Help a Start-up Stop Scammers!

DART Characters.

Scammers are using AI and other technology to steal money from millions of older adults, we aim to use the same technology be used to scale up effective interventions! 

Project description

Thinking about starting your own business or non-profit someday? Help us with our start up and gain valuable experience. Our project involves transitioning a research project into a sustainable not-for-profit enterprise to help older adult not get scammed. We are looking for students interested in researching potential customer segments and/or grant opportunities and helping with future business development planning.

Initial development of DART (Deception Awareness & Resilience Tools) has been funded by a National Science Foundation award, which has enabled us to create tools to help older adults with digital literacy including: a mobile game, Deepcover; and an interactive e-learning environment, DART Academy. We have intentionally designed our tools to be easily re-purposed for other audiences—so the potential impact of this project is worldwide. 

Project outcome

The project will culminate in a presentation of findings to the DART Collective team at an All Hands meeting. 

Project details

Timing, eligibility and other details
Length of commitment Negotiable 
Start time Anytime: Right Away
In-person, remote, or hybrid? Hybrid Project 
Level of collaboration Individual student project 
Benefits Work study
Stipend 
Who is eligible Juniors & Seniors 

Core partners

  • Students will be working directing with the Executive Director of DART Collective, the non-profit entity that we are building. There may also be opportunities to engage with business development coaches.

    https://dartcollective.net

Project mentor

Cynthia Stewart

Program Manager

Center for Information Integrity

Phone: (716) 645-6073

Email: cs287@buffalo.edu

Start the project

  1. Email the project mentor using the contact information above to express your interest and get approval to work on the project. (Here are helpful tips on how to contact a project mentor.)
  2. After you receive approval from the mentor to start this project, click the button to start the digital badge. (Learn more about ELN's digital badge options.) 
Start the Digital Badge

Preparation activities

Once you begin the digital badge series, you will have access to all the necessary activities and instructions. Your mentor has indicated they would like you to also complete the specific preparation activities below. Please reference this when you get to Step 2 of the Preparation Phase. 

Review DART Collective website (https://dartcollective.net/) to get an overview of the project and the tools we have developed. 

Keywords

business, customer discovery, non-profit, start-up, older adults, elders, senior citizens