Imagine this scene: it’s the day before the exam, and once again, you find yourself overwhelmed. You keep telling yourself:
“If only I had one more day to review everything…” “I swear, next time I’ll be 100% prepared.” “Starting tomorrow, I’ll study a little bit each day.”
But the days go by, the weeks pile up, and at the next exam session, you find yourself in the same situation.
Does this sound familiar? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Many university students face time management issues and anxiety, which significantly affect their performance and mental well-being. Alessio Gandelli and Gabriele Salvi have experienced these challenges firsthand, and this led them to turn their experience into an opportunity: the creation of StudyBuddy.
From the idea to StudyBuddy: the contribution of the School of Innovation
After recognizing how widespread this problem was, Alessio and Gabriele started exploring possible solutions. Thanks to the University of Trento, Alessio had the opportunity to participate in the activities of the School of Innovation (SOI), where he discovered what it means to create a startup and develop an effective solution to tackle a real problem.
The journey at the School of Innovation
The School of Innovation was a key pillar in the development of StudyBuddy. Through courses and workshops focused on the various stages of developing an innovative idea, our project took shape and moved closer to becoming a real product. At SOI, we not only acquired technical skills but also essential soft skills like public speaking, teamwork, and adaptability. We put these skills to the test during the “Design Your Future” challenge held at the MuSe in Trento: an entire night dedicated to challenge-based learning, where we had to think quickly and work effectively as a team. But the most valuable aspect of the experience at SOI was meeting people of different ages, backgrounds, and fields of study, all united by a desire to innovate. It was a rich environment full of exchanges and inspiration, where every encounter could turn into a spark, an idea, or a new collaboration.
What is StudyBuddy?
StudyBuddy is an all-in-one platform designed to simplify university students’ lives. It offers practical tools to organize study schedules, plan exams, and manage time more efficiently, such as:
- Organizing exams and the chapters to study.
- Creating to-do lists and notes in a single platform.
- An advanced timer to track study time, inspired by the Pomodoro technique. Our team is working on developing new features, including automatic exam scheduling based on university data, which will allow for personalized and flexible study plans. Soon, it will also be possible to find a study buddy to prepare for exams together, sharing the journey and supporting each other.
A special thanks to the School of Innovation
The experience at the School of Innovation in Trento was crucial for our project. SOI provided us with the tools, skills, and network necessary to turn a simple idea into a concrete reality. We are grateful for everything we have learned and for the opportunity to share our story. Learn more about StudyBuddy and access the beta at studybuddy.it.