What It’s Like … to Transform a Patent into a Product

As a computer science major, Xandria Bramble ’25 ’26MBA was used to building things through code. But in Rollins’ 3/2 AMP program, which allows students to earn a BA and MBA in just five years, she discovered a new challenge: building an idea into a real-world venture. Alongside her Crummer Graduate School of Business teammates in SubQ Six, Bramble helped transform a NASA-developed imaging technology into a potential medical device for better vein detection without contrast dyes, ultrasound equipment, or complex setup—an effort that ultimately earned the team the $10,000 grand prize in the 2025 NASA Patent Remix Challenge. Bramble shares what it has been like to combine her computer science background with newfound business acumen, work closely with her teammates, and develop a venture from the ground up.

I graduated Rollins as a computer science major, but I always felt like I wanted to pursue something more than just working in tech. The opportunity to join the 3/2 AMP program and earn my MBA through Crummer felt like a good chance to broaden my experience and find interesting connections between computer science and business. Instead of finishing my undergraduate degree and then applying to business school later, I was able to transition straight into the MBA program.

That combination of disciplines turned out to be the perfect preparation for the NASA project. The work actually started as part of our MBA capstone course. Every student in the class had to choose a NASA patent from the agency’s technology portfolio and create a two-minute pitch video explaining how it could be commercialized. From there, the class narrowed the field to five ideas, and then we chose which teams we wanted to join. Once our group formed, the real work began. We had presentations every two weeks, and everything was in phases: the business model, marketing, operations, and financials. I served in data analytics and quality assurance, ensuring analytical rigor and operational excellence across every deliverable.

By the time we learned about the NASA Patent Remix Challenge, we recognized that our class project aligned strongly with its goals and saw an opportunity to take it further, eventually winning the grand prize. We’d been told there were around 400 other pitches in the competition, so hearing that our team had won the grand prize felt completely unreal.

As an international student from the Cayman Islands, I never really foresaw something like tihs happening. I came to Rollins partly because the environment felt familiar in size and scale. I was nervous about going to a very large university with huge lecture halls, so the small classrooms and close-knit campus were really important to me. That kind of personalized environment has made it easier to grow, develop confidence, and take advantage of opportunities like this.

Our SubQ Six team—which includes me, Ava Ager ’26MBA, Oliver Alcorn ’26MBA, Ryan Procopio ’26MBA, McKenzie Steuerer ’26MBA, and Matheus Westphalen ’24 ’26MBA—is currently entering other competitions so we can raise additional capital and continue developing the idea.

Building the Concept

“Our team focused on a NASA-developed technology called the Subcutaneous Structure Imager, a near-infrared imaging system originally designed for use in extreme or resource-limited environments. We reimagined it as a handheld device that could help clinicians and first responders visualize veins beneath the skin in real time. The original idea came from my teammate Ava, whose sister is a firefighter and whose mother works as a nurse, so she wanted to come up with a product that would make their jobs easier. From there, the assignment turned into something much bigger. We had to build a full commercialization plan—writing a proposal, creating a pitch video, and developing detailed financial projections.”

Gathering Feedback

“One of the most valuable parts of the project was getting feedback outside the classroom. We had to figure out exactly who our market would be, so we reached out to different organizations to gather input. At one point we met with a chief nursing officer and walked her through our idea, and she seemed really on board with it. Getting to talk to higher-ups in an organization like that was a really interesting experience because it helped us understand how the product could actually fit into real clinical environments.”

The Hardest Part

“When we first started working together, I didn’t realize how much we would have to think through every detail. Over the course of about six months, we went from an idea to a full venture concept. We built projections all the way out to 2032, figuring out how much money to allocate to research and development, marketing, equipment, and professional services. We didn’t want the plan to feel too hypothetical, especially if we were eventually going to pitch to investors.”

From Nerves to Confidence

“Presenting was another skill I had to develop quickly. I never felt I was a strong presenter. One of the earliest moments that pushed me out of my comfort zone was during orientation for the MBA program. We were given a case study and had only about 24 hours to work on it before presenting our analysis. At the time I remember thinking, what is happening? It felt overwhelming, but it forced me to push myself and learn how to project confidence even when I felt nervous. By the time we were presenting our capstone project to audiences that included Crummer alumni and people from NASA, I felt much more comfortable and confident.”

Faculty Support

“Dr. Peter McAlindon, entrepreneur-in-residence at Crummer, played a huge role in guiding the process. His guidance and the way he structured the course really pushed us forward. The regular presentations every two weeks, the phases we had to work through, and his thoughtful feedback helped keep us on track. He also met with teams individually to talk through our ideas and suggested different people we could talk to for feedback. He encouraged us to look into startup competitions and networking opportunities to help us better understand our market.”

The Crummer Edge

“I’ve always been a pretty quiet person and not someone who naturally talks to a lot of people I don’t know. But in the 3/2 AMP program, you’re constantly working in teams, which requires you to build skills in communication, problem solving, and adaptability. During my first year, almost every assignment involved group work, and over time, that helped me get used to collaborating with others. By the time we started the capstone course, I felt like I’d learned how to communicate much better with teammates and contribute to discussions. Our SubQ Six team ended up being one of the strongest and most successful teams I’ve worked on.”

Turning Ideas into Impact

“Looking back, the biggest thing I learned is what it actually takes to build a product from the ground up. The whole experience showed me how much work goes into turning an idea into a product. When I first chose computer science as a major, I was fascinated by the idea of using code to build things. This project expanded that interest into a different space—building something from the ground up and thinking about how it could actually impact people. That’s always been something that interested me, and now I feel like I’ve had the chance to experience what that process really looks like.”

Next Steps

“We’re now a Florida registered company, and we have entered other competitions to build our capital. We’re working toward having our evaluation license from NASA within the next year or two so we can actually test and research our products with customers.”