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Help a ND Startup Now – Vote for Be More Colorful!

As a semifinalist for the 2023 Yass Prize, Be More Colorful is also in the running for the prestigious Parents Choice Award. You can help this North Dakota startup win the $100,000 Parents Choice Award prize by voting every day through November 25th.  If Be More Colorful wins the $100,000 prize, they will use the award to start a fund that provides virtual reality headsets to schools that can’t afford them. They also will donate one VR headset to every public and private middle school and high school in their home state of North Dakota. Vote now: yassprize.org/vote.

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READ OUR YASS PRIZE PRESS RELEASES

North Dakota startup awarded $200,000, becomes semifinalist for $1 million grant

Fargo-based immersive media company, Be More Colorful, has advanced to the semifinals of the 2023 Yass Prize, an award that recognizes and rewards innovative approaches to education. As a testament to its innovation, Be More Colorful will receive a $200,000 grant for its CareerViewXR platform, positioning the company to vie for the coveted $1 million Yass Prize next month.

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North Dakota startup receives national recognition, becomes eligible for $1M prize

Be More Colorful, the Fargo-based company behind the CareerViewXR career exploration platform, is announcing its selection as a quarterfinalist for the 2023 Yass Prize. This national accolade, nicknamed the “Pulitzer of Education Innovation,” is part of the STOP Awards initiative, which stands for Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding and Permissionless education.

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North Dakota startup awarded $200,000, becomes semifinalist for $1 million grant

North Dakota startup receives national recognition, becomes eligible for $1M prize

ND Startup Be More Colorful Joins Elite Nationwide Cohort through SETDA Emerging Partners Program

Michael Bush

Creative Lead

Maddysen Boecker

Communications Manager
[email protected]

Maddy has a variety of creative experience under her belt from over the past few years and enjoys learning new things. She has been involved in video and podcast editing, copywriting, email campaigns, social media management, website design, and more. Her experience and understanding of many aspects of pre-production, production, and post-production helps her be an asset for the team at any stage.
B.S. Animation, minors in Film Production and Graphic Communication – MSUM May 2020
Member of Team BMC since April 2022
Primary Roles:
  • Highlights company news through email and social media campaigns
  • Composes unique and thoughtful copy for blogs, press releases, and other needs
  • Assists in the creation of flyers, ads, and other collateral.

Kryss Geray

Post Production Specialist
[email protected]

Kryss has worked in several different industries, including as a test engineer at a local Fargo company.  As a test engineer, she helped with quality assurance to ensure all products met the highest standards, tested and documented all products, and collaborated on more effective and efficient ways of completing these tasks. She is proud to have worked on agricultural equipment such as acoustic material flow sensors and electronic motor and hydraulic controls, along with aviation equipment such as the Stratus ADS-B Receivers, and recoverable data modules.
Education
Member of Team BMC since March 2022
Primary Roles:
  • Oversees initial processing of all 360° media
  • Provides quality assurance for 360° photos and video content
  • Proofreads tour content meticulously

Michael Bush

Creative Lead

Drew Swenson

Media Production Manager
[email protected]

Drew is a passionate media enthusiast and self-proclaimed audiophile and cinephile. His creative journey spans music, podcasts, experimental video, film photography, and 3D printed Polaroids. Initially studying musical theatre at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, Drew discovered media production in his upperclassman years. He is half the creative force behind the band Hawthorne Park, created NDSU’s SODAA “Reviewable Content,” a free content library  with over 100 videos, and hosted the podcast Quarantine Soup.

A licensed drone pilot, Drew brings a unique aerial perspective to his projects and actively contributes to the local film community as a member of The North Dakota Film Society. Venturing into Virtual Reality (VR), Drew continually pushes the boundaries of his creative expression.

B.F.A. Musical Theater, minor in Media Production – UWSP May 2018
Member of Team BMC since August 2021
Primary Roles: 
  • Leads direction for all 360° media scouting trips and shoots
  • Supervises production team
  • Oversees creation of audio assets
  • Inventory Management
  • Equipment R&D

Maddy

Creative Lead

Michael Bush

Creative Lead
[email protected]

B.A. 2D/3D Animation – MSUM May 2020
Member of Team BMC since February 2021
Primary Roles:
  • Dynamically animates in 2D and 3D
  • Meticulously designs UI and UX elements
  • Formulates graphics for print and web use
  • Champions XR research & development
  • Guides efforts of the creative team

Matt Chaussee

Co-Owner, Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer
[email protected]

Matt is the Chief Executive Officer and co-owner of Be More Colorful. He has extensive experience in technical services administration, higher education, teaching, and technology training initiatives. While Matt’s role is primarily focused on business development and outreach, he is a self-professed lifelong learner who feels he has found his life’s calling in being able to learn about, explore, and share the amazing diversity of careers available to students today.
B.S. Mathematics minor Music and Psychology – NDSU December 2005
Masters of Business Administration – NDSU May 2009
Cofounded Team BMC in August 2016
Primary Roles:
  • Spearheads business development
  • Nurtures sales efforts
  • Amplifies community outreach
  • Coordinates workflow development

Katie Chaussee

Majority Owner, Co-Founder, Chief Administrative Officer
[email protected]

Majority Owner, Co-Founder, Chief Administrative Officer
Katie is the Chief Administrative Officer and majority owner of Be More Colorful. She has a strong background in customer service and a keen eye for creating captivating visuals, both defining characteristics of the company. Katie was Be More Colorful’s first VR photographer and has served the company as an image processor, experience builder, and quality assurance specialist. In her current role, Katie is the key administrator for Be More Colorful’s in-office operations where she works to adapt and refine workflows for a talented team of creative professionals.
B.S. Psychology minor Art – NDSU May 2003
Cofounded Team BMC in August 2016
Primary Roles:
  • Coordinates workflow development
  • Oversees various aspects of office management
  • Manages various purchasing decisions
  • Maintains HR and payroll functions
  • Formulates creative marketing ideas

Michael Bush

Creative Lead