Columbus Startup Weekend

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Joseph C. Quaglia

NEW WEBSITE uPropel.com MATCHES PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS WITH ONLINE DONORS

COLUMBUS, Ohio (July 20, 2008) — uPropel.com, a new website connecting students in need of tuition assistance with charitable philanthropists in the online community, launched today at the conclusion of Startup Weekend Columbus, an intense 54-hour entrepreneurial event hosted by TechColumbus.

To use uPropel.com, students pay a small fee to create a profile online and upload a brief video. Videos might tell a story, demonstrate a unique talent, or go on a humorous rant: basically anything that might garner the interest of a donor.

Once someone decides to donate scholarship funds to a particular student via uPropel.com, the money is charged to the donor’s credit card. That money then goes into a fund that is set up for that particular student. Through uPropel.com, students and donors can easily monitor this fund to ensure the student reaches his or her goal. The money is then paid directly to the student’s institution at the commencement of the semester upon proof of enrollment. In theory, students will keep in touch with donors through an email chain or profile updates.

Although the development of the business plan will not be fully implemented until after Startup Weekend, the concept is outlined on paper and a web infrastructure has been built. To learn more and follow progress, visit www.uPropel.com.

About uPropel
uPropel is a new approach for students to raise money for college through grassroots online tuition donations. www.uPropel.com.

About TechColumbus
TechColumbus is a nonprofit organization that focuses on technology-based economic development in the 15 counties of Central Ohio. www.techcolumbus.org

About Startup Weekend
Startup Weekend hosts 54 hour events in cities across the country bringing together all types of people to create companies, projects, and great technology based communities over the course of a weekend.
www.startupweekend.com