Student Entrepreneur Spotlight

March 29, 2018

By Eminah Quintyne, Feature Writer

2018 winner of the annual 3 Day Startup business idea pitch competition is a customized clothing named Tailr.

In respect to different body types and the fact you can’t try on clothes when shopping online, David Vaughn, creator of Tailr seeks to implement a measurement system for online clothes shopping that pins down the best fit for your body from different brands.

“ There are many body types out there, and manufacturers do not always design clothes with that in mind. Tailr aims to provide accurate enough measurements so no matter what body type you may have or how big or small you may be, we can provide the best fitting size in any brand.” said Vaughn.

In action, Tailr works as a service through a smartphone app or desktop operating system. Three- dimensional mapping is used to take measurements from a photograph you upload into the app.

The program scans your body to obtain several unique measurements. Your individualized measurements are saved to your profile, compared to clothing specifications from manufacturer size guides and are used as you shop online to inform you of what size is most ideal for you. On the back end, Tailr establishes affiliate relationships with clothing companies to integrate with online shopping tools.  The program will generate sizes for you exclusive to the brand you’re shopping with. Customers decide if the fit and size works well for them.

Vaughn worked with Deja Powell and Nicholas Farmer over the three-day period to obtain data to create their final pitch. Students typically are not friends or familiar with each other prior to the event, and collaborate to meet project goals.

“The best part of 3DS was getting to connect with so many other bright, motivated students, and being able to benefit from the experience of all the great mentors,” said Vaughn “Steve Stewart helped us iron out the functionality of the service and paint a picture of how the product would work, and what its added value would be to the customers. Dr. Bartosz Wojszczyk helped us with the technology we needed and better informed me of the competitive landscape within this particular industry. I could not recommend any other program higher than 3DS.  It was an absolutely fantastic experience.”

  3DS is an international program for undergraduate and graduate students to launch their own business. The program provides a network of opportunities to support student entrepreneurship and is hosted at various universities over a three-day period.

“Every student, no matter their career goals, should participate in an entrepreneurship program. It was literally the greatest experience ever! I have always wanted to go to fashion school but chose to pursue a degree in business. 3DS has shown me my love for entrepreneurship and the will I need to continue with my goals and develop my own company. We were able to get lots of input that helped us stay on track and improve the idea. Honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing about the layout or the mentors,” said Deja Powell.

Currently, Tailr is working with software developers and personal consultants to launch their service. They hope to finalize a prototype and to secure investors who will enable them to expand and further develop.