Purdue University Northwest marketing students Kristin Augustyne and Rada Tanasijevic have an idea that could alert motorists a motorcycle is close to their vehicle.
The two college of business students represented Purdue Northwest in the National Student Startup Madness Competition—a nationwide competition for college student-led digital media startups.
Augustyne and Tanasijevic’s project, called “Sound Cycle,” recently advanced to the national round of 32 but did not advance to the “Entrepreneurial Eight” national finals, which will be held at the South By Southwest Interactive March 8-17 in Austin, Texas. Those advancing to the final eight will have the opportunity to pitch their ideas to business and investment leaders who can help them on the road to innovative success.
While the students did not advance to the round of eight, Matt Hanson, clinical assistant professor of marketing in PNW’s College of Business, was proud of the students' performance.
“As soon as I heard their idea for Sound Cycle, I knew they had a winner,” said Matt Hanson, clinical assistant professor of marketing in PNW’s College of Business and the team’s faculty advisor. “Both students have a personal connection to motorcycle safety, and the technology they proposed was a simple solution that could save potentially thousands of lives.”
Sound Cycle uses sonar-sensing technology in vehicles to detect the distinct sound wave of a running motorcycle engine, then alerts the driver of a nearby motorcycle.
Hanson said the national competition gives college students the opportunity to identify a need in the marketplace, form a viable solution, and translate it into a viable startup business with real-world, positive impact.
Augustyne and Tanasijevic competed against teams from institutions including University of Illinois, Notre Dame, Cornell, Syracuse, Tufts, University of Chicago, the University of Michigan and Michigan State University.
