Startup Camp seeks new tech ideas from college entrepreneurs

The distance between an idea and its realization is not as far as one might think.

Educational institutions such as IU are the birthplace for many newborn tech ideas, and Silicon Valley-based Plug and Play Tech Center offers a venue for those ideas to develop into full-fledged companies.

Plug and Play is a community of 280 entrepreneurial technology companies. Last month, the organization launched Startup Camp, a three-month program designed to give entrepreneurs a chance to pursue their ideas, and is looking for tech ideas from students across all college campuses.

Shobeir Shobeiri, business relationship director and director of Startup Camp, said the camp is a great opportunity for entrepreneurial-minded students at IU.

“We have officially structured a program for ideas and concepts out of a university,” he said.

Shobeiri’s advice for students is to make the most of the partnership that IU and Plug and Play has developed. He said students should also consider a referral through Dr. Donald F. Kuratko, executive director of the Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at IU and the liaison between IU and the company.

Plug and Play has served an important role in many tech startups including the online dating site Zoosk, the Twitter video upload site TwitVid and online advertising platform isocket, which was developed by two former IU students.

John Ramey and Evan Hareras dropped out of the Kelley School of Business in 2008 to found isocket, in which Plug and Play played an important role.

“We didn’t know anybody when we headed to California, we just packed our car and left. Plug and Play ended up being great for connections in the industry,” Ramey said.

According to Shobeiri, before a student can get involved with the Startup Camp, one must apply online and provide an executive summary of what they hope to accomplish. Following the application, the applicant completes a phone interview with Shobeiri. If chosen, the idea is then sent to the investment team at Plug and Play for further evaluation.

The best part is there is no deadline and students can apply whenever they want.

Shobeiri hopes to incorporate 10 new startups into the Startup Camp this year and said that Plug and Play’s positive track record is an incentive for entrepreneurs to make the most of the corporation’s resources.

Once a company is chosen, the people involved are expected to move to Silicon Valley for a minimum of three months to participate in their program. Fergus Hurley, another entrepreneur who worked with Plug and Play to develop his photo-sharing program Clixtr, said the environment at Plug and Play’s office is “irreplaceable.” For Hurley, the connections at Plug and Play were crucial in the development of his company.

“Everyone there is interested in startups and you’re surrounded by experienced people who offer great motivation,” he said. “You can’t get that sort of advice in many places.”