DifferenceMaker

From concept to community impact 🚀

Past DifferenceMaker team, Comprehension Clicker, showcased their venture at the FORGE Spring Startup Showcase through live demonstrations, networking, and meaningful conversations with founders and industry professionals.

We are always proud to celebrate the continued success of our DifferenceMaker teams! 💙

You’re Invited to the 2026 Rist DifferenceMaker Institute Demo Day & Startup Expo! 🚀

Join us for an exciting evening celebrating student innovation and entrepreneurship! See student teams pitch their ventures, showcase prototypes, share ideas, and highlight the progress they made throughout the Summer Boot Camp. 🌟

Explore the Startup Expo, meet the founders, ask questions, and experience innovation firsthand. Whether you are a student, faculty member, entrepreneur, alumni, family member, or community supporter, we invite you to celebrate with us. 🎉

Tuesday, June 30, 2026
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Meehan Student Center

Open to the public. Bring your family and friends!

Sustainable innovation is taking center stage at UMass Lowell 🌱🔋

The Sustainable Innovation Showcase and Challenge on May 21 will bring together students, faculty, startups, and researchers pitching bold ideas focused on sustainability, climate technology, and innovation.

From climate tech to emerging ventures, this event is all about exploring new ideas, building connections, and highlighting innovation happening across the UML community.

Support the finalists, connect with industry leaders, and see what’s being built right here at UML.

Check this link out to reserve a spot: https://bit.ly/42q4dCU

Sustainable Innovation: Showcase and Challenge Sustainable innovation is here at UMass Lowell!

The 2026 Lowell High School Idea Challenge Finals were a success! 🎉

Student entrepreneurs brought creativity, confidence, and innovative ideas to the stage, showcasing real-world solutions and entrepreneurial thinking.

Congratulations to this year’s winners:
🥇 Dominic Lebron, Next Step Law
🥈 Cindy Soth, The Prep Step
🥉 Alexia Kimani, Gifts & Bouquets

Thank you to all of the students, judges, and supporters who helped make this year’s challenge a success. We can’t wait to see what these young innovators accomplish next!

One day. Two big milestones. 👏

On May 12, the Comprehension Clicker team, Jetrin Orenberg, David Green, and Kevin Pelletier, competed in the TiE Boston Regional Pitch Competition, earning 2nd Runner Up and a $2,000 prize! 🏆

Before taking the stage, the team toured Lightspeed MFG in Haverhill, MA, to discuss large-scale manufacturing opportunities for their product and explore what it could take to bring their idea to a wider scale.

Congratulations to the team on this exciting momentum!

Interested in earning 3 credits in just 3 weeks this summer? 💡

The Global Entrepreneurship & Innovation Workshop (GE2) gives students the opportunity to collaborate with peers from around the world, explore real-world innovation, connect with entrepreneurs, and build solutions with global impact.

Dates:
🗓️ July 7 & 9 (virtual pre-course)
📍 July 12–24 (in-person on campus)

Register in SIS:
Undergraduate: ENTR-4110
Graduate: ENTR-6110

Learn more here: https://www.uml.edu/msb/global-entrepreneurship/

Global Entrepreneurship Exchange (GE2) | Manning School of Business Studetns presenting their Posters at Lowell 2019 Summer GE2 Session

As our final graduating DifferenceMaker co-op this semester, we’re excited to recognize and celebrate for the impact she has made on our community.

Since joining the team last fall, Saryna has been a dependable and positive presence within DifferenceMaker. She was always willing to step in and help wherever needed, brought people together, and remained calm and collected during busy events and stressful moments. Her ability to support both her coworkers and student teams made her an important part of the environment and culture within the space.

As a Business Administration major concentrating in International Business in the Manning School of Business, Saryna balanced professionalism, kindness, and teamwork in everything she did. She was a great team player who consistently showed up ready to help, collaborate, and support those around her.

After graduation, Saryna is looking forward to sculpting her own silhouette as she begins an exciting new chapter and continues pursuing her goals and passions.

Through her hard work, positive attitude, and dedication to the community, Saryna made a lasting impact on DifferenceMaker and the students she worked with throughout the year.

Saryna, thank you for all of your contributions, kindness, and support throughout your time with us. We are so excited to see what’s next for you and wish you all the best in this next chapter of your life! 💙

As another one of our graduating DifferenceMaker co-ops prepares for her next chapter, we want to recognize and celebrate for all she has contributed to the community.

Since joining the DifferenceMaker team last summer, Yati Yadav quickly became a natural leader within the space. She was someone who took initiative, stepped up when things needed to get done, and helped keep projects and events running smoothly. Her ability to take charge while remaining approachable and supportive made her an important part of the team dynamic.

Yati was also known for her friendly personality and the strong connections she built with both coworkers and student teams. She brought people together, created a welcoming environment, and consistently helped support the collaborative culture within DifferenceMaker.

As a Master of Public Health student concentrating in Epidemiology in the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences, she balanced her academic and professional responsibilities with dedication while continuing to pursue her passion for healthcare and helping others.

After graduation, she will continue working in healthcare and empower the healthcare industry while exploring new opportunities and taking on her next adventure.

Yati, thank you for your leadership, hard work, and contributions to the DifferenceMaker community. We are excited to see where your journey takes you and wish you all the best in this exciting next chapter. 💙

It’s a bittersweet moment as we say goodbye to one of our DifferenceMaker co-ops, .

Hanna joined DifferenceMaker last spring and quickly became a positive presence within the community. She brought kindness, creativity, and enthusiasm to everything she was involved in and was always supportive, upbeat, and excited to contribute.

Last spring, Hanna participated in the $50,000 Idea Challenge, where she presented her venture, SoundWaves, a platform designed to make live music experiences more connected, accessible, and engaging for fans, artists, and venues. During the competition, SoundWaves earned the Fan Favorite Award, highlighting the excitement and support surrounding her idea. She is now preparing for an exciting next chapter as she continues expanding SoundWaves.

As a Mechanical Engineering student in the Francis College of Engineering, she has balanced interests in engineering, music, and business while continuing to grow SoundWaves. After graduation, she plans to pursue opportunities across those fields while also making time to travel and explore new experiences.

Hanna, thank you for your positivity and for being part of the DifferenceMaker team. We wish you all the best in this next chapter and can’t wait to see where your journey takes you! 💙

DifferenceMaker X Wellbeing X Starbucks Collab was successful! ✨

Over 50 students came and enjoyed free burrito bowls, coffee, and a much-needed break from studying. It was great seeing everyone take time to recharge, connect, and reset before finals.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by and to our partners who helped make this event happen! 💙

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s Starbucks event at south for more vouchers!