First-Year Babson College Undergraduate Students Launch 17 Businesses

WELLESLEY, Mass., March 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Babson College first year students have launched 17 businesses as part of the required Foundations of Management and Entrepreneurship course (FME).

For the first time, 2 businesses - Charity Challenge and SOS Stamp Out Suicide – focus on social entrepreneurship.

Babson FME is a seven-credit, yearlong immersion into the world of business in which student teams invent, develop, launch, manage, and liquidate a business. Along the way, students study entrepreneurship, marketing, accounting, organizational behavior, information systems, and operations.

Babson College provides up to $3,000 as startup money for these student businesses which they repay after liquidation.

Each team of approximately 30 students donates 180 hours, along with all profits, to a local community service agency of its choice. Agencies supported by FME businesses have included Special Olympics, Habitat for Humanity, Fidelity House, Cradles to Crayons, Boys and Girls Club, and Wellesley Housing Authority.

More than $400,000 has been donated by FME businesses to local charities since the program began in 1999.

2012 Babson College FME Businesses

Aura - www.aurafresh.webs.com
Aura is a portable perfume container. The concept of the business is to provide an easier way for people to freshen up by making perfume products more accessible when traveling. The size of a lipstick tube, Aura's portability and aircraft-grade aluminum provides extreme durability making Aura top of its class. Holding mouthwash, perfume, or the cologne of your choice, Aura is refillable, reusable, and is made from 98% recyclable components. A few quick sprays and you are ready to find that special someone.

Beat Teez - http://www.beat-teez.com
Beat-Teez sells t-shirts which respond to music. The t-shirts have electroluminescent technology which makes the frame on the t-shirt respond to the beats of music. Beat-teez target outgoing individuals and organizations by providing apparel for social occasions. Their shirts will enhance your nightlife and party experience to the fullest. From parties to concerts, your Beat-Tee will be a conversation starter all the time!

Beaver Wrap - http://www.beaverwrap.com
Beaver Wrap is not merely a rain jacket, but rather a concept. Their fleece lined, reversible jackets are Babson customized and can easily be converted into a vest. There is a convenient pocket to store the sleeves in and a waterproof hood so this jacket can tackle any weather. Their mottos are "Wrap yourself in Babson Pride!" and to "Get Hype!" about Babson! The goal is to enhance the sense of pride in the Babson Community. Entrepreneurship is Beaver Wrap! This is our Babson!

Charity Challenge - http://www.babocharitychallenge.org
Charity Challenge is a service business that plans and executes fun and competitive events for local Charities. They plan to host these events on Babson campus as well as other colleges in the area. Potential events could include dodge ball tournaments, video game tournaments. The events we plan and implement will largely be dependent on the opinions of our online followers.

Cool Earz - http://www.cool-earz.com/
Cool Earz' mission is to provide excellent earmuff headphones which guarantee high-quality music and warmth. This company is going to revolutionize the way you listen to music, one earmuff at a time. Today's world runs on music, and with temperatures dropping, music and warmth should not be mutually exclusive. With Cool Earz, you can have the best tunes without sacrificing comfort.

Critter Caps - http://www.crittercaphats.com/
Critter Caps sells hand knit wool animal hats in the style of a Beaver, Penguin, Tiger, Sock Monkey, or Moose. They sell to Babson College students and the surrounding population, to create a Critter Cap environment, putting smiles on all of our customer's faces.

Gummi Keys
Gummi Keys sells high quality keyboard covers for both MacBook Pros and Lenovo Thinkpad. These covers protect computers from liquid spills and food crumbs.

H2GO (Just Add Water) - http://www.h2goboost.com
H2GO is selling a product called Zipfizz. This is a powdered supplement that mixes with water to form a fruit flavored energy drink with low calories, no crash, and plenty of energy. It is a substitute to coffee or other forms of energy drinks and proven to be a healthier alternative to them.

Lazerwear Apparel - http://www.lazerwear.com
Lazerwear Apparel sells innovative t-shirts made of a unique photo sensitive powder that reacts to UV laser light. Use the laser included with your shirt to draw or write anything you'd like, then turn off the lights and see your creation come to life! To add an experience to our unique product, Lazerwear Apparel will also host a large event called the Lazershow with music, a laser atmosphere and refreshments, in order to provide a venue of expression for our customers!

Lug Mug - http://www.lugmug.myshopify.com
Lug Mug is a coffee mug that has a detachable compartment that is made to store all the necessities for any day. There is a stainless steel mug and a photo mug that can be used to put pictures or even notes. These mugs keep your hot beverages hot and your cold beverages cold.

Oh Snap! - www.ohsnapapparel.com
Oh Snap! apparel aims to bring the most trending and affordable fashion to Babson College and beyond. They sell snapback hats, snap-on watches, knit winter hats, and t-shirts.

Pre De - www.prede.net
PreDe is a presentation device that combines all of the necessary tools, including a presentation remote, a USB port, and a laser pointer. This product helps in delivering a successful and professional presentation. The PreDe is exactly what one needs to improve his or her professionalism and quality of work. Thanks to the integrated 2GB USB, there is no risk of losing or forgetting one's presentation on that important day.

Prestige AudioCorp - www.prestigeaudio.webs.com
Prestige AudioCorp. gives its customers the ability to listen to music on the go wherever and whenever using a revolutionary and cost-effect technology which uses vibration to turn virtually anything into a speaker.

SOS Stamp Out Suicide - www.stampoutsuicide.com
SOS is a business dedicated to raising awareness for suicide and bullying through the sale of wristbands, stickers, magnets, t-shirts and sponsorships. They will also be hosting small events to raise awareness. They are hosting an SOS walk in spring 2012.

Texting Gloves - www.textinggloves.myshopify.com
Texting Gloves are gloves that, while providing warmth, allow the user to use their mobile devices, no matter the weather. This is done through heat conductive technology that is integrated into the thumb, index, and middle finger of each glove that permits functionality with a touchscreen device, be it an iPhone, iPad, etc. They are also thin enough at the tips to permit usage with a keyboard phone such as a blackberry or other similarly styled keyboard phones.

urbanae' - www.urbanaefme.com
urbanae' is the Sol-Charger, which is a solar powered battery charger for phones. The charger comes with different cables and it is compatible with major phone brands.

Waste No More - http://www.wastenomore.co/
Waste No More will supply its target market with new products to make the preservation of bagged and canned foods easier. We will be selling two products: one is a soda can cover that prevents loss of carbonation, helps prevent spills, and protects your soda can from insects. The other product is a Bag Cap that turns any bag into a re-sealable container to prevent food from being wasted.

About Babson
Babson College is the educator, convener, and thought leader for Entrepreneurship of All Kinds®. The College is a dynamic living and learning laboratory, where students, faculty, and staff work together to address the real-world problems of business and society—while at the same time evolving our methods and advancing our programs. We shape the leaders our world needs most: those with strong functional knowledge and the skills and vision to navigate change, accommodate ambiguity, surmount complexity, and motivate teams in a common purpose to create economic and social value. As we have for nearly a half-century, Babson continues to advance Entrepreneurial Thought and Action® as the most positive force on the planet for generating sustainable economic and social value. Visit www.babson.edu.

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SOURCE Babson College