Clark Brothers Showcase UTicketIt at mtvU Competition

Seniors at the University of Illinois, Ryan and Ashton Clark, recently participated in the mtvU Movers and Changers competition, where they placed among the top 10 semi-finalists with their idea called UTicketIt. Ryan said, “[The competition] aims to find college entrepreneurs who have a socially viable and beneficial business concept.”

The pair had to submit a business plan, an application and a video that documented how their business idea could make a difference and still make money. The competition was created when mtvU teamed up with NYSE Euronext to search for promising and original business plans, called Movers and Changers.http://www.moversandchangers.com/

The Clarks heard about the competition from Rhiannon Clifton at the Technology Entrepreneur Center (TEC). “The [TEC] always does a great job of informing about opportunities that exist on campus,” said Ashton. If it wasn’t for TEC and Rhiannon, they said they wouldn’t have known about the competition.

When asked to explain their venture Ashton said, “UTicketIt is an online ticketing system that will enable organizations and small businesses to sell event tickets electronically. Anyone who has an internet connection and a credit card or bank account will be able to create, promote, and sell tickets to events.”

Ryan elaborated by saying that the system also “aims to protect the seller and buyer throughout the transaction process, which creates a safe and mutually beneficial event management solution.” The thought process behind the concept can be seen at http://www.vimeo.com/7107840 .

The Clarks have plans to launch the UTicketIt.com website on the University of Illinois campus to test the system. They will then implement it on multiple campuses nationwide, utilizing the newest technology to further improve the ticket selling/buying methods.

Both Ryan and Ashton major in accountancy and minor in technology and management at Illinois. On top of UTicketIt, the two are also working on two other online ventures. DynamikApps.com; a site that makes social media applications for Facebook, iPhone, Android, and Palm Pre that come directly from user feedback and DollarTees.com; a site that sells a custom hip hop t-shirt line.

When asked if they would enter other competitions like this with their many ventures, both brothers said yes. Ryan said, “Competitions like MTVU's Movers and Changers push entrepreneurs like us to new heights. For example, we never had a business plan for UTicketIt prior to the competition. Now we do, and even though we didn't win the competition, we are in a much better position when it comes to UTicketIt. So, competitions like these help us improve our concepts.”

While the deadline and competition for this year’s Movers and Changers is now over, the series premier starts this week (November 16) on mtvU. So tune in and see how real entrepreneurs execute their ideas and get ahead of the game.