<p>Combining innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit with an eye toward helping protect the environment, NYU SPS graduate Adelaida Urrea took home the top prize at the 2023–2024 NYU SPS Capstone Fair. MS in Management and Analytics student Urrea created a practical business venture to help divert clothing items in Latin America from ending up in landfills.</p> <p>Of the fashion garments created globally, billions of clothing items are manufactured in Latin America annually, generating millions of tons of clothing-related waste each year. Given the significant amount of waste generated by the fashion industry, Urrea recognized the urgent need for action and proposed her Capstone business venture—S05, an online fashion marketplace.</p> <p>By generating strong and sustainable partnerships with fashion companies, her business venture aims to counteract the environmental impact of fashion brands while providing affordable options for consumers. For example, her online platform would offer discounted products from Latin American fashion brands with significant savings off of retail prices, featuring past collections of discounted items and samples.</p> <p>Working with NYU SPS Adjunct Assitant Professor Myron Gould, Urrea prepared a viable business plan built from credible research, using a process designed to control risk. “My role is to help keep Capstone students focused and assure their plans have a high propensity to achieve their defined objectives,” said Gould. “Plus, I want to help prepare students like Adelaida to show they are the ‘right person’ to run the proposed business and win the confidence of investors, partners, customers, and suppliers, among others.”</p> <p> </p>

<p>Following the honor of being recognized as the top 2023–2024 NYU SPS Capstone Fair project, Urrea is excited to begin work on implementing her business plan in the coming months and make her online fashion marketplace a reality.</p>

<p><span class="p-body"><a href="/content/sps-nyu/experience/how-youll-learn/consulting-practicums.html">NYU School of Professional Studies’ Capstone Program</a> provides graduate and undergraduate students the opportunity to apply their classroom learning in complex, real-world environments. The final product exemplifies the volume and depth of theoretical knowledge gained in the classroom. Held each spring, the annual Capstone Fair features projects that embody the School's innovative spirit. We invite students graduating in the spring and fall and summer graduates to participate. Students apply via form, and faculty can nominate individuals or teams.</span></p>

<p><span class="p-body">Every NYU SPS degree student can build a portfolio of work through hands-on learning experiences such as Real World projects, global field intensives, consulting practicums, internships, and capstone projects.</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">To learn more about our hands-on learning experiences, please visit <a href="/content/sps-nyu/experience/how-youll-learn.html" target="_blank">How You’ll Learn</a>&nbsp;for more information.</span></p>