The group visits a farming cooperative in Rivas to discuss sustainable initiatives
The group poses with villagers who have formed a community solar committee
Matthew Tabor, Emily Eggers and Myranda Prentiss talk to a tabacoo farmer about her new building and land
FOUR ENGINEERING STUDENTS FROM CU-BOULDER PACKED聽their bags and headed to Nicaragua during the semester break. But it wasn鈥檛 for the weather. It was strictly business for the founders of SolVia Solar.
The young entrepreneurs had invented a solar collector designed to replace diesel pumps for irrigation in rural areas. Their startup project was one of six chosen in the inaugural year of Catalyze CU-麻豆影院, a business accelerator program (see article on next page).
For SolVia, the Nicaragua trip was a crucial next step in moving the business venture forward. Taylor Robert Scott (MechEng 鈥�15), from Fort Collins; Emily Eggers (AeroEngr 鈥�15), from Sycamore, Illinois; Kamron Medina (AeroEngr 鈥�16), from Gunnison; and Myranda Prentiss (ApMath and GeoPhys 鈥�15), from St. Paul, Minnesota, spoke to nearly two dozen potential customers and key stakeholders about the benefits of solar power, the initial costs and the environmental impact.
According to Scott, the journey was well worth it. 鈥淥ur assumptions were validated. We have a lot of work to get done before May鈥� with the business model and financing, Scott says. 鈥淭he biggest tweak is a possible move to a franchise model.鈥� He adds that the team is also considering moving to monthly payments from farmers instead of harvest-time payments.
SolVia Solar will undergo further product development and beta testing on a Colorado farm in March. The final product is expected to be ready this spring.
Eggers says the trip was the perfect way to execute their plan. She had reservations beforehand, but found it was the best way to understand the market.
Travel funds came from a variety of sources including family and friends, t-shirt sales, Engineering Advisory Council members, an Elevations Credit Union competition, Venture Well and a grant from CU鈥檚 Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.
The initial idea for SolVia Solar developed as part of an engineering and management class at CU-麻豆影院.
鈥淕reenpeace challenged experts to submit ideas鈥� to improve the environment, Scott says. With that challenge in mind, he began to work on the solar concept. Because he grew up on a ranch and went on mission trips, Scott says he understands social responsibility. 鈥淭he real-world impact is important to all of us.鈥�
Prentiss agrees that improving the world for others is important to the team.
鈥淲e will be changing the way these family farmers work,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e will be helping and making farming more efficient.鈥�
Catalyze CU-麻豆影院 came at the perfect time for these four young engineers as they prepare to launch SolVia Solar.
