Digital startup laboratory in action!

11:15, April 24, 2023

Students of the "International Economics and Business" developed digital startup projects

4th year students of the program "International Economics and Business" of GSEM UrFU took part in a unique educational project Startup Laboratory, in which the guys immersed themselves in the process of creating their own entrepreneurial project.

 

Within three months, students generated creative ideas, conducted market and business environment analysis, built a business model, developed strategies for attracting investors, and some teams managed to develop an mvp and test a product prototype.

 

This project was supervised by: Anait Petrosyan, graduate of the program, investment analyst at the venture consulting company Angel Invests, where she evaluates the investment attractiveness of startups for venture funds, syndicates and investors; ‪Ibrahim Alnafrah, Ph.D., researcher at UrFU, whose research interests are related to innovation management, blockchain technology and the application of machine learning in the economy; Yana Lopatkova, senior lecturer, used practical examples to work with students on strategic analysis tools for developing a value proposition and creating a competitive development strategy in the market.

 

At the final project defense, students presented 17 startup projects, such as: a health tracker ring using blockchain technology, an app for gamified education of children, an AI-based mobile application for selecting clothes according to specified parameters, an electronic platform for uniting manufacturers, sellers and buyers, creative art platform with crypto wallet and NFT integration and much more.

 

“I was lucky to immerse myself in student life again, but already as a teacher. This experience was valuable and useful, as well as exciting due to the activity, initiative and creative projects of students. I am very pleased with the high level of project development. Startups were developed and presented as professional ones, which are presented to investors at competitions and in the process of attracting investments. I was also impressed by the depth of analytics, the relevance of solutions and a serious approach to the design and presentation of startups. I wish the students to successfully implement their ideas and achieve their goals!” Anait Petrosyan shared.

 

“Recently, fourth-year students presented their most innovative ideas that can be implemented in the form of start-up projects. Student projects focus mainly on the introduction of advanced digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and augmented reality in several industries, including the creative economy, sports and marketing. Each team presented new and innovative ways of delivering services, each based on the concept of digital transformation in the business world. Based on the results of the defense of startup projects, the best teams with sound evidence of the concept of digital transformation were selected to participate in the I International Youth Summit of Tech Brokers, Inventors and Rationalizers in St. Petersburg. It is a great honor for me to give these young innovators the opportunity to show their projects to outstanding Russian and international businessmen, experts and politicians,” said Ibrahim Alnafrah.