The College of Computing at Georgia Tech recently hosted its fifth annual Klaus Startup Challenge, a prestigious competition named after alumnus and tech entrepreneur Christopher W. Klaus. The event showcased the institution’s rising entrepreneurial talent, with over 200 students competing for $750,000 in startup funding.
The competition, which began in February with 87 teams, was structured into three rounds. The final round took place on April 2 in the Klaus Advanced Computing Building, where 24 selected teams pitched their startup concepts to a live audience and a panel of judges. The winning teams, each receiving $150,000 in funding, spanned various business sectors including financial services, cybersecurity, and social media.
One of the winning startups, DDingDong, has developed an innovative platform targeting the food and beverage industry. The platform leverages advanced technology and streamlined communication to connect restaurants and diners through personalized promotions. Co-founders Seung Taek Lee, Sunny Park, and Seongyeon Cho are using the funding to establish the startup as a Delaware C Corporation.
Other winning teams included AerLock, which brings AI to cybersecurity; Chemetrian, empowering molecular scientists through AI and machine learning; Loandock, streamlining the mortgage process; and Shelfmates, creating tailored social media experiences for readers. The investment funding for the competition was provided by Fusen, a national campus startup accelerator founded by Klaus.
The Klaus Startup Challenge is part of Klaus’s broader investment in Georgia Tech student entrepreneurship. Recently, he announced that he would personally cover the incorporation costs for any graduating student aspiring to launch a startup, demonstrating his commitment to fostering innovation and supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs.
