Three Strathclyde Business School students are through to the UK leg of Microsoft's Imagine Cup thanks to an app they have created.
Third year students Robert Jamieson (Business Economics and Business Enterprise), Lewis Howell (International Business with Modern Languages and Business Enterprise) and Ross Henderson (Marketing and Business Enterprise) came up with the idea as part of their second year Business Enterprise class, "Creativity and Opportunity Recognition". They have since worked on the idea and pitched it at the Scottish level of the competition – which they won - and have now also made it successfully to the UK National final on March 31 in London, going forward as finalists in the World Citizenship category.
The Imagine Cup is Microsoft's premier student technology competition and if the team get through the UK final, they will attend the World Semi-Finals in May and the world finals in July. The overall winners receive the Imagine Cup trophy and US$50,000.
Robert explained, "We were put forward to the Enterprise Hub team by Craig Taylor from Cojengo as ideal contestants for the Pitch Night. We prepared a pitch and presented it to the judging panel which included the head of Microsoft Scotland Chris Forrest, and were delighted to win it."
Their idea is for an app called Lifeline which will help first aiders with responses to medical emergencies. Robert explained, "Lifeline is poised to help relieve the building pressure on the UK's emergency services. The product utilises both software and hardware elements to crowdsource care, connecting vulnerable individuals to qualified care, quickly and efficiently in emergency situations. Lifeline can socially empower communities to save lives and foster independence in at-risk members of society."