“In Spring 2021, I enrolled in a master’s program at UTD amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The campus was deserted, and all classes were online, making it challenging to meet people. Like many others, I turned to dating apps, but with little success. Even when restrictions were lifted, the situation didn’t improve. This sparked the idea for a college-specific dating app, Lufu.

My team consists of my co-founder, Carole Leung, and our developer, Kunal Mestry. Carole, who helped shape the idea and design the logo, and I lack development skills, which is why we brought Kunal on board.

We’ve conducted informal surveys among students and university organizations, and the response to Lufu has been overwhelmingly positive. However, our project is still in its early stages. We’ve finalized our logos and brand style, begun app development, and started liaising with UTD’s startup launcher, Blackstone Launchpad.

Our main challenges are funding and expertise. As a job seeker and a full-time student, Carole and I lack the funds to hire professionals or cover app publishing costs. We’re also seeking someone experienced in app development and publishing to ensure timely delivery.”