Technology StarTUp Jumpstarts Career
Working with a nonprofit technology company in the StarTUp gave Emily Vogel ’22 a unique experience that provided inspiration for their own venture.
As a computer science undergraduate, Emily Vogel began working for SecurEd Inc., a company founded in 2017 by Sidd Kaza and Blair Taylor, professors in the Department of Computer and Information Sciences. SecurEd provides free tools and curriculum needed for faculty and industry to effectively teach cybersecurity. The company’s Director of Operations Paige Zaleppa ’19, ’21 is also a TU alumna.
Vogel worked with SecurED while completing a master’s in computer science at TU. Their work focused on CLARK, the largest compilation of free cybersecurity curriculum for educators in K–12 and university settings.
“I had the unusual opportunity to be part of a startup from the ground up,” says Vogel. “I watched this small organization deal with growing pains. As the team grew from 4 to 15 employees, I was soon mentoring and working with a larger group of developers.”
“ As the team grew from 4 to 15 employees, I was soon mentoring and working with a larger group of developers. ”
While at TU, Vogel also served as co-president of Software Engineering Club, planning and presenting technology-oriented workshops. Their experience was rounded out with software engineering internships at two of the region’s top consulting companies.
Computer science lecturer Jal Irani’s blockchain course opened their eyes to a new business possibility, which they have continued to develop in the StarTUp’s Accelerator Program. Mint Print, LLC uses blockchain technology to give consumers the ability to purchase, lend, give away, and even resell books they buy digitally. “We are looking to get a beta of the platform out. Using blockchain, you can codify the digital ownership of books, something that other platforms currently struggle with,” explains Vogel.
Vogel is now working as a software engineer at Vulnerability Research Labs.