DimOgo Luggage
Executive Summary
DimOgo Luggage purpose is to provide products that make the travel experience as convenient and fluid as possible for travelers. DimOgo was founded by CEO Alexandar Dimcevski and Co-founder Robert O’gorman. Mr. Dimcevski is an international student Majoring in Finance and brings perspective as a frequent traveler. Mr. O’gorman is an international student Majoring in International Management. Passengers spend countless of millions of dollars on unnecessary additional costs.
These costs occur in two distinctive ways: 1) checking in an empty suitcase, 2) purchasing new suitcases for more luggage space. An unnecessary amount of money and time is lost taking care of these problems. DimOgo is making an expandable suitcase that fits the criteria of a small carry-on as well as a large check in a suitcase. DimOgo’s target market is the global luggage industry, worth $31B. From the wealthy to the needy, all categories of travelers that buy luggage. DimOgo narrows the focus to the middle and upper-income individual who considers himself/herself to be a frequent traveler and will pinpoint strong focus on women and business travelers. DimOgo will rely heavily on conventions, such as the 13th annual Summer Luggage, Gift & Travel Goods Show planned by The National Luggage Dealers Association (NLDA).
DimOgo will complement this strategy with search engine marketing and strategically placed commercials. The majority of revenue will be from sales to retailers. With a minority of revenue coming from direct sales to the customer via our web page. Fugo optimizes to solve the same problem as DimOgo, however, DimOgo’s solution is superior. DimOgo also faces competitions from businesses that specialize in aspects of what it does. Samsonite, Rimowa, and Tumi are all partial competitors in this regard. Competitive advantages include: Customers friendly suitcase; emotional appeal with international students and the American Dream; contact with recognized design company; supported by a distributor with 30 years of experience in the luggage industry.
Biography
Alexandar Dimcevski is an international student studying at Pace University, Pleasantville, New York. Originally from Gothenburg, a small industrial and fishing town in Sweden. As a full-time student and part of the Men’s Swimming & Diving Team my day to day schedule is very hectic and a pure enjoyment. I am part of the Lubin School of Business with an expected bachelor’s degree in 2018. What attracts me to my major Finance, in general, is my personal experience of investing in the Swedish markets from my dorm room. I find it very liberating to be in control and accountable for my own financial decisions. I hope my major in Finance and the knowledge that comes it one day will reveal opportunities that I otherwise would have foregone.
Everyday Pace
Executive Summary
Everyday Pace is a calendar planning app for iOS devices which provides support to people with various disabilities. It is a tool which allows them to create schedules and goals for themselves and helps them preserve it daily. This app focuses on supporting people with disabilities who are in a school environment, but it can be used by anyone who wants or needs an accessible, user-friendly planner. This app distinguishes itself from other calendar apps by allowing user-customizability, a high visual appeal, and an achievement scorecard with which to measure their accomplishments by. The user-customizability aspect of the app lets the user take pictures of their own personal environment to associate with their schedule, and the achievement scorecard tracks their success at maintaining these schedules. These scorecards will also allow parents and caregivers to check on an individual’s progress without being too intrusive.
Over the past few years, there have been new initiatives for the inclusion of people with intellectual/developmental disabilities into higher education programs in the US. However, there have not been many, if any, apps developed for this target population. This app will be one of the first of its kind to target this population, and will hopefully pave the way for other apps to become developed in the future to support them. The availability of this app will also allow these students to feel more involved in their school environment.
Currently, the app is being developed by Adil Sanai, a special education student at Pace University, with the support of his professors and peer mentors. Adil currently takes Computer Science classes to learn more about computers, and concurrently uses that information to develop the app. An investment in Everyday Pace will allow Adil to develop the app in a more efficient manner, by allowing purchase of app creation software. When finished, the app will be made available for free on Apple App Store for both iPhone and iPad versions.
Biography
My name is Adil Sanai. I am currently a special education at Pace University in the Seindenberg School of Computer Science. I am in my second year at Pace, and I am expected to finish this special education program in the year 2020. I was born with cerebral palsy. In 1999, I moved to the US from Pakistan. I spent 15 years of my life being unable to stand, walk, or close my mouth. I was very determined to have a better life in the US, so after I arrived, I was able to undergo multiple surgeries to correct these complications from cerebral palsy. I am now motivated to learn about everything life has to offer, and I would like to support others with disabilities like me.
HELPTEER
Executive Summary
Helpteer is a crowdsourcing volunteer application. Typically, volunteer opportunities are posted either as a static list on organizations’ websites, emailed, or sent as a newsletter. However, on Helpteer all of the volunteer opportunities are provided in real time, which allows for effective communication in times of disasters, emergency, and last minute projects. Helpteer aims to breakdown the bureaucracy of organized volunteering and make it a more social experience.
The app uses geolocation to find volunteer opportunities based on where the user is currently located. If the user chooses, they can enter their zip code which will generate a list of nearby projects based on the distance from their location. In addition, the app allows users to post their volunteer opportunities as well as sign up to help at projects that other users have posted. Projects can be from person to person or from an organization looking for volunteers. Users will be notified of opportunities to help out those in their surrounding communities through the app which will be a “call to action” to engage in a project. Organizations and people can view the volunteers that have signed up for their project so that they can appropriately screen and organize them. The app also provides a platform for people to make donations to a project. Helpteer would take a percentage of the donations for helping to facilitate the volunteers.
Helpteer offers organizations and volunteers a more effective way to manage and allocate human resources to volunteer opportunities. Since the updates occur in real time, this feature will allow organizations to send out notification alerts to get volunteers to help others as quickly as possible while other necessary resources are being prepared. The goal of Helpteer is to streamline the organization and notification of different local opportunities for various types of volunteer work.
Currently, the target market for this application would be organizations such as Red Cross, Techo, New York Cares, etc. but also people looking to volunteer for a project within the community. 63.4 million Americans have volunteered through an organization at least once between 2014 and 2015. Organizations could use Helpteer to manage and allocate these millions of volunteers. On an even larger scale, 26% of the world’s population volunteers each year since 2007. Helpteer can continue to expand to be the leading application for organizing volunteers and helping others around the globe.
Biographies
Ian Carvalho is a Computer Science major and talented iOS developer. In 2015, Ian was awarded a grant from the Brazilian Scientific Mobility Program to study at Pace University. With extensive previous work experience, Ian currently has 17 published apps on the AppStore. He acted as the lead developer behind many of these apps. Among his remarkable projects were the development of the first book in augmented reality in Brazil and a Point of Sale application created to promote Hasbro's “Transformers toys". Ian has also previously competed in the Pace Hackathon competition this semester.
Alexa McKenna is a Pace University student in the graduating class of 2017.
She is majoring in Entrepreneurship from the Lubin School of Business and minoring in Digital Media Studies from the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences. Currently, Alexa is a Dezer Fellow at the Entrepreneurship Lab. In the past, she has participated in the Pace App Hackathon, Pitch Contest, and other eLab events. On campus, Alexa is a CoPresident of the Fashion Marketing Club, ProFASHIONals, and a member of the Pforzheimer Honors College. In the future, Alexa aims to start her own business and manage global tech operations.
MS Keyboard
Executive Summary
With the rapid advancement of technology and practically everything is becoming digitalized, those who struggle with Multiple Sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and other physical impairing diseases find it challenging to adjust to the technology. Multiple Sclerosis makes it very challenging for people to engage in activities on the smart phones or tablets, whether it’d be texting, emailing, writing notes, or whatever the case may be. The main cause of these difficulties is the keyboard. The keys are usually thoroughly small thus making it very difficult to correctly press the key that was intended. The concept of the application is to create a keyboard with the option to choose between two different styles of design. The first design is a keyboard that simply just has larger keys.
The design would allow the user to scroll between each of the letters and correctly choose the key that they desire. This may be slower than the traditional style of keyboard, but it would ensure that the user is pressing the correct key and thus preventing the user from becoming frustrated with selecting the wrong key. The second idea is to re-create a keyboard with only slightly larger keys, but the user would have to press down on the key for a minimum amount of time. This would prevent the user from misclicking any of the keys and when they do press the right key, it would become exceptionally easy for the user to keep their finger pressed down. The application would allow the user to be able to choose between the two of these settings for which ever one they prefer. Whichever keyboard the user does prefer, it will be a lot easier to use due to the easy functionality of the keyboard. Those who suffer from physical impairing diseases like multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy would be able to type and use their smart phone or tablet very easily.
Biographies
Brandon DeLuca currently lives in Brooklyn, New York and attends Pace University full time with an expected graduation in May 2019. He is majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Information Technology. He currently work two jobs, managing the front-end of a supermarket and doing field technician work for Key Systems in midtown Manhattan. Computer Science is a world changing field, and he has been interested with and working with computers since his years of early adolescence. He continues to keep up with current technologies as in the future he would like to pursue a career in the field of cybersecurity.
Connor Magee is a full-time student at Pace University. He is only a freshman in his second semester at Pace and is expected to graduate May 2019. Currently he is majoring in computer science with a dual-minor in computer information technology and information assurance in the criminal justice system. During his free time he enjoys exercising, reading, and anything else that concerns learning more about computer science. He has known that computer science is his passion since the beginning of high school ever since his cousin introduced to. He knows for a fact that computer science will be his passion for the rest of his life.
Ivan Tang is a full time freshman Computer Science major with a minor in Information Technology, at the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems. He has an expected graduation in May 2019. He currently lives in Brooklyn, New York. He has grown up with computers and is always constantly attempting to learn more about computers and technology. Alongside with Dr. Coppola, he hopes to make technology more efficient for the elderly. Technology is moving very fast and is very innovative and doesn't wait up for the elderly. As a side hobby, he enjoys building computers to keep up with modern advancements. He also enjoys helping his friends and family with computer related issues whenever he can. In the future, he hopes to use his knowledge in computer science to aid people and make their lives simpler. This is his first time participating in the Pace Pitch Contest alongside his classmates.
MugClubs.com LLC
Executive Summary
MugClubs.com is a technology based marketing and selling tool what will be marketed to bars, brewpubs, and breweries. We will operate using a SaaS model, providing our service for the nominal cost of $60 - $100 per month. Our customers will utilize our product to host an online Mug Club for their patrons, who can interact with the product by downloading a free app for their phone or tablet. Company Background: MugClubs.com was founded in 2015 as a result of the founder’s desire to develop a platform that would leverage SaaS principles to the bar and nightclub industry. Specifically, the first product platform will target Mug Clubs, which are a popular marketing and sales tool employed by drinking establishments. To date nobody has brought forward a digital solution to facilitate their adminstration and execution, thus putting the investment of time, resources, and money solely on the establishment’s management. Management: MugClubs.com is run by Founder and Managing Director, John Harrison. Mr. Harrison has extensive experience in corporate finance, strategy, M&A, market research, new product analysis, and commercial management. In addition, he is a small business and bar owner, which has given him unique insight into our market and target customer.
Products/Services: MugClubs.com will offer an online portal so the customer can manage their mug club, and will provide free access to a linked app that patrons can download to their smartphone or table. Technologies/Special Know-how: The technology platform will include a website (portal) and associate app, which when used in tandem will be the means by which the Mug Club is hosted for the customer. We have contracted a third-party technology firm to execute the development of the technology and will establish a retainer agreement for tech support. Market: We estimate, based on various websites and market analysis reports, that there are between 150,000 and 300,000 drinking establishments in the United States. Of this amount, we believe that roughly 10% would be categorized as our "target customer". This subsequently leaves us with 15,000 to 30,000 in our addressable market. Distribution Channels: our product will be sold via our website, MugClubs.com, which will provide access to the customer’s management portal. The apps will be distributed via the Apple and Android app stores. Competition: At this time we have no direct competition.
Mug Clubs that exist today are administered locally by each bar, and are not executed using a technology platform. In a sense, we are competing against the bar owners themselves as we must strive to justify that our product is worth paying $60 a month for, as a means of avoiding the “Do It Yourself” model.
Biography
Mr. Harrison is presently a full-time student at Pace University pursuing his MBA in Strategic Management, where he is also a Graduate Assistant at the Entrepreneurship Lab. Beyond his studies, Mr. Harrison completes consulting work for a technology start-up in the food service industry and as the Finance lead for a Biopharma start-up that is specializing in stem cell research. Furthermore, Mr. Harrison is the acting Controller for Some Spider LLC, a digital media start-up with annualized sales of over $1.5 million. Lastly, John has been a small business owner since 2014 when he purchased, remodeled, and rebranded a bar & restaurant in San Angelo, TX.
Having graduated Lehigh University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting and Finance in 2005 John chose to pursue his professional interests at Johnson & Johnson. Over the next eight years John took on increasing levels of responsibility rising to the position of Senior Manager before leaving J&J in 2013. Mr. Harrison left corporate life to pursue his MBA as he desired the opportunity to be in a faster paced and more agile environment. The opportunity to make decisions that actually impact business outcomes has led John to make the leap into entrepreneurship, and has inspired his efforts to create MugClubs.com.
Ondori Anime
Executive Summary
Japanese animation (more commonly known as Anime) fans in America are one of the most passionate fans ever. They go to conventions and often, spend hundreds of dollars on action figures and stuffed animals. But one thing they cannot always do is support the shows they like the most. The main reason is because of the complicated process of licensing anime merchandise in addition there is only one small American merchandiser, therefore many shows fans love fall between the cracks. The other reason is many of these merchants are confined to a very small booth or a slightly bigger permanent storefront. Therefore, they can only fit the most popular shows into their shops. This has created an opportunity due to the customers not having access, to merchandise for around 90% of the shows released. This in turn creates the problem that the fans cannot give money to the production most shows, meaning they are less likely to get any additional seasons. So for a new retailer to succeed, they must integrate these other shows into their inventory, to offer customers better selection.
On the surface the anime industry looks like a very niche market, but it is one of the fastest growing industries in the entertainment sector. The anime industry in North America is estimated to be worth 2.7 billion dollars as of 2014, which is up from 1.8 billion in 2010. In this market, the customers Ondori is targeting is young professionals who are anime fans, that are college educated who have a yearly budget for anime. These customers are about 30% of the population of anime fans, but make 65% of all purchases. They generally allocate a budget of 200-500 dollars towards anime and anime merchandise a year. Through customer interaction and research, the founder has determined they value Selection, convenience, and atmosphere. The only crux with this industry is that the customers are very spread out across the country. But there are certain times when all the customers come together and that is when an anime convention comes around, in which many fans come from all over to take part, including a large percentage of Ondori’s target market. Making this an extremely lucrative opportunity for a temporary retail operation.
Ondori’s solution to the customer’s problem is to open pop-up stores, in and around anime conventions. The company will specialize in having a diverse selection with both popular shows, as well as shows and merchandise not offered by many of our competitors. With pop-up shops as opposed to conventional booths, Ondori can offer more selection due to us having more space. The founder also has made a contract with the largest Japanese merchandisers, to import the products not commonly sold in America. Also with the company’s pop up store model it gives us the flexibility to get a storefront, near the event space for a low upfront cost. This will allow the desired customers the ability to simply walk to the stores, which will only be a few blocks away giving them the convenience factor. The company will also emphasize the customer experience by implementing events, music, in store advertising, and screenings. All of these events will attract the customers during the periods in-between panels, as well as once they leave the convention. With all of this Ondori expects to achieve a gross 40 dollars per square foot. Ondori’s anticipates average customers spending 80 dollars per visit which is on average ten percent less than those found in the company’s research. In our first year’s operation Ondori plans to open one store outside of a popular anime convention in New Jersey, as well as test three additional markets with small booths inside the conventions. All of this will allow the company to be both financially successful and help spread the joy of anime.
Biography
My name is Christopher Dunn-Meynell I’m originally from Warren, New Jersey. I am a current senior at Pace University, in the Lubin School of Business. I currently am majoring in entrepreneurship. I have on past venture in which I started my own food business selling food services at my high school’s events. It was very successful and helped finance a lot of my high school’s clubs. During college I got a few jobs but mainly I worked for Spirit Halloween as a manager for three years. During my time with them I was appointed assistant manager of the flagship store in New York, their Times Square store, brought in to save an underperforming store, as well as construct 18 pop-up stores. I was also appointed the official training manager for the company’s charity division for my entire district, in which raised $40,000 for The Children’s Hospital in Bellevue. I personally enjoyed this job so much, that I have decided to combine all of the things I’ve learned from it, with my other passion anime to help bring joy to all my fellow anime fans. I always live by my motto to work smarter AND harder.
TRIESSS •Swim•Sand•Surf•
Executive Summary
This is the product pitch for an innovative solution to slippage and instability in women’s active swimwear. Picture this: A lifeguard spots a patron flailing in the ocean. She blows her whistle and dismounts off of the stand. She starts running into the ocean and her suit bottoms being an upward progression between her ‘cheeks.’ No time for adjustments, she hurdles over the waves and dives into the ocean. Now, battling waves, her suit top is sliding off her chest; hit on the right by a wave, her suit shifts to the left side of her body. These are the struggles any women partaking in any athletic activity while wearing a bathing suit. Likewise similar scenarios occur on a daily basis for surfers, swimmers, yogi’s, paddle boarders, the list goes on.
The product solution to these everyday happenstances is a bikini with a structure, fabric, and detailed grip lining that will provide maximum stability and NO slippage. Now, one could argue, why not just wear a one piece? Yes, that is a solution however not everyone wants to wear a one piece, get one piece tan lines, or be restricted by a full suit, and why should they have to?
The TRIESSS •Swim•Sand•Surf• brand will provide fashionable bathing suits engineered to grip and hug the body, flattering every curve, while staying in place when life tries to move it. This will be accomplished by three design techniques: The cuts of the suits will intertwine fashion trends and stability for the chest. Cross back ties of the suit, ties on the bottoms, and a cheeky cut will keep the suit in place. The second, but crucial piece to this suit design is a two strip silicone ‘no slip grip’ lining. Two strips of this fabric, seamed into the fabric of the suit. The silicone lining will go on ALL edges of the suit including: breast linings, around the rib cage, hip, and leg holes. This will give the suit already tied to perfect fit the body of the wearer, extra grip to the skin. Lastly, the brand is supposed to hold high fashion standards as well. It will not lack style to compromise for stability like most suits of it’s nature.
TRIESS •Swim•Sand•Surf• suits will be a beacon of hope for fashionable athletic women who want to feel confident and sexy in their bikinis.
Biography
Scarlett Loughlin is a swimmer, surfer, yogi (practicing yoga), fashionista, blogger, social butterfly, and a full time student-athlete. I keep a well-balanced life of immersing myself in all aspects of my passions. One morning at swim practice this summer, my idea of an athletic training bikini or women of my likeness, would benefit the society of actively athletic women. Being a fashion lover and athletic, I paired together what I know, what I need to know, and how I would go about doing so, all in one swim practice. I eagerly jumped out of the pool to write down what is now a work in progress, TRIESSS – •Swim•Sand•Surf• -- What will be my bathing suit line. As I have been inspired by my passions, I hope to use my company and product to inspire others to live a happy, healthy, life, and to follow their dreams.