MEET THE KALCOM PRODUCT TEAM
(click profile pictures to learn about the participants)
Abiha HussainSoftware Engineer
Age 19・College Sophomore |
Carlos AlcalaSoftware Engineer
Age 17・High School Senior |
Megan TranSoftware Engineer
Age 18・High School Senior |
THE DEVELOPMENT JOURNEY
(click to view demo day presentations)
 September 29, 2023
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 November 3, 2023
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November 16, 2023
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November 30, 2023
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MEET THE WAYPOINT PRODUCT TEAM
(click profile pictures to learn about the participants)
Jason HuaSoftware Engineer
Age 18・College Freshman |
Peter GuanSoftware Engineer
Age 18・College Freshman |
Rena LiSoftware Engineer
Age 18・College Freshman |
THE DEVELOPMENT JOURNEY
(click to view demo day presentations)
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September 29, 2023
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November 3, 2023
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November 16, 2023
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November 30, 2023
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MEET THE GATHER PRODUCT TEAM
(click profile pictures to learn about the participants)
Arely HerreraSoftware Engineer
Age 22・College Senior |
Jessica ChenSoftware Engineer
Age 19・College Sophomore |
Joanna RodriquezSoftware Engineer
Age 20・College Junior |
Litao LiSoftware Engineer
Age 19・College Sophomore |
THE JOURNEY
(click to view demo day presentations)
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September 29, 2023
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November 3, 2023
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November 16, 2023
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November 30, 2023
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MEET THE CHIVI PRODUCT TEAM
(click profile pictures to learn about the participants)
Abraham Morales ArroyoSoftware Engineer
Age 22・College Graduate |
Rogelio LozanoSoftware Engineer
Age 21・College Sophomore |
Yaneli CervantesSoftware Engineer
Age 18・College Freshman |
THE DEVELOPMENT JOURNEY
(click to view demo day presentations)
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September 29, 2023
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November 3, 2023
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November 16, 2023
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November 30, 2023
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MEET THE COLLEGE COMPASS PRODUCT TEAM
(click profile pictures to learn about the participants)
Edita MusicSoftware Engineer
Age 20・College Junior |
Emnet GhedamuSoftware Engineer
Age 17・High School Senior |
Manahil KhanSoftware Engineer
Age 18・College Freshman |
Tristian SellersSoftware Engineer
Age 19・College Sophomore |
THE JOURNEY
(click to view demo day presentations)
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September 29, 2023
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November 3, 2023
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November 16, 2023
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November 30, 2023
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Getting to 5 Ideas
From the 90 second pitch day competition, the top five ideas were selected by participants, instructors, and guests using a standard scoring rubric. Thereafter, teams will be formed using a 'medical school' matching process.
RubricIDEA - This Idea excites me. Does the idea approach the problem in an innovative, exciting, and dynamic way?
IMPACT - I believe this idea has the potential to make big impact. FEASIBILITY - Does the idea aspire towards clear, realistic and achievable goals, while thinking big? Can it be implemented effectively? OVERALL PITCH - The presentation told a compelling story and was exciting. Download Scoring Sheet |
The Top 5 Ideas (in no particular order)
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What is your motivating factor for being in the program?
My motivation for being a part of this program is to build off of the work that I did mostly in the summer. My hope is that if I were to join the app accelerator program, I could potentially create the app that I pitched. Although it's not guaranteed that I will work on the app that I pitched, anything in the realm of healthcare is something that I'm passionate about. I have worked in the environment of a hospital, and I know how stressful and overwhelming it can be sometimes, not just for me but for everybody that's involved in the process of providing care for patients. So my goal with this program is to create something that will provide meaningful change within the healthcare industry.
Please describe your education and/or career goals.
The current specialization that I am looking into is web design and application development. I’ve always been interested in design and art from a young age, and when I entered high school and took my first computer science class, I instantly knew that my creativity could be best fostered in web and app design. As part of the Information and Technologies Bachelors program at Illinois Tech, we are encouraged to have a minor related to our field. To gain more experience in the realm of servers and protocols, I am currently minoring in computer architecture, which studies the relationship between software and hardware in computers. One of the reasons that I chose this minor is to have an understanding of a software engineer's job. Web and app developers and software engineers really have a symbiotic relationship in the sense that one is completely useless without the other.
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What is your motivating factor for being in the program?
I want to get to network with people who will help me go further in my professional career as a software developer. I also want to be able to better my coding skills but also my leadership skills, since those are two attributes that I am already good at, but I wish to improve upon. Me attending this program will help me get more experience in the field that I am interested in applying for jobs. Having this experience reflected in my resume will help me look as a good candidate in the eyes of the interviewer.
Please describe your education and/or career goals.
I have achieved my bachelors degree in Mathematics and Computer Science, in the university of Illinois. I do plan to work on returning to college in order to achieve my Masters; however, this will be once I have a stable job and one that will encourage its employees to do so. I would like to work at a ‘Big Tech’ company because it is a goal that I have had since I was in college; I have been preparing myself for the coding interviews and covering the material that applicants and employees are required to know.
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What is your motivating factor for being in the program?
I have always aimed to explore career options within my main field of interest— medicine. However, I have interests outside of medicine that I had not given the chance to explore and coding was one of them. This past summer, I decided to try something new and something that I had always been afraid to explore. I was unsure if I would be able to grasp the material and effectively apply it when my educational background consisted of minimum coding experience. Nonetheless, I did not want to pass on an opportunity where I could possibly find a new passion. I wanted to learn what coding was about and what I can create with code. I wanted to take a break from medical science, and learn more about what it means to be a coder. Even more important, I wanted to know if coding was for me.
Please describe your education and/or career goals.
For the longest time, my career goal was to become a doctor to help and serve under-resourced communities. More recently, I have re-visited my goals and have come to the conclusion that my career goals remain unchanged, except that I am working towards becoming a Physician Associate instead of doctor. However, after my experience in ECC, I have found that coding is something I enjoy doing and that I would like to keep exploring and hopefully integrate into my future career in addition to helping my community. I have been thinking of the possibility of combining these two interests—medicine and computer science—into one career. My plan for now is to continue working towards completing my Biology degree. Unfortunately, a minor in computer science is not possible at my university. Nonetheless, I don’t see this as a barrier to my exploration journey, instead, I have thought about other possible options to keep learning about my new-found passion; I intend to keep exploring on my own time and apply to outside opportunities just like one!
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What is your motivating factor for being in the program?
I've always been fascinated by making apps and coding, but was off put by how solitary it seemed. This program showed me how I can work with other people to create a greater product of our hard work combined. One of my long-term goals is to code for a big company, and this program allows me to have part of the experience early on in my career. I want to keep learning and working with the swift language, and this seems like a great opportunity to do so. One of my greatest motivations, however, is that I want to show that opportunities like these show up to people that are willing to work for it no matter their background. That being said, since this is an important opportunity, I want to put in my best effort so that I can achieve something meaningful.
Please describe your education and/or career goals.
I want to combine my motivation to help people with my work in computer science and passion for coding. To achieve this, I believe pursuing a college education in computer science and health is the right path for me. My plan involves studying programming, particularly in the relations to robotics and app development, alongside some medical studies and work to gain skills in each of the respective fields to help me prepare for my future career. I would like to work for a big company in computer science and robotics or work with code and technology in order to help people with health problems.
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What is your motivating factor for being in the program?
Initially, when I applied to the iOS Development summer program my motivation was to gain more experience with programming and software development and give myself an introduction to the field of app development. Throughout the course of the program, however, I found that I genuinely enjoyed the process of not only coding an app, but brainstorming ideas, troubleshooting issues, and coming up with the best way to sell it. I've found a true passion in app development and would love to continue to pursue this. I'm also very passionate about the concept behind the app I created this summer and if to be able to continue to develop it and get it on the App Store would be a dream. If not though, I also have a running list of other app ideas that I would love to make.
Please describe your education and/or career goals.
Currently, I am a third year Biochemistry student with minors in Communications and Bioinformatics at the Illinois Institute of Technology. My goal once I finish my Bachelor's is to get a Master's in Bioinformatics/Software Development in order to work in computational biology (i.e. using computers and programming to aid in research that use massive datasets such as genetics research). I've always loved science, and I've recently found a passion for computational science so I would love to work in a field where I can merge the two to further scientific research.
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What is your motivating factor for being in the program?
My motivating factor for being in the AI entrepreneurship program stems from my deep passion for STEM and computer science. I've always been fascinated by the incredible potential of technology to solve real-world problems and improve people's lives. This fascination naturally led me to explore artificial intelligence, which is at the forefront of technological innovation. In particular, I'm drawn to AI because it represents a powerful tool that can revolutionize various industries, including healthcare, education, and finance. I believe that AI has the potential to address complex challenges and create innovative solutions that were previously unimaginable. This excitement for the possibilities of AI is what drove me to join the program.
Please describe your education and/or career goals.
I see myself as a software engineer working on impactful projects, contributing to the advancement of technology, and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the field of computer science. My journey toward this goal begins with securing admission to a top computer science school, and I'm committed to putting in the hard work and dedication needed to make it a reality. To pursue these ambitions, I'm focused on gaining admission to a top computer science school. Attending such a school would not only provide me with a world-class education but also connect me with renowned professors and like-minded peers who share my passion for technology. It would be an invaluable opportunity to further develop my skills and knowledge.
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What is your motivating factor for being in the program?
After completing the iOS app development program and receiving the honor of being in the top 4, I wanted to learn more about app development and swift. Being in the iOS app development program allowed me to realize my passion for entrepreneurship. Being a part of a team and witnessing progress through hard work was something I found to be extremely fulfilling. In the original program, I was able to share ideas and realize that through the applications of computer science that I could help others. Being in the app accelerator program would not only allow for my ideas to be realized, it would be a chance for me to create a full product to help others. I am motivated not only in my passion for entrepreneurship but also my willingness to be a public servant and help others.
Please describe your education and/or career goals.
In the future I see myself using the applications of computer science and entrepreneurship to create technologies benefiting others through means of social impact and inclusion. I aspire to run my own startup with technologies helping shape our society to be better suited for the future and cultivate a world that fosters inclusiveness and ethical practices. My passion outside of school has been to help others. In high school I worked at my community center and I realized that I had the power through my own ideas to help others but there were clear limitations. With the applications of computer science, not only could I reach a larger audience, but my ideas to help others could be realized. I hope to break down barriers that separate communities and will seek to empower them and create software operating at the intersection of positive social change and computer science.
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What is your motivating factor for being in the program?
After the enriching experience I’ve had with the AI and Entrepreneurship program, I’d like to be part of the app accelerator program to continue applying the skills and strategies I learned this summer to bring an app idea to life, which will hopefully be useful for many people. I think the opportunity to be able to learn about the process of what goes into app making and how to actually turn it into a product available to people in the market would be really insightful and allow me to gain more of an appreciation of the details that go into making app development possible.
Please describe your education and/or career goals.
I am currently a sophomore studying Computer Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. From the classes I’ve taken so far, I’ve learned about how impressive the implementations of everyday technological processes I hadn’t thought deeply about before actually are, for example things like image processing and word autocompletion, and I'm interested in learning more about how to make concepts like these come to fruition.
In the future, I hope to use software engineering to create and improve on existing products that can be of service to others. In particular, I believe app development is great for this purpose because of its potential to reach a wide range of users through their phones.
In the future, I hope to use software engineering to create and improve on existing products that can be of service to others. In particular, I believe app development is great for this purpose because of its potential to reach a wide range of users through their phones.
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What is your motivating factor for being in the program?
My experience in the iOS App Dev program in the summer showed me a new side to coding I had not seen before. It made coding actually fun and interesting because it allowed me to be as creative as I wanted rather than doing an assignment for a grade as I have done in my computer science courses. Before joining this program, I did not really have a concrete idea for what I wanted to do after college. After the summer program, I have an interest in mobile app development which I hope for it to develop even more in the fall program.
Please describe your education and/or career goals.
I am currently studying at City Colleges of Chicago Richard Daley to get an associates degree in Computer Science. I plan to transfer to a four-year college once I complete my associates. After I finish college, I plan to get a job within the Computer Science field. Being introduced to mobile app development through this program has developed an interest in pursuing a career in mobile app development. I really enjoyed the process of creating an app prototype to solve a problem, and doing that as a job sounds really interesting.
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What is your motivating factor for being in the program?
My motivation for being in the program is to gain hands-on experience in the process of app development and to launch the app on the app store. I am a computer science major so it is important to me to be able to apply the skills and knowledge acquired in school to practical, real-world scenarios, particularly in my pursuit of making technology inclusive for all. I want to continue to expand my skill set and deepen my understanding of various software outside of what I have been learning in school. My passion extends to entrepreneurship and business management. I view this program as an important stepping stone for me to achieve my goals in business and tech. Also, while engaged in the AI + Entrepreneurship program, we did not have the time to implement code into our prototype. However, I believe in the potential of our idea. With doubled the time and resources, my team and I could significantly enhance the project, researching and adding intricate details. Thus, I am eager to continue working on that project to further develop and refine it through APP Accelerator.
Please describe your education and/or career goals.
My life goal is to be able to make technology accessible to and beneficial for all, particularly underserved communities. I always think back to my parents who are older and wish that it was easier for them to utilize the technology we have today. To achieve that goal, there are two avenues I want to explore and contribute to the world of technology: artificial intelligence and project/product management. I believe there is so much potential with artificial intelligence, and it intrigues me every day. From AI-generated animation to filters, and even code. I can only imagine how much technology can grow and improve the lives of those in underserved communities. My aspiration is to work directly with AI, fostering its development and application in diverse fields. This journey may lead me into academia, where I can engage in research and exploration. I am currently doing research on the vulnerabilities of AI-generated code and developing solutions to insecure code. I am also interested in project/product management because I love innovation and problem-solving. The dynamic nature of the tech industry, marked by perpetual innovation, excites and motivates me. I want to be at the forefront of technological advancement.
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What is your motivating factor for being in the program?
My motivating factor for being in the program is my passion and curiosity about the technology field, in addition to aiding companies to make beneficial apps. IOS app development is an extremely important career that many people should consider because the continuous growth to keep up with how much the technology is changing, is vital for the technological and business world.Furthermore, it's important for all the companies/businesses to be up to date with their consumers to help guide them to the solutions for their problems. I also want to be able to improve on my Swift skills while making an app that will be, in some way, beneficial to the world.
Please describe your education and/or career goals.
I am currently a freshman at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. I am majoring in in biomedical engineering but also will be doing a minor in something related to app development or computer science. Throughout high school, I participated in many different programs within the STEM field, for example, I was a part of Code Nation where I learned different coding languages like HTML, CSS, and Javascript from industry professionals from Grubhub and Google. Not only this, I also learned the importance of teamwork and professionalism and will be able to apply them in the App Accelerator program. I was also part of the Digital Scholars Mobile App Development program where I learned Swift which can also be beneficial to the program. In addition to that, participating in the IOS Development program over the summer enhanced my coding and teamwork skills which I hope to bring to the App Accelerator program.
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What is your motivating factor for being in the program?
At school, I often found myself coding alone for assignments, which was still enjoyable but sometimes monotonous. I became used to seeing coding as a task I had to complete rather than something that could become more than what I see on a screen. Before the summer ended, I decided to apply for Everyone Can Code's iOS app development program, which allowed me to dive headfirst into a collaborative environment. As I began to work with a group of people to create an app idea into reality, I began to understand the purpose of coding. By combining creativity and collaboration into a skill I had, I was able to meet amazing people and create a project I would have never imagined I could do previously.
Because I enjoyed the iOS app development program, I wish to continue with this collaborative coding experience. I aspire to extend my coding knowledge, especially with Swift, and build community with others who enjoy and appreciate creativity and coding. Through my Summer experience, I believe that the App Accelerator program would be able to provide an environment for me to learn and grow in such a way.
Because I enjoyed the iOS app development program, I wish to continue with this collaborative coding experience. I aspire to extend my knowledge of coding, especially with Swift, and build community with others who also enjoy and appreciate creating and coding. Through my Summer experience, I believe that the App Accelerator program would be able to provide an environment for me to learn and grow in such a way.
Because I enjoyed the iOS app development program, I wish to continue with this collaborative coding experience. I aspire to extend my coding knowledge, especially with Swift, and build community with others who enjoy and appreciate creativity and coding. Through my Summer experience, I believe that the App Accelerator program would be able to provide an environment for me to learn and grow in such a way.
Because I enjoyed the iOS app development program, I wish to continue with this collaborative coding experience. I aspire to extend my knowledge of coding, especially with Swift, and build community with others who also enjoy and appreciate creating and coding. Through my Summer experience, I believe that the App Accelerator program would be able to provide an environment for me to learn and grow in such a way.
Please describe your education and/or career goals.
I am currently a senior in high school and plan on majoring in computer science. I have always found an interest in coding, as it has always felt like a new puzzle to solve every time. Outside of coding, I am also very active with community service and civic engagement, allowing me to see what other less fortunate communities have to deal with from an inside perspective.
Within computer science, I hope to combine both interests and work more directly with people through app and website creation, as technology is an asset many people use and have become reliant on. Apps and websites are sources that people often depend on for a multitude of things, whether it is something crucial like booking tickets for an event, something for convenience like ordering food or clothes online, or even simply to find a way to kill time.
After college, I aspire to expand these functionalities toward ways to help underserved and underrepresented communities. An example of this could be an app listing physically accessible areas and facilities for those with disabilities, along with categorizing what those accessible attributes are. Although many people hope to provide resources for those with disabilities, many able-bodied people fail to realize that something accessible to one person may not be accessible to another with a different disability. Although this is just one example, I hope to provide more ideas and ways to improve the detail and care we provide for all communities through technology.
Within computer science, I hope to combine both interests and work more directly with people through app and website creation, as technology is an asset many people use and have become reliant on. Apps and websites are sources that people often depend on for a multitude of things, whether it is something crucial like booking tickets for an event, something for convenience like ordering food or clothes online, or even simply to find a way to kill time.
After college, I aspire to expand these functionalities toward ways to help underserved and underrepresented communities. An example of this could be an app listing physically accessible areas and facilities for those with disabilities, along with categorizing what those accessible attributes are. Although many people hope to provide resources for those with disabilities, many able-bodied people fail to realize that something accessible to one person may not be accessible to another with a different disability. Although this is just one example, I hope to provide more ideas and ways to improve the detail and care we provide for all communities through technology.
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What is your motivating factor for being in the program?
The main motivating factor for being in the program was to dive deeper into a field within computer science that was previously unfamiliar to me but held a strong interest. Prior to the iOS App Development program, my knowledge centered around Java and HTML, and because I pursuing a degree in Statistics and Computer Science in college, I thought it'd be a good idea to expand my skills and learn how to build an app.
I ended up enjoying the experience a lot and because of my success in becoming a Top 4 team, I was encouraged to continue with this process and eventually release a fully-functional app into the App Store. I'm also reminded of the countless number of hours and 4am nights we dedicated towards researching the code for the most complex features for our program, and though we had to pull all of the weight our 3rd group member, it was worth it in the end. Having exclusive access to the Apple workspace and talking to some of the most important people in this large tech company was an experience I'll cherish forever, and I like to think that the experience and skills I attained in those 2 days motivates me to continue developing this app for more memories as well. Ever since I completed the internship, I often think about how unexpected but incredible it'd be for an app that my teammate and I created to end up in the App Store, and if I were to be accepted into the program, I don't have to keep thinking about it because it'd become a reality.
Additionally, I see a symbiotic relationship between what I'm currently learning about in college with basic algorithms and in this program where I'll be coding an app that'll definitely include some algorithms. In contrast, I believe the concepts I'll learn in this program can also be applied or even be retaught in my future computer sciences courses in college, so it's good to have a head start on more complex algorithms I might need to code.
I ended up enjoying the experience a lot and because of my success in becoming a Top 4 team, I was encouraged to continue with this process and eventually release a fully-functional app into the App Store. I'm also reminded of the countless number of hours and 4am nights we dedicated towards researching the code for the most complex features for our program, and though we had to pull all of the weight our 3rd group member, it was worth it in the end. Having exclusive access to the Apple workspace and talking to some of the most important people in this large tech company was an experience I'll cherish forever, and I like to think that the experience and skills I attained in those 2 days motivates me to continue developing this app for more memories as well. Ever since I completed the internship, I often think about how unexpected but incredible it'd be for an app that my teammate and I created to end up in the App Store, and if I were to be accepted into the program, I don't have to keep thinking about it because it'd become a reality.
Additionally, I see a symbiotic relationship between what I'm currently learning about in college with basic algorithms and in this program where I'll be coding an app that'll definitely include some algorithms. In contrast, I believe the concepts I'll learn in this program can also be applied or even be retaught in my future computer sciences courses in college, so it's good to have a head start on more complex algorithms I might need to code.
Please describe your education and/or career goals.
As a Statistics and Computer Science major at UIUC, I plan on pursuing a career in data analysis/science, where I can search for patterns and trends through statistical analysis to enhance business operations for optimal efficiency. In the context of this specific program, I could have first-hand experience with working on features that appeal to the most people or how to maximize profits if we were to monetize this app. Besides that, another idea that comes to mind is building an app that specifically tracks the user traffic of an app based on different time periods such as by update or by week. I'd learn exactly what days, months, or seasons an app is most used, or what features boost or halt the growth of an app. Data science is a very new field full of possibilities, and I believe I could combine it with many other subjects/fields, especially one where I help society.
This is also why I plan on declaring a minor in business; by knowing how a business operates (such as a team developing an app they could monetize), I'd learn about the different strategies businesses use to maintain and attract customers and also common features that customers would want in a product, whether it be an app or something else. I believe minoring in business is a perfect add-on to my current major to accomplish my future career goals.
In 10 years, I see myself listening to a company that is considering adding different features on their app with my team, and it is up to us to analyze what features will drive the app's usage rate up or down. With the presentation and teamwork skills I've learned in the app development program, my team could piece together a Slideshow with our proposal on what features to implement or remove. At the end of the day, business is what drives our economy, but we must also consider the desires of our customers to maintain that economic side of our society; my career goal is to make sure that the wants of these two parties are as balanced as possible.
This is also why I plan on declaring a minor in business; by knowing how a business operates (such as a team developing an app they could monetize), I'd learn about the different strategies businesses use to maintain and attract customers and also common features that customers would want in a product, whether it be an app or something else. I believe minoring in business is a perfect add-on to my current major to accomplish my future career goals.
In 10 years, I see myself listening to a company that is considering adding different features on their app with my team, and it is up to us to analyze what features will drive the app's usage rate up or down. With the presentation and teamwork skills I've learned in the app development program, my team could piece together a Slideshow with our proposal on what features to implement or remove. At the end of the day, business is what drives our economy, but we must also consider the desires of our customers to maintain that economic side of our society; my career goal is to make sure that the wants of these two parties are as balanced as possible.
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What is your motivating factor for being in the program?
Being a part of the process of developing a prototype for our appointment app was great. I want to take it a step further and really learn how to bring an app to life. I want to learn the nuances of getting an app to function, learning how to develop an app through coding, and learning how to bring my app into the market. I think having the actual experience of working in a team and collaborating on an app gives me valuable insight and experiences on the real-life experiences of working in a company/startup.
Please describe your education and/or career goals.
I am currently a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania studying computer science and hopefully minoring in engineering entrepreneurship and statistics at Wharton. I have experience in coding with Java, Python, OCaml, and HTML. In the future, I hope to become a software engineer. I also hope to potentially be the founder of my own technology startup. Great communication and collaboration are needed for success in projects and jobs. With support from this experience, I can develop these skills further. In the future, I also hope to turn imagination into reality by addressing issues in my community using computer science.
This is also why I plan on declaring a minor in business; by knowing how a business operates (such as a team developing an app they could monetize), I'd learn about the different strategies businesses use to maintain and attract customers and also common features that customers would want in a product, whether it be an app or something else. I believe minoring in business is a perfect add-on to my current major to accomplish my future career goals.
In 10 years, I see myself listening to a company that is considering adding different features on their app with my team, and it is up to us to analyze what features will drive the app's usage rate up or down. With the presentation and teamwork skills I've learned in the app development program, my team could piece together a Slideshow with our proposal on what features to implement or remove. At the end of the day, business is what drives our economy, but we must also consider the desires of our customers to maintain that economic side of our society; my career goal is to make sure that the wants of these two parties are as balanced as possible.
This is also why I plan on declaring a minor in business; by knowing how a business operates (such as a team developing an app they could monetize), I'd learn about the different strategies businesses use to maintain and attract customers and also common features that customers would want in a product, whether it be an app or something else. I believe minoring in business is a perfect add-on to my current major to accomplish my future career goals.
In 10 years, I see myself listening to a company that is considering adding different features on their app with my team, and it is up to us to analyze what features will drive the app's usage rate up or down. With the presentation and teamwork skills I've learned in the app development program, my team could piece together a Slideshow with our proposal on what features to implement or remove. At the end of the day, business is what drives our economy, but we must also consider the desires of our customers to maintain that economic side of our society; my career goal is to make sure that the wants of these two parties are as balanced as possible.
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What is your motivating factor for being in the program?
My motivation for being in this program is to bring a real idea to life. From AI + Entrepreneurship, my team and I learned the passion that one builds when creating a product that they truly believe in. I would love to bring my idea of CTA EXPLORE to reality and create what no one has ever created correctly. As a student and Chicagoan who has taken the CTA train every day for high school, I know that the CTA has never had an app that brings people together. I see a future for this concept. However, I am also excited to be a part of the App Accelerator to immerse myself in app development. As a Computer Science major with a passion for coding, I would love to learn about Xcode, a programming language that I have never interacted with before. This would be a great opportunity for me to learn more programming while also sharing my knowledge of AI + Entrepreneurship with others.
Please describe your education and/or career goals.
I am a sophomore at the University of Illinois at Chicago majoring in Computer Science with a concentration in Software Engineering. My interest in Computer Science roots from a young age, first being fascinated by people who could hack. As I grew up, I learned that I wanted to learn to “code,” but I had no idea what programming actually looked like. I tried teaching myself but became easily frustrated and thought it was too difficult, so I put it aside for years. My big break was when I entered a program called Code Nation where I learned web development. It wasn’t long before I started learning more programming languages such as Java and Python. Now as a sophomore in college, I have learned Python, C++, and C. I am proud to say that the little boy who once was curious about code would be proud of how far he has come. As for my career goals, I find working with Artificial Intelligence interesting and would like to explore more opportunities in this field.
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What is your motivating factor for being in the program?
I am a college student who was newly introduced to the tech industry and, I love it but it is a very competitive field. Thus, the iOS App Development Team I was on last summer was the first and only opportunity I have received although I applied for hundreds. I believe my talents will speak for themselves upon being given a chance to learn. Thus, I would love to showcase my talents further with you all given my first opportunity and the chance to put them on display to the best of my honed ability.
Please describe your education and/or career goals.
I am a 19-year-old sophomore at the Xavier University of Louisiana, the HBCU. My major is computer science and I will graduate in May 2026. Since, entering school I have been fascinated with the vastness of the tech space and how far it goes. As an avid dreamer, it amazes and overwhelms me how many opportunities there are in so many different fields and how I should prepare to enter the workforce. With that being said, after seeing how far the tech industry goes, my current goal is to fine-tune my technical skills and personal skills to become the best coder, interviewee, and person I can possibly be.
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What is your motivating factor for being in the program?
From ninth grade to now, applications like Premiere Pro, Photoshop, and After Effects had me exploring a dimension in which I had the tools to build to my imagination content. It started to grow during the pandemic when remote learning began. My Digital Imaging class provided me with free access to Adobe Creative Cloud to work on digital projects from creating GIFs in Photoshop to creating my first video project in Premiere Pro. Having those applications on my personal laptop allowed me to explore, experiment, and create. As my passion for editing increased, I invested more time in projects. I created a stop motion advertisement for a Chancla Shooter, which is a made-up product that shoots chanclas. The stop motion consisted of play-doh-made figures, a hand-drawn design of the Chancla Shooter machine, paper clips as decorations, and other materials that I could find at home.
Soon, I started to wonder more about what goes behind the scenes of those editing applications. I started to explore computer science, learning computer languages like Python and HTML. As a novice, I started by being able to print my name in the terminal to then be able to create loops with lists. I wanted to explore how software programs are made and how I can create them. The idea of being able to be creative and using technology to do so motivates me to want to learn more programming languages and advance that knowledge. I learned Swift and through this program I wish to expand my knowledge on this programming knowledge and give back to my community. The whole reason I am majoring in computer science is to help minority communities, such as my neighborhood, Pilsen. I want to create applications and software that will help solve issues in those communities.
Soon, I started to wonder more about what goes behind the scenes of those editing applications. I started to explore computer science, learning computer languages like Python and HTML. As a novice, I started by being able to print my name in the terminal to then be able to create loops with lists. I wanted to explore how software programs are made and how I can create them. The idea of being able to be creative and using technology to do so motivates me to want to learn more programming languages and advance that knowledge. I learned Swift and through this program I wish to expand my knowledge on this programming knowledge and give back to my community. The whole reason I am majoring in computer science is to help minority communities, such as my neighborhood, Pilsen. I want to create applications and software that will help solve issues in those communities.
Please describe your education and/or career goals.
Computer Science with a concentration in software engineering allows me to free myself and learn skills I would use to help create a better world. I would gain skills that would allow me to create applications for the sake of creativity or to prove issues in communities through informational processing techniques. I am part of a community that little by little it’s being taken away from me. Here in Pilsen, our air quality is ten times worse than any other neighborhood in Illinois. As if that weren’t enough, recently the property tax increased more than forty percent compared to other neighborhoods. It is making living in Pilsen unaffordable to the minority community, like my family. I plan to create software that would allow people to express and expand their voices and make it easier for people to know more about issues that are happening no matter the size and location. As well as create applications that will address issues in those communities. Having skills like programming, designing, and other computer science skills would drive me as a Mexican woman in a mostly men's career to use my knowledge to help communities and minorities in every single way. As well, I will want to mentor other girls or women pursuing a degree in computer science or have interest in gaining experience in that workforce.
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What is your motivating factor for being in the program?
The experience I'd be able to gain from this programming would allow me to explore other roles within the tech industry that I’m interested in. Besides software engineering, I’m interested in product management as well. To my understanding, product management is being able to work with multiple teams such as the business teams and technical teams to ensure a product is on its way to being successful and to being finished. Product management is basically the driver behind a product to ensure its realization and that it fulfills the needs of its users. This program will give me the opportunity to be on both the business side as well as the technical side of a product that will be used by real people. I’ll be able to gain first hand experience driving the success of a product and working with people with different opinions and skills. I’ll work on my ability to mediate between differing opinions and find ways to compromise as well as learn to be firm in my stance on a decision.
Please describe your education and/or career goals.
My educational goals are to graduate with a degree in computer science by 2026. As of now, I haven’t decided if I want to pursue a masters degree, however, I’m still keeping that option open. I’m still open to exploring more roles within the tech industry, however, I am leaning towards becoming either a software engineer or a product manager. I’d like to gain experience working at both a big tech company as well as a start up. I believe working at a startup will allow me to grow the most as either a software engineer or a product manager as the fast pace in addition being able to contribute significantly to a product will allow me to gain important skills or sharpen my skills that will undoubtedly be necessary in my career. In a big tech company, since the pace of work will be slower compared to a startup, I’d be able to gain mentorship early on in my career and solidify my skills.