Four 2020 Big Idea finalists presented their venture ideas in late February at CC’s Big Idea competition, now in its eighth year. Receiving $7,500 in seed funding to continue to develop their ideas were:

Noah Weeks ’20, Benedict Wright ’20, and Kobi Bhattacharyya ’20 for Journalista, a community marketplace connecting journalists directly with readers in order to promote the ideals of robust local reporting and ethical journalism.

Lauren Weiss ’21, Melissa LaFehr ’20, Sara Hanahan ’21, and Maddi Schink ’23 for Geek Girl, which works to close the gender gap in technology by identifying young girls who have taken an interest in computer science and providing them with mentorship opportunities to maintain their enthusiasm for technology.

Tony Mastromarino ’23, Saigopal Rangaraj ’23, and James Dollard ’22 for MemorMe, an app based upon the premise that objects are often homes for our memories and feelings. This app uses psychological association to ensure that memories outlive their physical shells by providing them with a new digital home.

Prakhar Gautam ’20, Paul Price ’20, Cameron MacDonald ’20, Tian Lee ’20, and Pietro Giacomin ’20 for Infinite Chemistry, software that allows users to import molecules from any online chemical database and manipulate them in virtual reality, providing an opportunity to get data on the molecules’ symmetry and observe molecules interacting and reacting in real time.

CC’s Big Idea competition, part of Creativity & Innovation at Colorado College, invites groups of students to develop new, innovative ideas and pitch their proposals in front of local investors for seed funding in a traditional business-pitch format. This year saw a new format, with student teams competing before a panel of judges in the semifinal round for four spots in the final event.