DifferenceMakerTM is a campus-wide program that engages UMass Lowell students in creative problem solving, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Thank you Kim and Brian Rist '77, Manning School of Business, for supporting the DifferenceMaker Program with a generous contribution and the establishment of the Rist DifferenceMaker Institute.

Teams by the Numbers

  • $7 Million

    Raised By Teams

  • 40

    Companies Formed By Teams

  • 14

    Teams Patents Filed or Issued
A team demonstrates their entry at the DifferenceMaker 2014 Francis College of Engineering Prototyping Competition.

Attend Demo Day on July 13!

Support UMass Lowell student teams as they pitch their new and improved ideas after completing the summer Boot Camp. Interested in networking? Interested in mentoring? Please join DifferenceMaker Demo Day!

  • Date: Wednesday, July 13
  • Time: 5-8 p.m.
  • Location: Saab Center, Perry Atrium, North Campus; 40 University Avenue, Lowell, MA.

Register for Demo Day

Student standing on stage at a DifferenceMaker event

Check-out the 2022 $50K Idea Challenge Winning Teams!

Ten finalist teams received a portion of $50,000 in funding at the 10th Annual Idea Challenge.

Learn more about the winning teams.

Learn more about the event.

Are you a DifferenceMaker?

Do you have an idea? Do you see a problem you want to solve? Do you want to make a difference in your community, or in the world? Do you want to join a team and work with other students? Sound like you?

Get involved

Real-Life DifferenceMakers

  • BASH
    BASH
    DifferenceMakers

    BASH plans to create and implement a new waste management system for the city of Les Cayes, Haiti.

  • USe Cart
    USe Cart
    DifferenceMakers

    USe Cart is a smart shopping cart that makes shopping faster and easier for customers, pushing self-checkout to a new level.

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Gifts at any level make a direct impact on thousands of UMass Lowell students and faculty every day.