FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Three Fairfield University Women's Soccer student-athletes will have a chance to present their idea to a crowd filled with spectators and potential investors when the trio takes part in Fairfield's StartUp Showcase on Thursday, April 26. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the showcase beginning at 6:30 p.m. Megan DeFeo, Maggie Walsh, and Holly Habyan have spent the past year developing their idea for the University's annual entrepreneurship competition.
 
The idea that the three will pitch is called UNetwork, a mobile application that allows alumni and current students to communicate and network based on common groups. Once logged into the app, users can join groups that they are involved in on campus to get updates, make donations, or communicate with other alumni.
 
"It's designed to help students get internships and jobs through alumni that want to help out in some way," rising senior Maggie Walsh said. "They want to teach students, they want to be involved in the community, and I think that really opened our eyes of why we didn't have these connections with alumni before we met them here."
 
The idea started as a business card scanning app but completely evolved during the spring semester as the trio looked for a bigger market. During the semester, the three had to present their idea every single week to guest speakers who would give them feedback on their idea and presentation.
 
"They're very honest with you," rising senior Holly Habyan said with a smirk. "On the vans going to games we would talk about ways to improve our product, how do we price this and how should we do that."
 
The help they received and the connections they made has helped the trio expand their idea leading up to Thursday's presentation. The three will present their app at the Quick Center for the Arts on Fairfield's campus during the showcase. If they can win over the investors, they will continue to develop the technology over the summer. Then they will formally create the company and eventually set a launch date.
 
Even if their idea is not chosen, the three say they have treasured the year-long experience, which will help them going forward.
 
"I just think it's making us stronger people in the work force," Walsh said. "I can talk to someone now and not be super nervous about what I'm going to say. I can trust myself more and I think we can all say that we have become better presenters."