GenTAlarm

                On Facebook, we’re doing well with 219 likes and having reached 1,400 people through our posts. To help promote MTAlarm, we decided to launch a mini series of animated videos featuring each member of the MTAlarm team using MTAlarm in unique ways. The introductory video and first episode featuring Trina Dhar have been released on YouTube so dear readers, please take the time to support MTAlarm!

Introductory Video 

MTAlarm Mini Series Ep 1

                A big part of this competition is the business plan so my team and I have been working hard on perfecting the business plan with our mentors. For the most part, our business plan is solid except for a few issues here and there in the financials segment. Other than those issues, however, I can say we’ve accomplished a lot in this past month or so. I’m so proud of the MTAlarm team! Again, super thankful to be working with these wonderful munchkins.

                I’m currently working on a wireframe that could serve as MTAlarm’s first working prototype via a cloud-based prototyping software called Proto.io. I’m not completely finished with the prototype but I work alongside Kelvin, our lead engineer, so I’ll make sure I do not lag behind Kelvin and delay our coding process. Our prototype has been well received by the people we have displayed it to so that’s a plus. I plan to gather more data tomorrow with a few other members as we survey people on the streets asking them to complete certain tasks using our prototype. Hopefully, the data we collect is useful as we’ll continue to develop from there.

                With only less than a month left before competition night, I’m really looking forward to see MTAlarm’s birth as we continue to work hard through the remainder of this month. Of course, none of this would have been possible if not for our amazing AppNexus mentors so my gratitude to Carlos, Erin, Jared, Mark, Meg, and Sheri! And then there’s Hope, a rising sophomore at Barnard College, who’s been with our team since bootcamp and has devoted so much of her time to aide and guide us in the creation of MTAlarm. Thank you, Hope!

                I had expressed my disappointment in giving up my app idea in the previous post but throughout this week, the initial disappointment had disappeared and been replaced by a new ambition to develop my group’s idea, MTAlarm. First and foremost, I’m really thankful for being able to work with this wonderful team of brilliant people and having the best TA ever (not to say the other TAs aren’t great) helping us out.  I feel like we have really come a long way, from complete strangers to friends who joke around and have fun doing what we love. So thank you, GenTech. Thank you for giving me this unforgettable experience and the chance to be a part of the GenTech family.

                And with that, GenTech Boot Camp 2014 officially ends, but the memories of these past two weeks lives on. Awaiting my team and me is a new chapter of our journey toward success.

  Until next time

I’m really grateful that GenTech pushed us into exploring the technology industry and expanding our networks via tech meetups and community events because after the boot camp ended today,  I attended the Story Design for Games Intro Talk held at the Microsoft office. Not only was the talk highly educational and enlightening, I was also able to meet a man who shared my passions and interests for Role-Playing games and Massive Multiplayer Online games. This talk definitely set the precedent for future tech events because the ideas that were exchanged and the people I had encountered during the event were so valuable to my development in the technology sector.

I truly believe this program will unlock my potential and inspire me to find afield I’m truly passionate about. As of right now, I look forward to learning the various coding languages and the logistics of converting small ideas into large businesses.  All in all, today’s experience was truly remarkable and I can’t wait for tomorrow’s class!