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

Smriti Kumar, Alejandro Luna Juarez, Tina Thuy Nguyen Hoana, and Amy Nguyen smiling for a group photo.
Digital Life, Significant Social Impact
DifferenceMakers

The goal of Digital Life is to develop an affordable solution for those in need.

The goal of Digital Life is to develop an affordable solution for those in need.
Read More ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Digital Life, Significant Social Impact 
DifferenceMaker-Team-Expect-Headshot
Expect '16
DifferenceMakers

Expect is an application that facilitates communication between referring facilities/emergency medical services and accepting inpatient/emergency units.

Because of DifferenceMaker I was able to connect with students of other majors to help further my project.
Read More ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Expect 
UMass Lowell Image
Buddies Without Borders '15
DifferenceMakers

Buddies Without Borders aims to bridge the gap between domestic students and international students.

We want to better connect international and domestic students on campus.
Read More ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Buddies Without Borders 
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 ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Happy Pinning 
CAT Mat team members Michelle Mailloux and Katherine Muise pose with Holly Butler and their Honorable Mention award
Ambulatory Innovations
DifferenceMakers

Ambulatory Innovations brings the outdoors in, with a mat that will allow physical therapists to treat their patients’ deficits throughout the body, from the musculoskeletal system to sensory systems.

We bring the outdoors inside, to get you back outside!
Read More ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Ambulatory Innovations