: My startup has been significantly shaped by Simon Johnson, an MIT entrepreneurship professor, and Yong Kim, my advisor. Their guidance was pivotal in laying the groundwork for Sociable AI.

DC: Why did you decide to start a business in this industry?
Noh: I have been fortunate to be involved in the marketing industry for the last 7 years because I see it as an art of inspiring others, creating things that are memorable. 

DC: What updates or significant accomplishments can you share with us about your company from the last few months?
Noh: As a company we’ve onboarded our first 3 clients and are gearing up for our official launch scheduled for this October. Personally, my most cherished accomplishment is establishing meaningful connections with individuals who also see my vision and the problem I’m aiming to solve – including customers, advisors, and mentors.

DC: When it comes to your startup, how do you define success?
Noh: Success, for me, is measured by both the quality and quantity of influence. It’s about the number of people touched and the depth of impact made in their lives.

DC: What are you hoping to achieve during Terp Startup Accelerator this summer?

Noh: This is the first time I’ve been able to wholeheartedly concentrate on my startup, and I’m sincerely grateful to the Dingman Center for making it possible. My aim during the accelerator is to refine both the macro and micro strategies and chart a course for the future. I’m also super excited about networking with fellow dynamic entrepreneurs to gather insights.

DC: If you could give advice to any aspiring entrepreneurs, what would it be?
Noh: Don’t do it unless you hate yourself… Just kidding! Often, folks romanticize the entrepreneur’s life, painting it in overly rosy hues. Many dive in with dreams of striking it rich. Being an entrepreneur demands significant sacrifices and enduring substantial challenges. Weathering the storm necessitates a crystal-clear “why.” It’s crucial to be brutally honest with yourself – why are you pursuing this path? What’s your driving force? Without an authentic “why,” the hardships will magnify.

This summer, the Dingman Center will be conducting interviews with the 11 student startups participating in our in-person Terp Startup summer accelerator since 2020. Participating student entrepreneurs will receive a stipend of up to $5,000 that will enable them to work exclusively on their startups over the next eight weeks

Founders: Jason Alexander Fotso-Puepi ’23, Computer Science, Connor Hartzog ’23, Computer Science, Marilyn Ortega ’24, Immersive Media Design, Ajitesh Kaladi ’25, Immersive Media Design

DC: In two to three sentences, how would you describe your startup?

Fotso-Puepi: Spray is an augmented reality (AR) mobile art application where users can create digital murals on real-world physical surfaces as well as view art that people create. Transforming any smartphone into a tool for artistic self-expression and inspiration.

DC: At what point did you know you wanted to create your own startup?

Fotso-Puepi: During my last internship, I realized that working towards someone else’s goal was not something I wanted to do with my life. 

DC: Who or what is your biggest influence for your startup?
Fotso-Puepi: I once saw this really beautiful graffiti piece outside of UMD, so beautiful in fact that I came back the next week to show some of my friends only to discover it had been painted over. Art should never be destroyed. 

DC: Why did you decide to start a business in this industry?
Fotso-Puepi: I would consider myself an avid art consumer, and somewhat of a mural hunter. I’ve always appreciated the skill and expertise needed to make that type of art, as well as the impact these public art pieces have on the community.

DC: What updates or significant accomplishments can you share with us about your company from the last few months?
Fotso-Puepi: Development of our minimum viable product has been picking up, we are able to draw on physical surfaces and select different colors now. Great progress from where we were a couple months ago. 

DC: When it comes to your startup, how do you define success?
Fotso-Puepi: I would define success as creating a tool where artists can express themselves to the purest extent without any variation from their intended message or fear that it might one day be destroyed.

DC: What are you hoping to achieve during Terp Startup Accelerator this summer?

Fotso-Puepi: Finalize a go-to-market strategy and revenue model.

DC: If you could give advice to any aspiring entrepreneurs, what would it be?
Fotso-Puepi: Remember your why.

This summer, the Dingman Center will be conducting interviews with the 11 student startups participating in our in-person Terp Startup summer accelerator since 2020. Participating student entrepreneurs will receive a stipend of up to $5,000 that will enable them to work exclusively on their startups over the next eight weeks.

Founder: Marie Brodsky ’24, Mathematics

DC: In two to three sentences, how would you describe your startup?

Brodsky: WISE Cities is a women-founded venture that began as an effort to support our grandparents. The WISE Cities platform is a multilingual and accessible tool that connects older adults with local services and opportunities. It is the first step of our larger initiative to rethink communities to support us as we age.

DC: At what point did you know you wanted to create your own startup?

Brodsky: I actually fiddled with creating a startup when I was a tiny 10-year-old in pigtails. It was called “Kids Consult!” and we provided consulting services to educational companies, giving them feedback on the materials they were developing for kids but often never testing beforehand. Fun fact, we won money from the Warren Buffet Grow Your Own Business Challenge. Anyway, since then I barely thought about startups until I felt the urge to go out and develop WISE Cities to solve this real problem I was seeing.

DC: Who or what is your biggest influence for your startup?
Brodsky: We’re influenced by what we’ve seen affecting our families and the similar personal experiences that the dozens of students that have joined our team have seen taking place in their own lives. From that as our starting point, we’re grateful to our dedicated group of mentors for guiding us and providing feedback on our strategy as we brainstorm.

DC: Why did you decide to start a business in this industry?
Brodsky: Because there was a need that was close to us. We recognized it, wanted to fix it, and are taking the time to learn what we need to know to make a solution happen.

DC: What updates or significant accomplishments can you share with us about your company from the last few months?
Brodsky: On the business side, establishing several crucial government relationships and gaining support from a range of agencies facing the problem we’ve identified. On the product side, completing the development of our platform and implementing design and functionality changes based on several rounds of research.

DC: When it comes to your startup, how do you define success?
Brodsky: We’re a social impact-driven venture. We hope to change the world for the better, little steps at a time. If our solution can begin by making life better for a small community and continually evolve to address the needs of a larger group of people, we will consider ourselves successful. As part of our company culture, we also work to make WISE Cities a fulfilling learning experience for those involved in the startup– the experience of our team members as they work on WISE Cities is a big part of our definition of success.

DC: What are you hoping to achieve during Terp Startup Accelerator this summer?

Brodsky: Preparing for our upcoming pilot launch has been our biggest priority this summer. This includes engaging community stakeholders, establishing customer relationships, quality assurance testing our platform, and finalizing the legal and logistical pieces necessary. That said, we have continued to push our research efforts, making sure we are continuing to learn about the problem and the population we serve. The Terp Startup Accelerator has been a fantastic experience and taught us to be structured about testing our hypotheses while surrounding us with a cohort of amazing, motivated peers.

DC: If you could give advice to any aspiring entrepreneurs, what would it be?
Brodsky: You have to really enjoy solving problems because a startup is more than a job. It’s a lifestyle. It gets tough, it gets tiring, and things don’t always go according to plan. You’ll have some big losses on your way to your big wins. The important thing is to just get back up, dust yourself off, and keep moving forward. A growth mindset is crucial and you have to remind yourself to stay open-minded. It’s an awesome ride. Before you begin, make sure you are committing yourself to an idea you are passionate about.

To learn more about WISE Cities, please visit the website here.

This summer, the Dingman Center will be conducting interviews with the 11 student startups participating in our in-person Terp Startup summer accelerator since 2020. Participating student entrepreneurs will receive a stipend of up to $5,000 that will enable them to work exclusively on their startups over the next eight weeks.

Founder: Joseph Thibault, Member of the Executive MBA Cohort ‘23

DC: In two to three sentences, how would you describe your startup?
Thibault: Cursive’s roots are in trying to solve a gap in education and academic policies as old as assignments: verifiable authorship that ties the process of creating directly to the student. We focus first on written submissions and have used machine learning to let users volunteer and continuously verify their biometric signature using a standard keyboard. 

DC: At what point did you know you wanted to create your own startup?

Thibault: I’ve been working at startups or with startups since 2007, and in the last few years realized that I was coming back to try to solve the same problem again and again. As I talked to more and more educators, I learned that they also were trying to solve that problem, but there weren’t any good solutions out there. Through an Action Learning Project in the MBA program, I got to focus on what it would take and how I might solve this issue. 

DC: Who or what is your biggest influence for your startup?
Thibault: I’ve had the good fortune and luck to have great mentors and leaders over the last decade, and am grateful to have support from my friends and family to pursue this issue. I’m influenced by all of the wonderful teachers who’ve given me great feedback on my work submitted and by my classmates who bring their full selves to class so that we can all learn from each other. Without their effort, I would not be the learner I am today. 

DC: Why did you decide to start a business in this industry?
Thibault: The lack of an existing commercial solution to this issue is what has inspired me to try to solve it. There’s a collective agreement that this is a problem, yet no good solution exists. I think that our approach to focusing on the writing process is a fundamental change that will be great for education pedagogically, for learning to be better writers, and for taking ownership of what we are creating and sharing with our class and classmates. 

DC: What updates or significant accomplishments can you share with us about your company from the last few months?
Thibault: In April, we competed in the Heartland Challenge 2023 Startup Competition in Bentonville, AR, and had a great time as a team traveling there to pitch, and talk with VCs and their community. I’m super excited that Cursive was selected to participate in the Terp Accelerator this summer. 

DC: When it comes to your startup, how do you define success?
Thibault: We are creating options for educators and students to build better trust-based academic integrity in the classrooms. We’ll be successful when students and faculty are able to adopt us freely and choose to do so because it creates a better learning environment.

DC: What are you hoping to achieve during Terp Startup Accelerator this summer?

Thibault: I’m looking forward to the support of my peers and to honing our message. Our goal is to be in classrooms for Fall ‘23.

DC: If you could give advice to any aspiring entrepreneurs, what would it be?
Thibault: First: pick a problem to solve, then work on finding solutions. Second, treat every moment as an opportunity to advance your idea and vision.

To learn more about Cursive Technology Inc., please visit the website here.

This summer, the Dingman Center will be conducting interviews with the 11 student startups participating in our in-person Terp Startup summer accelerator since 2020. Participating student entrepreneurs will receive a stipend of up to $5,000 that will enable them to work exclusively on their startups over the next eight weeks.

Founder: Anna Boyd ’24, Plant Science

DC: In two to three sentences, how would you describe your startup?

Boyd: My startup is my crochet business. I make and sell full custom outfits, as well as tops, skirts, bikinis, sweaters, pants, hats, accessories, and more. I also aim to decrease unethical practices in crochet being sold by fast fashion companies and to promote a more positive use of the word “slut” to mean wearing what you want and feeling confident doing it.

DC: At what point did you know you wanted to create your own startup?

Boyd: I have been crocheting for over ten years and had my first pop-up shop at 13. This has always been a passion of mine, but I began getting serious about my art and created the Slut for Yarn brand my sophomore year at UMD. 

DC: Who or what is your biggest influence for your startup?
Boyd: My biggest influences are my Aunt Kelly and my Grandma GG. They taught me how to knit when I was a kid and make the most gorgeous socks, shawls, and sweaters for my family and I. Although our projects are often quite different styles, I love working with them and getting advice on all my projects.

DC: Why did you decide to start a business in this industry?
Boyd: Slut for yarn fully began because I love to crochet, I quickly realized I could make money off of it and would sell baby hats, stuffed animals, and scarves as a kid. I picked it up again when I got older and began making things that were more my style now, lots of my friends loved the stuff I made and would buy them, so I decided to make an Instagram just for my crochet and it took off from there!

DC: What updates or significant accomplishments can you share with us about your company from the last few months?
Boyd: Terp startup accelerator is a big accomplishment, and I have loved learning more about defining and running my business. I have made a few big custom orders recently that I am very proud of like a black and white skirt set I did for my friend Hailey, and lots of outfits for friends going to festivals in the summer which I really enjoy doing. I also recently hit $10,000 in revenue which was a huge goal of mine for a while.

DC: When it comes to your startup, how do you define success?
Boyd: I feel successful when I make things that make people happy. I have received so much love and support from my friends and customers and would not be able to do this without them.

DC: What are you hoping to achieve during Terp Startup Accelerator this summer?

Boyd: During the accelerator, I am working on creating and marketing a knitted line of dresses, sweaters, and other wearables. I have not done much knitting before so these projects are a different style than most other things I have released, but I love the projects I have made so far. 

DC: If you could give advice to any aspiring entrepreneurs, what would it be?
Boyd: If you have an idea, go for it and be confident! You will never get anywhere if you don’t take the first step.

To learn more about Slut for Yarn, please visit the website here.

This summer, the Dingman Center will be conducting interviews with the 11 student startups participating in our in-person Terp Startup summer accelerator since 2020. Participating student entrepreneurs will receive a stipend of up to $5,000 that will enable them to work exclusively on their startups over the next eight weeks.

Founder: Akshaya Anand ’23, Computer Science

DC: In two to three sentences, how would you describe your startup?

Anand: Korion Health is building tools to enable patients to conduct health screenings from the comfort of their homes. Our first product is an electronic stethoscope and guided user interface that allows patients to quickly and effectively record their own heart and lung sounds.

DC: At what point did you know you wanted to create your own startup?

Anand: This idea was born during a hackathon. Our idea was a solution we truly believed the world needed, and at first, we wanted to just make it open source. However, our mentors advised us that commercialization would be the best option to bring this technology into the hands of people who would use it. This startup was born because bringing the dream of accessible patient-centric healthcare was too important to give up on.

DC: Who or what is your biggest influence for your startup?
Anand: Anna Li, our CEO, is the heart of Korion Health. She drives the company culture and mission with her ultra-patient-centric focus. I am really grateful to be working with her, and I am constantly inspired!

DC: Why did you decide to start a business in this industry?
Anand: Heart disease is the number 1 killer in the world, yet many of these deaths could have been prevented through earlier screening and disease management. A driving cause of why people aren’t catching heart disease earlier is that they don’t have access to routine screenings. Our product aims to bridge this gap and provide an accessible tool that is easy, simple, and effective for patients to use from the comfort and convenience of their own homes.

DC: What updates or significant accomplishments can you share with us about your company from the last few months?
Anand: We recently surpassed our minimum crowdfunding goal of 100k. The reason we chose crowdfunding, as opposed to taking VC money initially, was not because it’s the fastest or easiest way to get funds. We really wanted to call in the community and allow anyone to invest in the product and our mission. Many of the issues in healthcare are caused by misaligned healthcare incentive structures – and this ultimately impacts patient care. With our crowdfunding approach, we hope to empower patients in their own healthcare. We are grateful to the 100+ investors who have believed in us, and will do our best to ensure a return on your investment!

DC: When it comes to your startup, how do you define success?
Anand: To me, success would be any instance where our product helps empower patients in their own healthcare and helps someone identify the early stages of heart disease before they land in the ER.

DC: What are you hoping to achieve during Terp Startup Accelerator this summer?

Anand: I am hoping to expand my network and Korion Health’s presence in the Maryland ecosystem.

DC: If you could give advice to any aspiring entrepreneurs, what would it be?
Anand: Work on developing a product/service that is meaningful to you. As an entrepreneur, there is so much that you need to learn and figure out. Sometimes this can be stressful. Having a mission that you believe in is going to make all the difference if you wake up feeling energized or drained. Along these lines, please prioritize your health and well-being and surround yourself with mentors who can support you!

To learn more about Korion Health, please visit the website here.

This summer, the Dingman Center will be conducting interviews with the 11 student startups participating in our in-person Terp Startup summer accelerator since 2020. Participating student entrepreneurs will receive a stipend of up to $5,000 that will enable them to work exclusively on their startups over the next eight weeks.

Founder: Matthew Foulk ’23, Mathematics

DC: In two to three sentences, how would you describe your startup?

Foulk: At Kaalmi, we are creating sensory-based solutions for individuals facing mental health struggles. We are empowering people to take control of their well-being by offering innovative tools that can support traditional methods.

DC: At what point did you know you wanted to create your own startup?

Foulk: I come from a family of serial entrepreneurs. My grandfather has started numerous companies, my dad is developing his startup (Argo Navigation), and my sisters are both working on starting their own businesses (wecansaw.com, Pots for Plants with Personality). I love the idea of adding value to the world and an innovative startup is a clear path to do exactly that. So to answer the question, I don’t feel there has ever been a point where I actually knew what I wanted to do. But given the influences around me and the dreams I have for the future, I’ve almost always been on a path to creating my own company.

DC: Who or what is your biggest influence for your startup?
Foulk: My partner Paige is the inspiration behind this startup. Her compassion and empathy has shaped our vision to support those struggling with their mental health. And on top of that, she created the original design of our Five Senses Box.

DC: Why did you decide to start a business in this industry?
Foulk: Recognizing the lack of physical resources in the mental health space, we saw an opportunity to address a critical problem impacting millions of people. The growing mental health crisis necessitates innovative solutions, and we are determined to fill the gap and provide valuable support.

DC: What updates or significant accomplishments can you share with us about your company from the last few months?
Foulk: Our company has been catalyzed through the support of UMD and the Dingman team. We were a finalist in Pitch Dingman’s Idea Track this spring and are currently participating in the Terp Startup Accelerator. This has allowed us to explore the fundamentals of our business through in-depth interviews and develop functional prototypes of our Five Senses Box.

DC: When it comes to your startup, how do you define success?
Foulk: Every day is a new success. The interactions I’ve had with peers and mentors have opened so many opportunities and continue to expand my understanding of the world. I’ve learned so much that I wouldn’t have otherwise, and the fact that I get to continue to work on this is a major success for me. Our ultimate success will be when therapists actively recommend our products to their clients, which will be a testament to the value we add to the mental health journey.

DC: What are you hoping to achieve during Terp Startup Accelerator this summer?

Foulk: Our primary goal is to refine our understanding of our customers and market to ensure we are developing resources that maximize our positive social impact. We have so much to learn, so I hope we can absorb as much expertise as possible from the Dingman team and the other amazing entrepreneurs (education through osmosis). I hope to walk out after 8-weeks with a brain filled with useful information and a renewed confidence that we are going in the right direction.

DC: If you could give advice to any aspiring entrepreneurs, what would it be?
Foulk: Start.

To learn more about Kaalmi, please visit the website here.