2020 High School Utah Entrepreneur Challenge finalist

1. Unlabel
Unlabel: Connect, Empower, and Transform Stereotypes

2. Problem
Refugee and immigrant youth often struggle with language barriers, which makes it difficult to find friendships and a
sense of community. According to the Children’s Policy Initiative, this leads to isolation and higher dropout rates. We’ve
seen this from our own personal experiences. For example, English as a Second Language (ESL) students at our school are
separated from the other classes—leading to exclusionary labels and snap judgments like “charity case“ or “2.1 GPA.”
Although one-quarter of all U.S. students are immigrant children, there aren’t dedicated support or connection spaces at
our school. In our increasingly diverse world, it’s crucial to connect to other experiences and stories from an early age.

3. Solution
Unlabel is a mobile app to build intercultural friendships, help English as a Second Language students cross the language
barrier, and share stories to promote understanding. The app includes three main functions. The “Story Sharing” page is a
unique profile created by a student that includes interests, hobbies, traditions, and pictures. Through these profiles, other
students can gain insight into their culture and experiences. The “Convene Hub” is a public forum for students to plan
group hangouts and schedule tutoring, especially in English and translation. The Convene Hub allows students to easily
meet and request help. Finally, the “Bulletin Board” allows community-members, teachers, and students to post open
activities like interfaith dinners and volunteer projects. These activities are welcome spaces for students from all
backgrounds.

4. Market
Currently, there aren’t dedicated welcome spaces for students, or at least spaces that are widely used across different
locations and backgrounds. Thus, Unlabel is the first app of its kind designed by diverse youth, for diverse youth. Because
the app is more accessible than a physical space, Unlabel can be used widely within both schools and broader
communities. Unlabel app targets refugee and immigrant youth, but also includes native-English-speaking students who
are valuable mentors and friends. The app gives students a platform to not only share their stories and experiences, but
to find peer support and a sense of belonging.

5. Prototype