The Ennovar Institute at Wichita State University has gained several new industry partners this quarter, many of which could pave the way for long-term collaboration and applied learning opportunities.
In the past two months, Ennovar, the Institute of Emerging Technologies and Market Solutions, has engaged with local companies Fliphound, Clutch Studio and Alltite and national companies Dell and Commvault, engaging 40 student employees in applied learning opportunities in solutions reference architecture, coding and content development for web and mobile apps.
Fliphound, which allows media professionals to advertise, manage, create and publish digital content on digital billboards, engaged three Ennovar student assistants over a period of two months to assist with coding content for the Fliphound website.
“The Ennovar team was instrumental in getting our web content designed and implemented,” said Fliphound President and Co-founder Brandon Shuey. “The result has been a noticeable increase in web traffic over the last 60 days.”
A new partnership with Wichita-based Clutch Studio may also lead to a complex long-term engagement. Ennovar reached out to Clutch Studio CEO Carlos Fernandez recently for mobile app development expertise, and the call has led to job opportunities for Wichita State students.
"I am extremely impressed with the talent coming out of Ennovar," said Fernandez. "They're teaching the skills I will need as an employer to continue providing technology-forward solutions to Clutch clients."
The third local partnership with local bolting equipment and calibration service provider Alltite, is the result of a reunion between Ennovar software development director Kenton Hanson and Alltite CEO Tom Smith at Wichita’s 1 Million Cups program.
“Having known Kenton for some time, I understood he was probably doing something interesting,” said Smith. “When we reconnected at 1 Million Cups, we quickly set up an appointment, and it was obvious from the start that Alltite was a great fit with Ennovar.”
“In just a few short meetings, Ennovar was able to quickly understand how we wanted to develop our software to take it to the next level,” said Nathan Spearman, Alltite chief financial officer.
Ennovar is providing maintenance services for Alltite’s custom calibration documentation software TorqueWare. They will also help with the expansion of the company’s iTITE Software and possible development of a new calibration program.
“We will be able to expand the capability and functionality of TorqueWare and iTITE, our proprietary platforms,” said Spearman. “We count it a privilege to work with such valuable resources located right here in our community.”
In its current capacity, the program will supply applied learning opportunities for four students, with the opportunity for expansion.
New Jersey-based Commvault started working with Ennovar last fall and recently visited Wichita to set up an environment and provide training for Ennovar staff and students to use their data protection and information management solutions.
Ennovar is also continuing its partnership with well-known computer technology giant Dell. Last year, Ennovar wrapped up a significant solutions reference architecture program for Dell, and recently extended the program to include the development of additional web application and maintenance services, which will employ five students.