Mar 29, 2011 - Claremont, Calif. -

In seeking to build a recruiting pipeline within The Claremont Colleges, Intuit initiated a kick-off event March 25: a cross-functional, 5-C “dream team” for the first ever “IdeaJam” at the undergraduate colleges. Three Mudders participated on the multi-college teams, and one Mudder was a member of one of the Top 3 teams.

IdeaJams bring together creative people to harness their energy and innovation on a specific issue. Matt McDermott '14 and David Lingenbrink '14, and Logan Kroloff '13 and three students from Claremont McKenna College were among the eight teams presented with the challenge to help Intuit determine how to increase use of its GoPayment credit card processing software. Intuit sought 5-C teams that included students with strengths in engineering, finance, strategy and marketing.

McDermott and Lingenbrink created a detailed mathematical model that impressed the judges. They were rewarded with a fourth-place finish and $50 Amazon.com gift certificate. Kroloff and his three teammates each received $150 Amazon.com gift certificates for their presentation which proposed a way for "end customers [to] think about GoPayment in the right way at the right time."

All teams will have an opportunity to meet with Intuit representatives at an upcoming networking event.

In less than two years, Intuit has developed more than 1,500 ideas through IdeaJam, and 22 new ideas are now “released and learning” in market.