The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
West Chester University’s Social Innovation Competition will return
WEST CHESTER » An adjunct faculty member in marketing at West Chester University was chosen as the winner in the university’s first-ever Social Innovation Competition. Tom Elmer’s Caring App addresses mental health — specifically suicide and depression — and is targeted to the 1824 age group.
A crowd of about 70 gathered at the West Chester University Alumni and Foundation Center Nov. 16 to hear from five finalists chosen to present their business ideas that were focused on addressing social issues.
The finalists represented the West Chester University community, and included undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, and faculty and staff, vying for a total prize valued at $5,000.
The purpose of the Caring App, according to Elmer, is to provide a tool for people to send messages of support to people that may be struggling — to let them know someone cares about them.
“The app is a tool to communicate with people that are depressed,” he said, adding that he wants to make it easier to reach out. “What we’ll be sharing are things therapists have used.”
In addition to being able to send messages, the app will include information about understanding suicide and depression, as well as geotags highlighting locations of mental health centers.
Elmer said he knows he can’t save everyone, but wants the app to “be a tool in the fight.”
Elmer will soon be launching an effort to raise funds for further development of the app. He said it will take about $250,000. More details about the effort are expected in the next couple of weeks.
Second place was won by Roasting Composting, presented by West Chester undergraduate student Kylie Trankle.
Third place was won by Music Service Learning, a service that matches music education students with middle and high school students for virtual music lessons, presented by Dr. Marci Major (WCU Faculty), Lauren
Ryals (WCU Adjunct Faculty), Spence Camacho (WCU Alumni), and Adam Gumble.
Fourth place was won by AllIn-One Tactical Urbanism Platform, presented by Alden Ritchey, a West Chester University undergraduate student.
Fifth place was won by Fischer’s General Store, presented by West Chester University undergraduate student Lorraine Fischer.
The Social Innovation Competition was a “great success,” according to Patricia Diggin, director, Cottrell Entrepreneurial Leadership Center at West Chester University the event organizers, and will be held again next year.
She said the event was a “powerful” collaboration hosted by the Dr. Edwin Cottrell Entrepreneurial Leadership Center, the West Chest University Center for Civic Engagement and Social Impact, West Chester University Sustainability and Principle for Responsible Management Education.
Diggin said there are so many social issues that are “personal to college populations,” and the Social Innovation competition presented an opportunity to hear about issues and how people are addressing them.
Keynote speaker at the event was Nick Bayer, CEO of Saxby’s. Emily Yates Giulioni, director of Smart City in Philadelphia moderated the co petition.
West Chester University also hosts the WCU Business Idea Competition each year. Diggin said applications for the tenth annual competition, which will be held April 14, 2022, are now being accepted and must be submitted by April 7.
As in past years, there are four tracks to the Business Idea Competition, including a Chester County Startup Track.
Information about the Business Idea Competition can be accessed at www.wcubizideas.com
To learn more at The Cottrell Entrepreneurship Center visit www.wcupa.edu/cottrellcenter