Andy Leonard, a 2013 University of Mary Washington graduate, is one step closer to making his mobile application idea a reality after winning first place at Startup Weekend Fredericksburg.
During the weekend-long event, Leonard led a team to present CampusIDeas, an app that enables users to store and access their college IDs on their smart phones or other devices. The win is the second one for the app formerly called Campus Connect, which also took first place at the UMW Eagle Start-Up Challenge.
“We want to bring our app to the local college campuses. That is the first step of many,” said Leonard who is already talking with businesses about partnerships around Germanna Community College where the event took place.
The idea, which he hopes will someday spread nationwide, is that students will use the app for instant ID access and businesses can then use the app to advertise their services.
The CampusIDeas team is now automatically accepted into the FredXchange Startup Accelerator and the Made in FredVA “Shark Tank”-style business plan competition Oct. 24 and can enroll in a free eCornell University online course.
Leonard plans to begin a Master of Business program in the fall, but, in the meantime, he is happy to be pursuing a startup business as an entrepreneur.
