Ideaz

Let’s be real. Students want to get into research. Professors want reliable students. And yet… nothing connects.

I’ve seen it firsthand: every other student I know wants research exposure but has no idea where to start. Meanwhile, professors are constantly hunting for dependable students to handle simulations, data prep, or literature reviews. Right now, this is a broken system. Opportunities vanish in random emails or closed WhatsApp groups, and the result is a massive waste of talent and time.

So here’s the solution: INQUIRO — from the Latin “to inquire, to seek.”

Inquiro is a campus-first platform that uses AI to solve this disconnect, literally bringing the seekers together with the knowers. Professors can post scoped projects (2–10 weeks, not a lifetime commitment). Students build profiles with their skills—Python, MATLAB, writing, and poster design. The AI engine handles the matching. No more begging. No more “sir, any openings?” spam. Just clarity.

What makes Inquiro different?

This isn’t LinkedIn for job hunters. This isn’t ResearchGate for post-docs. This is built for us—undergraduates who want to build, learn, and make an impact now.

- Smart Matching: Professors post projects and students showcase their skills. Inquiro’s AI does the matching, connecting the right student to the right project without the guesswork.

- AI Recommendations: Inquiro doesn’t just match; it nudges. Students get personalised suggestions like, “You did ML in biology, check out this genomics project.” Faculty get insights like, “These 5 students are strong in data viz but haven’t been utilised this semester.”

- Integrity Tracking: Every contribution is logged. Our platform tracks who is genuinely putting in the work, so recognition—including co-authorship—is based on real input, not favouritism.

Why it matters

I’ve been a student desperately hunting for work that matters. I’ve also heard professors complain they can’t find consistent helpers. Inquiro bridges that gap—making research accessible, fair, and, honestly, way more exciting.

Students get exposure, stronger resumes, and the confidence to tackle bigger challenges. Faculty gain reliable assistants, resulting in faster progress and increased publications. The university grows a vibrant research culture—and becomes known as the place where research actually happens.

So, if you had Inquiro tomorrow, what’s the very first feature you’d want?

Cloud-Based “Micro-Research Lab” for Students & Early Researchers

 The Problem

Many students and early-career researchers struggle to start projects because lab access is limited, reagents are expensive, and data analysis tools are fragmented. Small colleges or community labs often lack advanced instruments (PCR, sequencing, cell culture facilities). Students waste time repeating basic protocols instead of focusing on innovative experiments.

Solution

Building a platform that provides virtual + affordable physical research support:

1. Protocol & Experiment Design Hub – A curated database of standardized experimental protocols (e.g., CRISPR editing, microbial assays, enzyme activity tests), written in a step-by-step, reproducible format.

2. Remote Experiment Services – Partner with shared labs or contract labs where users can design an experiment online, ship samples, and get results/data back.

3. AI/ML Data Analysis Tools – Integrated analysis pipelines (gene expression, docking, molecular biology stats) for students who don’t know coding.

4. Collaboration Network – Connect students, professors, and industry mentors to share small research problems and publish mini-papers or posters.

Current Gap in Market

• Lack of hands-on, practical lab experience
• The academic curriculum often isn’t updated rapidly enough to reflect current industry or research practices. Techniques, tools, software that are in demand are often not taught or only superficially. 
• High-end instruments and platform technologies are expensive.
• For services that involve external labs or remote experiments, there are regulatory, compliance, quality assurance issues.
• High cost of advanced equipment, reagents, maintaining labs. Many institutions and early researchers can’t afford them. 
• Employers often want industry-ready graduates,This disconnect makes it hard for students to transition into jobs or to know what to research. 

Who Benefits from this?

• Undergrad / MSc / PhD students: More hands-on experience, ability to do meaningful experiments, faster learning, stronger CVs, more chance to publish or move into industry/research.
• Faculty / Mentors / Small Colleges: Ability to offer better teaching and training; attract better students; more research output.
• Industry / Biotech Companies: Better prepared workforce, less training needed, more reliable research-ready graduates.
• Community / Society: Faster development of local solutions (in health, environment, agriculture); improved healthcare, food safety, environmental monitoring.
• Government & Policy Makers: Stronger R&D ecosystem, more effective use of public investment in science, improved outcomes in public health and environment.

Why this problem matters to me?

As a biotech student, I know many students and graduates probably have ideas but might be held back by lack of equipment, inadequate mentorship, or feeling lost in data analysis. This slows down your progress, discourages innovation, or even causes to give up or settle for less ambitious work.

Technical Details

• Standardizing Protocol Templates: Create protocols with version control, clear steps, error margins, expected outputs. Includes troubleshooting tips (e.g. what to check if no band appears).
• Data Upload & Analytics Pipelines: Web interface for students to upload raw data / images (e.g. gel bands, absorbance, microscopy). Backend pipelines to process those — image processing, normalization, statistical graphs, QC flags (e.g. low signal, contamination detection).
• Lab Access Network: You might need to partner with labs that have good infrastructure. Could be through shared instruments, lab as a service. Consider regulatory / biosafety / ethics clearance for this.
• Cost Optimization: Use low-cost consumables, or design kits that reuse parts. Also virtual labs or simulations where actual physical experiments are not feasible.
• Mentorship / Peer Review Layer: Allow experienced researchers or alumni to provide feedback; community forums. Perhaps even micro-grants to students to buy reagents or get their experiments run externally.
• Digital Documentation / Lab Notebook Tools: Web / app-based lab notebooks, version tracked, shareable, integrated with photo/image upload, auto-timestamp, etc.
• Inclusion & Accessibility: Low bandwidth modes; offline / mobile compatibility; translation/localization; affordability for students from different economic backgrounds.

Why is it innovative?

Brings together things that are usually separate(protocols, analysis, data,experiment and publish), Democratizes research access, Turns pain points into learning opportunities, Low-cost & scalable model, Community-driven science and Bridges academia–industry gap.

The Problem

Many students struggle to find meaningful connections that can help them academically, professionally, and personally. Introverted students or those new to college often feel isolated, unsure how to approach peers, seniors, faculty, or industry mentors. Existing clubs, college forums, and networking events are limited—they often require active participation, focus only on a single institution, or emphasize career placement over holistic growth. As a result, many students miss out on guidance, collaboration, and support that could improve their learning and confidence.

Solution

Mentoroa is a safe, inclusive, and interest-based networking platform where students from different colleges can connect with peers, seniors, faculty, and industry experts. Students can join small interest-based groups (“Pods”), participate in one-on-one mentorship, or attend webinars and Q&A sessions with professionals. The platform features privacy controls, anonymous posting, and step-by-step engagement for introverted students. An interest-matching algorithm pairs students with others who share hobbies, academic interests, or career goals, ensuring meaningful connections instead of random networking.

Market Gap / Uniqueness

Existing platforms either focus only on career networking, work within a single college, or require public participation that can intimidate introverted students. Mentoroa fills this gap by combining:

Cross-college peer connections

Faculty and industry mentorship

Interest-based small pods

Privacy and gradual engagement options

This creates a safe environment for introverts and students from diverse backgrounds to connect meaningfully.

Beneficiaries

Students: Peer support, academic guidance, career advice, emotional encouragement.

Introverts: Low-pressure engagement and confidence-building.

Faculty & Mentors: Opportunities to guide students and share expertise.

Colleges: Increased student engagement and cross-campus collaboration.

Why This Matters to Me

I have seen talented students hesitate to ask for help, losing valuable opportunities due to social or psychological barriers. Mentoroa ensures that every student, regardless of personality or background, can access mentorship, build relationships, and grow academically and personally.

Technical Details 

Interest-matching algorithm for Pods and mentors.

Privacy controls and anonymous posting.

Multi-language support for cross-region connections.

Stepwise engagement: browse → post anonymously → group → one-on-one mentorship.