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Spring Idea Challenge | UMass Lowell
<!DOCTYPE html> <html class="no-js " lang="en"> <head> <title>Spring Idea Challenge | UMass Lowell</title> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge"> <meta name="viewport" content="minimal-ui, width=device-width,initial-scale=1, viewport-fit=cover"> <link href="https://www.uml.edu/differencemaker/idea-challenge/" rel="canonical" /> <link href="https://static.uml.edu/www/template/v7/build/main.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <link href="https://static.uml.edu/www/template/v7/build/print.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="print" /> <script type="text/javascript"> document.documentElement.classList.remove('no-js'); document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); window.publicPath = "https://static.uml.edu/www/template/v7/" window.ICON_PATH = "https://static.uml.edu/www/icons/"; </script> <script src="https://static.uml.edu/www/template/v7/build/main.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <meta property="og:title" name="twitter:title" 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</li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="l-page__sidebar l-page__sidebar--priority"> <!-- Start Region: { title: "Sidebar Higher Priority" } --> <div class="comp-cta comp-cta--count-1"> <div class="comp-cta__items"> <ul> <li> <div class="comp-cta__item"> <a href="https://www.uml.edu/DifferenceMaker/Forms/DifferenceMaker-Event-Registration.aspx" class="button primary" title="Attend An Event" aria-label="Attend An Event" target="_self" data-wt="list"> Attend An Event </a> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="comp-event-item-list comp-event-item-list--count-4 comp-event-item-list--layout-default" data-group="362849"> <div class="comp-header"> <div class="comp-header__content"> <h2 id="events">Events</h2> </div> <div class="comp-header__more"> <a href="/calendar/events?department=DifferenceMakers" title="More Events" aria-label="More Events"> More Events <uml-icon class="comp-header__more__icon" name="arrow-right-1"></uml-icon> </a> </div> </div> <div class="comp-event-item-list__items"> <ul> <li> <article class="comp-event-item comp-event-item-list__item"> <div class="comp-event-item__date"> <div aria-hidden="true" class="comp-event-item__date__month">Mar</div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="comp-event-item__date__day">20</div> </div> <div class="comp-event-item__text"> <h1 id="differencemaker-workshop-4"> <a href="/calendar/events/45999593">DifferenceMaker Workshop 4</a> </h1> <footer> <span aria-hidden="true">5:00 PM</span> <time class="visually-hidden">Thursday, March 20, 2025 5:00 PM</time> </footer> </div> </article> </li> <li> <article class="comp-event-item comp-event-item-list__item"> <div class="comp-event-item__date"> <div aria-hidden="true" class="comp-event-item__date__month">Mar</div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="comp-event-item__date__day">27</div> </div> <div class="comp-event-item__text"> <h1 id="deliverables-for-preliminaries-due"> <a href="/calendar/events/46369389">Deliverables for preliminaries due.</a> </h1> <footer> <span aria-hidden="true">5:00 PM</span> <time class="visually-hidden">Thursday, March 27, 2025 5:00 PM</time> </footer> </div> </article> </li> <li> <article class="comp-event-item comp-event-item-list__item"> <div class="comp-event-item__date"> <div aria-hidden="true" class="comp-event-item__date__month">Mar</div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="comp-event-item__date__day">27</div> </div> <div class="comp-event-item__text"> <h1 id="revised-idea-plans-due"> <a href="/calendar/events/46646729">Revised Idea Plans Due</a> </h1> <footer> <span aria-hidden="true">5:00 PM</span> <time class="visually-hidden">Thursday, March 27, 2025 5:00 PM</time> </footer> </div> </article> </li> <li> <article class="comp-event-item comp-event-item-list__item"> <div class="comp-event-item__date"> <div aria-hidden="true" class="comp-event-item__date__month">Apr</div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="comp-event-item__date__day">02</div> </div> <div class="comp-event-item__text"> <h1 id="differencemaker-preliminary-pitch-off"> <a href="/calendar/events/46368084">DifferenceMaker Preliminary Pitch-off</a> </h1> <footer> <span aria-hidden="true">5:00 PM</span> <time class="visually-hidden">Wednesday, April 2, 2025 5:00 PM</time> </footer> </div> </article> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="l-page__main"> <div class="comp-main-content comp-main-content--count-3 comp-main-content--layout-content" data-group="087484"> <div class="comp-main-content__sections"> <div class="comp-main-content__section"> <div class="comp-main-content__section__content"> <div class="comp-main-content__section__content-inside"> <p><a title="applink" target="_blank" class="primary-button" href="/differencemaker/idea-challenge/application.aspx">DifferenceMaker<sup>TM</sup> $50K Idea Challenge Online Registration</a></p><p><a title="Final Awards" class="button" href="/differencemaker/idea-challenge/final-awards.aspx">View Past Finalists!</a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="comp-main-content__section"> <div class="comp-media-item comp-media-item--type-image comp-main-content__section__media comp-main-content__section__media--position-right"> <figure> <div> <div class="image" data-focus="top"> <img src="/Images/Foley-and-Lardner-LLP-logo-800-opt_tcm18-268667.png?w=l" alt="Foley & Lardner LLP Logo." /> </div> </div> </figure> </div> <div class="comp-main-content__section__content"> <div class="comp-main-content__section__content-inside"> <h2 id="thank-you-to-our-2024-corporate-sponsor">Thank You To Our 2024 Corporate Sponsor</h2><ul><li><a href="https://www.foley.com/" title="https://www.foley.com/" target="_blank">Foley and Lardner LLP</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="comp-main-content__section"> <div class="comp-main-content__section__content"> <div class="comp-main-content__section__content-inside"> <h3 id="spring-2025-50k-idea-challenge-information">Spring 2025 $50K Idea Challenge Information</h3><p>The DifferenceMaker Idea Challenge engages University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML) students in creative and innovative problem-solving. Student teams develop real solutions to real problems found in their personal lives, on campus, in the community, nation, or the world, creating a positive impact. Solutions can be a needed service, product, UML student club, non-profit, social impact, or business addressing challenges in areas such as education, environment, health care, support for the arts, cyber security, regional unemployment, and others.</p><p>If you have creative and innovative ideas to address these types of problems, consider entering the Idea Challenge and forming a team with students from different majors on campus to further explore and refine the solution. Student teams receive guidance and coaching in refining their concept and presentation.</p><p>Finalist teams receive part of $50,000 (35,000 of funding toward your idea and are eligible to apply for one of three $5,000 in-kind legal services prizes sponsored by Foley and Lardner) and attend summer Boot Camp to learn more about customer discovery and business models.</p><h3 id="idea-challenge-kick-off-and-idea-hack">Idea Challenge Kick-Off and Idea Hack.</h3><ul><li><strong>February 3, 5 - 6:30 p.m.</strong></li><li>Location: <a href="https://www.uml.edu/maps/markers/31d083e9-013d-4eb7-ac4a-295c4e26d39e" title="Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center Location">Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center</a>, Perry Atrium, North Campus - 40 University Ave., Lowell, MA</li><li>Learn more about the DifferenceMaker Idea Challenge and some of our current student projects.</li><li>Meet and network with other students, faculty and staff to: <ul><li>Share your ideas with each other.</li><li>Brainstorm and collaborate</li><li>Find potential teammates and mentors.</li></ul></li></ul><p><a title="Register to attend the Kick-off event." target="_blank" class="primary-button" href="/differencemaker/forms/differencemaker-event-registration.aspx">Register for the 2025 Idea Challenge Kick-Off and Idea Hack</a></p><h3 id="south-campus-weekly-pop-up">South Campus Weekly Pop Up</h3><ul><li>South Campus - Wednesdays: 10 a.m. - Noon in <a href="https://www.uml.edu/maps/categories/buildings/markers/b968a503-18f3-4fe6-8cd8-2bdf9b453b3d" title="O'Leary Libray Map Link">O'Leary Library</a> Lobby</li></ul><h3 id="differencemaker-information">DifferenceMaker Information</h3><ul><li>North Campus – Stop by our location next to Starbucks in the <a href="https://www.uml.edu/maps/categories/buildings/markers/49a132e2-1eb7-4557-b7da-aa9c47e35a21" title="Lydon Library map link" target="_blank">Lydon Library</a></li><li>Email questions or schedule an appointment - <a href="mailto:DifferenceMaker@uml.edu">DifferenceMaker@uml.edu</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="comp-main-content comp-main-content--count-1 comp-main-content--layout-content" data-group="0377758"> <div class="comp-main-content__sections"> <div class="comp-main-content__section"> <div class="comp-main-content__section__content"> <div class="comp-main-content__section__content-inside"> <h3 id="questions">Questions</h3> <p>If you have any questions, please email: <a href="mailto:DifferenceMaker@uml.edu">DifferenceMaker@uml.edu</a>.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="l-page__sidebar"> <div class="l-aside l-aside--primary"> <!-- Start Region: { title: "Sidebar Lower Priority" } --> </div> </div> </main> <div class="l-supplemental-content"> <div class="comp-link-item-list comp-link-item-list--count-4 comp-link-item-list--layout-featured"> <div class="comp-header "> <div class="comp-header__content "> <h2 id="quick-links">Quick Links</h2> 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