6/6/2016 Taylor Tucker
From left: Atyab Bhatti, Kush Maheshwari, and John Yoon.
Written by Taylor Tucker
From left: Atyab Bhatti, Kush Maheshwari, and John Yoon.
MechSE junior Atyab Bhatti and Computer Science junior Kush Maheshwari have created a new app, which is the cornerstone of the startup they plan to launch this fall. The app, SEAK, provides a mobile marketplace for retailers.
“SEAK brings local shops, major retailers, and independent sellers to a common, localized platform,” Maheshwari said. “It broadcasts neighborhood discounts, catalogs, and trends by having stores update their accounts on the app.”
Bhatti, who is majoring in mechanical engineering, met Maheshwari during their freshman year. They have now been working together on the SEAK project for almost a year. Economics major John Yoon contributes to the team as a designer.
Various retailers have already partnered with SEAK in order to show their catalogs, prices, and sales. “We have gone from reaching out to stores, to stores reaching out to us,” Maheshwari said.
In the long term, Bhatti and Maheshwari envision SEAK becoming an e-commerce platform that could shift the way consumers shop.
“We hope to make SEAK into a company that is able to provide consumers with freedom of choice,” Maheshwari said. “We want our users to be able to access everything, including items being sold by individuals, enterprises, and secondary markets.”
The team credits MechSE instructor Bruce Flachsbart with helping the startup. Flachsbart teaches ME 270, Design for Manufacturability, and focuses on various aspects of the manufacturing process. His class played a large role in SEAK’s development through its emphasis on innovation.
“He inspired the team to work harder and to persevere even when things seem bleak,” Maheshwari said.
The juniors expect that SEAK will help local stores become more profitable. “Students can now browse through selections in their bed or on the bus without setting foot into the store,” Maheshwari said. “Once they realize what these stores have to offer, the local economy and community will flourish.”
Bhatti and Maheshwari hope to expand the SEAK team in the future. For more information about SEAK, or if you are interested in partnering with or joining the SEAK team, contact them at atyab[figure="" class="align-center" width="10"]theseakapp [dot] com.