Reem Alattas, who is earning a Ph.D. in computer science and engineering at the University of Bridgeport, has invented an advanced bike helmet and, in so doing, won $12,000 at the CT Next Entrepreneur Innovator Competition, including a $10,000 Grand Prize and the $2,000 Judges”™ Favorite Award.
Alattas was one of just two student-entrepreneurs to advance to the final rounds of the recent competition held at The Space in Hamden. It was sponsored by CT Next, the early-stage division of Connecticut Innovations, the state”™s business-financing arm.
“I can”™t believe it. I was competing against professionals. I didn”™t have friends or family with me last night, but I felt the support from the UB faculty who were there,” said Alattas, who named her helmet Rumble.
Rumble includes GPS tracking, an alert system that warns cyclists when traffic gets too close and directional signals operated by the tap of a button.
Alattas has been working on the bike helmet for about three years. A manufacturing prototype is being built with an eye toward bringing it to market next year.
