David Ellis, a junior studying computer science, finds himself in very unfamiliar territory. Through some wild twist of fate, he is now the CEO of DocYou. What started out as a simple Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) project meant to save medical residents time is now its own legal entity. Unfortunately, the computer science program doesn’t teach students how to run a business, so David decided to search for help. This led him to FSE 301.
With a mix of engineering students (FSE 301) and business students (ENT 360), this class offers a very unique experience. Its evidence-based class model encourages students to go into the world and discover the many real problems people face each day. The in-class resources and overall structure of the course offer amazing insights into the steps necessary to create a successful business. There’s a real emphasis on creating for a purpose — something absent from most other classes. If a customer isn’t deriving value from your work, then you’re doing something wrong.
It all ties into the entrepreneurial mindset, something ASU pushes onto students as soon as they enter the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering. FSE 301 is a rare course which promotes a true appreciation for what an entrepreneurial mindset can accomplish through pure application. While “In-depth application of entrepreneurial concepts including opportunity recognition, value creation and new business management” may not sound applicable to the average engineering student, it most certainly is. For students like David who are trying to stretch outside the bounds of the core curriculum, signing up for FSE 301 is a no-brainer.
These philosophies inspired David to adapt his short-term business goals. He placed a much greater emphasis on conducting interviews with affiliates from Phoenix Children’s Hospital while making efforts to gauge interest within other hospital networks across Arizona. After analyzing this market feedback, many functionalities within the app were altered or outright removed. These changes made DocYou more efficient, usable, and valuable to our potential customers. Without the help of FSE301, David would have spent much longer squandering around instead of achieving his goals.
DocYou Pitch: https://youtu.be/dPJ-NEnvnho
Website: https://sites.google.com/asu.edu/docyou/home
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidaellis1/
Pitch deck: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1DSFCVz3J7or8kpR6uTHsHawUFZ6ylXgbT2aWoCq-1R0/edit?usp=sharing