Students from Varna Free University – members of the team which won the grand prize by Startup Weekend – Varna
Boris Georgiev, a 1-year student in Informatics and Computer Sciences and Momchil Vasilev, a 3-year student in Informatics at Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar” are among the five members of the Internet of Varna team, whose project “Device Web” won the grand prize by Startup Weekend – Varna. This recognition of the five students’ work comes in the year dedicated to entrepreneurship and good academic practices at Varna Free University.
The competition for IT entrepreneurs, which has been established around the world, was held between 30th May and 1st June, at Grand Mall Varna. Startup Weekend is among the most popular and productive initiatives helping people to set up their own start-up. Such events are held every weekend at various points across the globe – from Los Angelis to Beijing.
The competition put together designers, programmers and marketing specialists, who shared their experience and ideas, made teams, created products and presenter their start-ups.
It has been a common practice for well-established IT companies to support the events or to initiate projects focusing on certain technologies or ideas, to assist the teams and the initiative with product prizes or other incentives.
Startup Weekend is a global movement of active entrepreneurs, who are learning the basics of how to start business ventures successfully. This is the largest entrepreneur community, with over 400 events in 100 countries around the world.
Following is the exciting success story of the winners:
“It all started in the evening of 30th May 2014. Then we first met the other participants in the event. When we arrived we were very nervous, but finally the determination, the strong will and effort of each one of us finally got the better of us.
At first, every one of the participants could suggest ideas for a project and everyone could choose an idea and join a team. We decided to support one of the two hardware projects (out of 10 teams altogether). Two big teams of programmers and designers were formed. Ours was the smallest team.
The concept of our project was to make a platform which works with the „Arduino[i] plate, with various types of sensors attached to it. The sensors gather information which is updated every five minutes, sends it to the “cloud”, and then to the mobile apps. Using feedback, users can control all devices linked through sensors from their smartphone.
On the second day we started to make the “BETA” version of the prototype for phones (Android, Windows phone). We were given very useful advice by our mentors, who helped us to present our project in the most exact way. At the end of the day, we already had the platform, and the only thing left was to create the interface of the mobile apps.
The third day was the most intense. Time was scarce, and we weren’t ready. Just like in stories, we submitted our project just within the deadline. Voting by the audience was followed by voting by the jury. Before the Startup Weekend Varna 2014winner was announced several special awards were given. The biggest one was by Microsoft and was awarded to our team - Internet of Varna.
After the euphoria following the award, the big winner had to be announced. Silence followed, and then the name of our team was pronounced. It was a unique emotion – we were all extremely happy that our work and efforts during those long three days and nights had been recognized. As winners we received funding for the realization of the project.
We would like to express our gratitude to each member of the team, because without even one of us this project would not have been realized. Our sincere thanks to „158ltd“, “Beehive”, “ICN.bg” and all other sponsors who made all this achievable. Immediately after the awarding ceremony we received a phone call from two investors who are interested in our product, and want to put the idea into practice.”
The team: Internet of Varna / Project: Device Web
Boris Georgieva - Hardware Developer
Momchil Vasilev - Backend Developer
Julian Sapundzhiev - Software Developer
Hristo Hristov - Frontend Developer
Ivan Cholakov - Marketing And Management
[1] Arduino is a small open code plate with huge possibilities. It is equipped with powerful ATmega microcontrollers and functions as the “brain” of robots and interactive projects. Arduino can “feel” the surrounding environment with the help of different sensors (e.g. sound, light, touch, movement sensors etc.) and to react to changes in it (e.g. by setting in motion electric motors and by commanding devices emitting sound and light).
