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

Team Smart Azan holding the 2023 Jack M. Wilson First to Market Award.
Smart Azan
DifferenceMakers

App that keeps track and notifies Muslims when it is time to pray.

Smart Azan is an app that keeps track and notifies Muslims when it is time to pray.
Read More About Smart Azan 
UMass Lowell Image
Healthy Habits '13
DifferenceMakers

At the DifferenceMaker Idea Challenge, Healthy Habits won first place in the category “Significant Social Impact,” and was awarded $3,500 to further implement their idea.

Healthy Habits teaches fitness and well-being to young children so they do not grow up to be unhealthy, overweight or obese.
Read More About Healthy Habits 
UMass alum and student mentor Richard Juknavorian poses with a student.
Richard Juknavorian '98
Health Information Management

Richard Juknavorian ’98 volunteers online and in person to support students. He raises money for scholarships, mentors students and serves as a judge at symposiums and events.

Every time I interact with students, it’s such a phenomenal experience.
Read More About Richard Juknavorian 
UMass Lowell Image
Hydraulic Walker '15
DifferenceMakers

The Hydraulic Walker utilizes hydraulics, allowing for the legs to be quickly adjusted, so that it can be used on stairs.

We have a product unlike any other.
Read More About Hydraulic Walker 
DifferenceMaker-Team-OmniSense
OmniSense '16
DifferenceMakers

OmniSense is performance tracking for athletes, giving users a low cost option of tracking lifting metrics.

I’m a fitness trainer and want to stop my clients from getting hurt when lifting.
Read More About OmniSense