Entrepreneurial spirit is thriving within Utah State University's computer science department, as student Tanner Helms and Professor Chad Mano gear up to present a solution designed to simplify trade tariffs. Helms, a recent bachelor's graduate, alongside his academic mentor Mano, are scheduled to appear at USU’s Science Unwrapped program to discuss their AI-driven venture that could potentially ease the burden of customs paperwork for businesses worldwide.
The upcoming talk titled "Tackling Tariffs" will take place on October 3 at 7 p.m., in the Emert Auditorium, Room ESLC 130 of the Eccles Science Learning Center on USU's Logan campus, according to USU Today. The event promises to enlighten attendees on how Helms and Mano utilized advanced technology to try to, and importantly, streamline a process often mired in regulatory complexity and change. With admission free and open to all ages, the evening looks set to engage a wide audience, extending beyond the students and faculty of Utah State.
Helms' journey into the entrepreneurial realm has been accompanied by tangible success, having won the $20,000 Grand Prize at the 2025 Tim Draper Utah Entrepreneur Challenge alongside his classmate Bryce Judy, as USU Today reported. This prize served as a financial catalyst for their startup, Tarifflo, which is predicated on their artificial intelligence innovation.
"We’re very excited to have Tanner and Chad joining us, as we continue our ‘Celebrate Undergrad Research’ series during USU’s Year of Undergraduate Research," said Brynja Kohler, Science Unwrapped chair and associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences, as per USU Today.
