Business development program NGAL helps students to US markets

This year, an exclusive business development program NGAL® (Network Globally, Act Locally) takes place from 4th to 15th June, engaging five universities from USA and Estonia. The program starts with the boot camp at UT IdeaLab and ends with a launch-camp in Nebraska, USA. University of Tartu will be represented by two teams: STARTER program graduate CarZam and the rEstFind.

NGAL® is a three-week learning program for early-stage student teams. During the program, student teams will develop their MVP-s, get guidance from business mentors and have a chance to explore your business potential at the global market. The program ends with the pitching competition in Nebraska where the best teams will be awarded.

University of Tartu will be represented by two teams: IdeaLab STARTER program graduate CarZam and EstLat-Accelerate program graduate rEstFind. CarZam is creating a device that can be applied to a car's engine room, microphones and sensors track real-time sound and vibration of the car. Using machine learning advantages, the device compares received data to fully functioning car and displays an error as soon as it occurs. rEstFind detects antibiotic resistance to discover best antibiotic therapy for infected patients. This bioinformatic approach is fast and will also give information about the seriousness of the threat by evaluating the virulence and the concentration of pathogens. 6000 dollar award fund will be shared between top 3.

Maret Ahonen, the Head of IdeaLab: „NGAL® is the perfect place to broaden our horizon about US markets and develop professionally as well as personally. Previously UT students have demonstrated excellent entrepreneurial passion and won awards. I believe this year’s selected UT teams are strong. NGAL® will give them chance to go further!„

Team CarZam leader Andres Kiik says that they hope to win but since their idea is in the early stage then winning is not the main goal. „We hope to get useful advice about pitching, developing our business model and of course network with potential investors.“

This year, NGAL® takes place for the fourth time, linking two Estonian and three US universities: University of Tartu, Tallinn University of Technology, College of Charleston, The Citadel (Military College of South Carolina) and Nebraska Wesleyan University. Previous year the best idea that got the main price was from Univeristy of Tartu, team Cody.

The project is financed by Harry and Reba Huge Foundation.

Additional information: Maret Ahonen, +372 5225910, maret.ahonen@ut.ee