Create your own path. Be the driver of your future career. Combine your passion for creativity or desire to create change with your work in the classroom. Inspire others with your creative work or solutions to real world problems.

What are entrepreneurial and creative endeavors?

Students learn to set their own course by having experiences in early stage start-ups, advancing ideas to solve real world problems, or create artistic, written or performance-based projects. 

DifferenceMakers By the Numbers

  • $5M
    raised by teams
  • 40
    companies formed by teams
  • 11
    Number of teams patents filed or issued

Meet the DifferenceMakers

Justin Marcouillier looking at a face mask, Siddhant Iyer posing with the blue Rist Campus Wide DifferenceMaker trophy, and Pranav Ramaswamy holding a prototype of the N95 face mask with the TrueFIT technology.
TrueFIT, Rist Campuswide DifferenceMaker
DifferenceMakers

The TrueFIT design can be used to help employees in various industries, like construction, healthcare, and more.

The TrueFIT design can be used to help employees in various industries, like construction, healthcare, and more.
Read More About TrueFIT, Rist Campuswide DifferenceMaker 
Happyben Patel, sharing her idea during one of DifferenceMaker's workshop series.
Happy Pinning
DifferenceMakers

Happing Pinning is an effective, effortless device that clips clothing together.

Happing Pinning is an effective, effortless device that clips clothing together.
Read More About Happy Pinning 
UMass Lowell Image
Robotic Feeding Arm '13
DifferenceMakers

After a three minute rocket pitch to a panel of alumni judges Philip Colangelo's Robotic Feeding Arm was awarded first place in the “Innovative Technology” category, $3,500 award.

An assistive technology for patients who cannot feed themselves, the Robotic Feeding Arm makes health care more effective & gives patients independence.
Read More About Robotic Feeding Arm 
Team Sober Solutions pitching an idea to the audience and judges at the 2024 $50,000 Idea Challenge.
Sober Solutions
DifferenceMakers

An SMS Lifeline and smartphone application to prevent relapses in substance abuse.

Sober Solutions is working on an SMS Lifeline and smartphone application to prevent relapses in substance abuse.
Read More About Sober Solutions 
UMass Lowell business major Jeurys Santiago stands with a group holding a banner with the name of his networking and marketing company, Minds With Purpose
Jeurys Santiago '22
Business

Jeurys Santiago credits his entrepreneurship classes and experiences with helping him launch his networking and marketing company, Minds With Purpose.

I started learning more about entrepreneurship and networking so I could create opportunities for small businesses and creatives to connect.
Read More About Jeurys Santiago