S&T College Students Start Successful Company in Middle of Recession

Rolla, Missouri [11/24/09] - After a strong pitch to the Small Business Technology Development Center on the Missouri S&T campus, three entrepreneurial students started the Interdisciplinary Design Collaborative (IDC) in the fall of 2008. Working with the SBTDC, then Juniors Michael Orlando, RJ Miller and Colby Hall developed the business and structured it around untapped University talent. "I was skeptical at first," said Barry White, Director of the SBTDC, "we see students every week that are looking to start their own business, but these guys are classic overachievers and they proved they would make it happen." IDC has not only survived the economic downturn, the turmoil of student activities and several false starts while pursuing various technology grants, but have come back swinging and have hit with success.

IDC's business model relies on the technological talents of students at Missouri S&T that are looking for real world industry experience while still attending school. Students with specific skills are subcontracted by IDC and rely on IDC's collective business acumen to capitalize on their technical prowess. Started in 2008, IDC has since launched a video production operation winning multiple significant contracts, carved into Apple’s iPhone App market, and won multiple government R&D grants to advance cutting edge technology in a variety of sectors. The organization is run under the principle that great design breeds great products, and great products are loved by all. Their initial iPhone App release, "barcodescan", is proving to be a winner.

The App uses advanced imaging software and the iPhone's camera to capture and generate relevant information based upon a barcode. For those without a camera in their device, the App allows users to type in the barcode numbers. Information returned includes images, reviews, price range, links to popular retailers, and more. Users can even save searches into a custom lists, which can then be shared with friends. The App has been available since May and has already been downloaded over 250,000 times. More importantly, the App is generating daily profits to IDC far beyond their expectations. All one has to do is show the screen to the store's manager and let the phone negotiate for you!

IDC is not limited iPhone apps. IDC has written several government research grants ranging from energy efficiency to complex databases and has won over $20,000 in Missouri State grants. During the summer, IDC competed for and won a contract for video production for the Missouri Federal and State Technology (MoFAST) group as part of MU Extension, with a follow on contract for 2010. IDC is working on several different projects and is always on the lookout for the next big idea. IDC takes an active role on the S&T campus, searching for opportunities to collaborate with campus resources to bring new products onto the open market.

Since the launch of barcodescan, IDC has learned a great deal about how to work with Apple and understand the seemingly constantly evolving rules which Apple imposes upon its developers. Per Orlando, "Using the App store as a distribution method has changed the way we look at building mobile software. The best thing about it is that Apple has designed the process so it all comes down to the quality of the App. I f you make a great App, you make lots of money. No tricks about it." -------------- For owners of iPhones, Apps are just part of owning the phone, but finding a winner in the 85,500+ Apps out there can be a challenge.

IDC has proven that even in a bad economy start-up companies can persevere. Started with the intent to provide high quality jobs to current students and become a significant resume booster, IDC has met it's goal and is beginning to look further into the long-term. Finding students that have the time to dedicate to both school and a job can be tricky, but IDC looks for the top 10% of performers. If a student is ready to apply themselves in a real-world scenario where the real rules apply and there are no safety nets, then they'll feel at home working for IDC. Not only will they have a job while in school, if they apply themselves hard enough, they'll have jobs when they graduate as well.

Contact:

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636.221.1345

www.barcodscanapp.com

www.idesignco.org

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