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NARRATOR: Just south of campus at the UT administration building lives a new entity called Longhorn
Start Up Camp. Founded by Internet guru Bob Metcalfe, the camp provides workspace for
about 30 student start-ups. Among the companies here: Hoot.me, a Facebook app providing real-time
dialogue for students and study groups.
>> MICHAEL KOETTING: We had this idea of building out a knowledge network. We had the social
network, we had a professional network, but we wanted a knowledge network for academics.
We had this idea that maybe we could convince people that this was a company. So we hopped
on a plane out for Miami, Florida and pitched the very first version of this product. It
was largely Photoshopped, a lot of the stuff we were showing wasn't fully fleshed out,
but we told everybody that, "Hey, this is the real deal." And we were the youngest kids
on stage and we ended up winning the whole competition.
>> GAURAV SANGHAVI: I felt it was enlightening realization you know like we can build something
of value. And people believe that we have the vision and the skill to do this.
>> NARRATOR: The victory in Florida got Hoot.me recognition and seed money to grow. They are
now being used by over 10,000 students worldwide.
>> MICHAEL KOETTING: Helping both the students and the teachers was an important part of
our vision from the start and for us we know that both those have to work in harmony.
You're able to post questions And then you can also collaborate in real time. Now if
your teachers and students, fellow classmates can't help you we have a button where you
can instantly pull in a tutor to get professional help.
>> SID UPADHYAY: Then we can do a preview of the class, they can have the details and
they can personalize the message.
I would say we've been testing things out, throwing ideas out there for probably like
a year and a half.
>> SID UPADHYAY: And we just get so much great feedback, going in talking with them, getting
new ideas, and really just trying to tailor the experience so that its great for students
and teachers as well.
>> GAURAV SANGHAVI: People actually rely on this to study for their test or to do their
homework. It's a crazy feeling. I don't think it's fully sunk in yet but it's
just incredible.