Adam Toland

Class of 2024-2025

University of Notre Dame
Mathematics and Spanish

Why did you choose ESTEEM?

I came to ESTEEM to learn how to do good in the world by solving real world problems and having significant impact on people's lives. Having already been integrated into the IDEA Center community for two years during undergrad, I was inspired by the collaborative and innovative environment that exists here. To me, ESTEEM was the natural next step that I needed to take in order to obtain the perfect blend of both formal education and practical experience in entrepreneurship - a space that I have become extremely obsessed with and passionate about.

What is your capstone project?

Door Jack Security Systems is a start-up on a mission to make sure more kids get home at night. The company was founded by Nikolas Akerman, who invented and patented DoorJack. DoorJack is a secondary locking device that secures any internal door in under 5 seconds. After becoming involved in August 2023, Adam took Door Jack to the finals of the 2024 McCloskey New Venture Competition, and is now a co-founder.

This capstone project will generally focus on building Door Jack into an exciting start-up and exploring new markets that Door Jack can expand into. While the current focus is getting the product into K-12 schools nationwide and addressing the huge active shooter issue in the United States, Door Jack also believes that this safety product has applications in many additional spaces.

What do you hope to do after ESTEEM?

After ESTEEM, I intend on moving full-time into Door Jack. As a mission-driven individual who desires to have a huge impact, Door Jack has provided me with the ability to do good in the world, and get the experience of building a successful company from the ground up.

What do you like to do in your free time?

In my free time, I love being in nature (preferably by the sea), traveling and experiencing new cultures, standing up for social justice issues and those who don't have a voice, and spending quality time with my circle of friends and family.