University of Chicago students take a hack at the textbook and course materials market. From Ben Wieder at The Chronicle of Higher Education:
Nikhil G. Abraham, a graduate student at the University of Chicago, was standing in line at the campus bookstore last fall when he realized he was about to pay for something he’d already bought: the readings in his course pack.
Most of the articles in the photocopied collection of readings were available through a database of journals the university’s library already subscribed to, or could be found on a free public Web site.Mr. Abraham shared the insight with a fellow graduate student, Matthew E. Kopko, and a business idea was born: Sibylus, a cheaper, online alternative to printed course packs.
The team participated in the University of Chicago Booth School of Business’ New Venture Challenge, came in second place, and walked away with $18,000.
Campus Entrepreneurship 