U-M students turn iPhone app class into app start-up - Mobil33t

Wednesday, July 15, 2009 | Source: Concentrate

Jason Bornhorst, Kunal Jham and Mayank Garg took a class specializing in creating applications for smart phones, such as iPhones, and turned it into a start-up based on the same concept.

Mobil33t (treat the 3s like Es) creates applications for the more than 40 million iPhone users in the world. Its first app (industry jargon for application) DoGood was inspired by the Pay It Forward concept. It reminds its user to do an anonymous good turn to a stranger, like leave a "You are awesome" note on a public restroom mirror.

The app is catching on. Fickle iPhone users have been taking advantage of it for weeks instead of the usual lifespan of days.

"We wanted to make a very sticky (more industry jargon for a long shelf life) app," says Bornhorst, co-founder of Mobil33t and a senior in engineering at U-M.

Right now the trio of U-M seniors and a recent graduate is weighing its options on where it wants to take the company next. It could keep it as a part-time gig and stick to their studies and day jobs. They could also branch out into contract work and turn this business into something more permanent.

"As far as which direction, we’re still trying to figure that out," Bornhorst says.

Source: Jason Bornhorst, co-founder of Mobil33t
Writer: Jon Zemke