https://vlab.virginia.edu/ilab/b/news/posts/a-better-way-to-rent-with-newsubleaseMon, 28 Aug 2023 18:35:00 GMTae514cbc-3b7b-4593-9af5-883c9a5da328:491e6527-31bb-46ec-b451-f5c05c4c1837Samantha KeeRooney Lee, a recent Darden MBA graduate from the class of 2023, has entered the realm of entrepreneurship with NewSublease, a startup poised to revolutionize the mid-term housing market. With a diverse background spanning HR, Six Sigma, analytics, business transformation, and product development, Lee is combining his expertise and entrepreneurial zeal to address a common challenge faced by students and professionals alike. Originally hailing from South Korea, Lee's journey took him across various corners of the United States before he joined Darden. With seven years of experience at Cummins, he honed his skills across a range of disciplines, which eventually inspired him to pursue an MBA to delve deeper into entrepreneurship. Lee's foray into entrepreneurship was sparked during an internship at Google, where he grappled with the difficulties of finding reliable subletting solutions for mid-term housing needs. This frustration laid the foundation for NewSublease, a platform designed to simplify and democratize the subletting process for the millions facing similar challenges. In the immediate future, NewSublease is focused on refining its product based on user feedback and establishing necessary legal frameworks, thanks in part to its victory in the eCup competition and secured seed funding. The startup aims to enhance its platform's reliability and scalability to cater to the winter break market by the fall. Looking further ahead, NewSublease's ultimate goal is to establish itself as the premier platform for affordable mid-term housing solutions, targeting a wide range of traveling professionals. The startup has already gained significant traction, boasting over 4,500 student users and listing more than 200 properties within a mere eight weeks. Among the early adopters are Lee's fellow Darden students, who have provided invaluable insights. Furthermore, the startup has collaborated with Darden to assist incoming and exchange students in finding suitable housing, earning commendation from the institution. Lee's journey underscores the importance of entrepreneurship as a fundamental skill set in the business world. He encourages his peers at Darden to embrace entrepreneurship, highlighting the wealth of resources available and the nurturing environment of Charlottesville. Lee emphasizes that entrepreneurship is a valuable perspective for individuals pursuing careers in various fields, offering a unique lens through which to make a meaningful impact. He urges students to seize the opportunity during their MBA program to experiment, learn, and lay the groundwork for their entrepreneurial aspirations. Rooney Lee's transition from a seasoned professional to an enterprising MBA graduate exemplifies the potential of combining diverse skills and experiences to effect meaningful change. His startup, NewSublease, stands as a testament to his commitment to addressing real-world problems with innovative solutions. As Lee continues to drive innovation through his venture, he serves as an inspiring figure to aspiring entrepreneurs both within and beyond the Darden community.https://vlab.virginia.edu/ilab/b/news/posts/transforming-the-audiobook-industry-with-krityThu, 24 Aug 2023 15:45:00 GMTae514cbc-3b7b-4593-9af5-883c9a5da328:f4af42fe-9e13-4520-a3e0-fc91afa825dfSamantha KeeAman Agasi, Aman Shrivastava, and Sahil Lamba are three mechanical engineers who co-founded Krity, a fully democratized audiobook marketplace. Through this platform, anyone can record audiobooks and earn based on their listenership. They initially got into entrepreneurship because of their interest in the power of technology to change the world in which they live, and while earning his MBA at Darden School of Business, Aman Agasi decided this was the time for the three founders to work together. Through the establishment of Krity, Agasi, Shrivastava, and Lamba aim to solve the problem of the growing creator community that possesses great voice-over talent but does not have an avenue to build a brand around their voice and narration style and profit from it. In addition to benefiting narrators, Krity also provides a more diverse option for listeners in choosing the type or tone of voice in which their story is read. Krity is on a mission to enable people to turn their passion for books into a source of revenue and in the process give voices to as many books as possible. Through Krity, the process of audiobook recording is made accessible to everyone. The founders also aim to fix the incentive structure of the audiobook industry to prioritize the narrators and distribute revenues directly to the people that create the maximum value for audiobook listeners. Finally, the company also intends to revive lost Indian literature and bring it to the mainstream through the new and emerging audio channel which is helping people reverse their growing disengagement with books. The founders of Krity emphasize the importance of clear thinking, championing the idea that the best test of this is to be able to “explain your whole value proposition in two sentences or less, [and] then you are onto something.” They advise others to distill ideas into simple, clear sentences which make sense. This provides one with a clear sense of direction and source of motivation to achieve one’s goals.Venture Profileentrepreneurshiphttps://vlab.virginia.edu/ilab/b/news/posts/predicting-success-with-invest-capital-aiWed, 16 Aug 2023 19:15:00 GMTae514cbc-3b7b-4593-9af5-883c9a5da328:a77c5a06-c51a-4a88-949e-8a32d7e1b427Samantha KeeErika Bahr is the Founder and CEO of Invest Capital AI, a startup that utilizes Machine Learning (ML) to predict startup success. With ten years of experience in the field, Erika is a results-driven professional who has guided client accounts in implementing AI and ML strategies from start to finish. She has led complex, large-scale data migration projects and provided marketing analytics consulting services. Erika has a proven track record of introducing new technologies that drive quantitative growth for global corporations such as Amazon Web Services, MetLife, Cisco, World Vision, Apex Clean Energy, Gerber, American International Group, and Ørsted. Under Erika's leadership, Invest Capital AI aims to revolutionize the investment industry by leveraging ML algorithms to make data-driven investment decisions. By accurately predicting startup success, the company empowers individuals and institutional investors to make informed investment choices, maximizing their returns while minimizing risks. Erika's extensive experience in guiding client accounts, leading data migration projects, and implementing ML strategies has provided her with valuable insights and expertise in the finance and technology sectors. She is passionate about using innovative technologies to transform the way investments are made, democratizing access to sophisticated investment strategies. With a strong focus on delivering exceptional results, Erika drives the growth and success of Invest Capital AI. She combines her deep understanding of AI and ML with her strategic vision to position the company as a leader in the field. Erika's expertise and proven track record make her a trusted partner for clients seeking cutting-edge investment solutions.Venture Profileentrepreneurshiphttps://vlab.virginia.edu/ilab/b/news/posts/empowering-students-through-ml-stem-prepMon, 14 Aug 2023 14:00:00 GMTae514cbc-3b7b-4593-9af5-883c9a5da328:cf4ceeac-fceb-4d13-a874-05ca6514a9edSamantha KeeMinnie Lahoti, the founder of ML STEM Prep, is a firm believer in the transformative power of education. At its core, ML STEM Prep isn't just another run-of-the-mill online tutoring platform. It's a supportive community of mentors and tutors who are dedicated to helping high school and college students on their STEM journey. Minnie started this initiative to tackle a very real issue: the daunting challenge that organic chemistry and calculus present, causing many students, over 70% for premed and over 50% for engineering, to change course. She's on a mission to ensure that students pursuing medicine and engineering can do so without being discouraged by these tough courses. What sets ML STEM Prep apart is the personalized touch. It's not just about tutoring; it's about building one-on-one relationships with students, providing them with the support and guidance they need to overcome hurdles and excel in their academic pursuits. The focus isn't just on getting through the material; it's about empowering students to chase their dreams, especially when they encounter the notorious "weed-out" courses like Organic Chemistry and Calculus. Minnie's journey resonates with many aspiring students. She immigrated to the United States from India to study chemical engineering at the University of Alabama. Along the way, she found her knack for teaching and started tutoring fellow students in organic chemistry and calculus in 2011. Even after earning her M.S. from the University of Houston, she continued to tutor STEM subjects. She worked in the automotive industry, contributing her skills in catalysis for aftertreatment systems in vehicles, until the pandemic hit, leading to her job loss. It was during this challenging period that she recognized the potential in online tutoring, and with determination and courage from a former professor, Damon DeVito, she established her own company, ML STEM Prep at Darden Business School. Minnie's advice to fellow entrepreneurs is both simple and profound: always remember your 'why.' This reminder keeps you going, especially during the tough times when giving up seems tempting. For Minnie, her 'why' is grounded in the impact she has on students' lives. As an immigrant herself, she knows the value of education and is driven to help other students achieve their dreams. ML STEM Prep isn't just about educational support; it's about fostering a sense of community, empowerment, and resilience. Through personalized mentorship and unwavering dedication, Minnie and her team are breaking down barriers and making education accessible to all, making sure that no student's dream is out of reach.Venture Profileentrepreneurshiphttps://vlab.virginia.edu/ilab/b/news/posts/a-new-way-to-enjoy-boozy-frozen-treatsThu, 10 Aug 2023 18:20:00 GMTae514cbc-3b7b-4593-9af5-883c9a5da328:f177d990-2c70-4ffa-9b7b-5af8d31aeb6bSamantha KeeHoi-San Guan is the visionary founder of Boozy Frozen Treats. As an MBA candidate and seasoned entrepreneur, Hoi-San brings her extensive experience in risk management, program leadership, and logistics operations to the world of frozen delights. With a deep passion for crafting exceptional frozen treats that captivate the taste buds and delight the senses, Hoi-San is committed to creating a brand that redefines the frozen dessert experience. Her dedication to quality, innovation, and a touch of indulgence is at the heart of Boozy Frozen Treats. Drawing on her expertise and creative flair, Hoi-San has meticulously curated a collection of boozy frozen treats that blend exquisite flavors, premium ingredients, and a hint of sophistication. Each creation is a testament to her commitment to delivering an unforgettable experience to dessert enthusiasts. The treats are made with fresh fruit and have no added sugars. Boozy Frozen Treats originated from the encouragement and praise of Hoi-San’s friends, as she first started making the treats for her friends and family. She was raised in an environment where food was used as a form of support and an expression of love for others, and this passion project eventually blossomed into a business. Although Hoi-San initially pursued a different career path, her extensive background in operations and her passion for continuous improvements proved invaluable in shaping her venture. Despite receiving constant encouragement from loved ones to start her own business , Hoi-San was hesitant to leave her full time job. However, her time at Darden School of Business presented the perfect opportunity to seize the reins of entrepreneurship and turn her passion project into a reality Drawing inspiration from her fond memories of food and social gatherings, Hoi-San set out to recreate those same warmth and happy experiences for others. Recognizing the prevalence of processed ingredients and excessive sugar in traditional alcoholic options, she identified an unmet in the market. By blending her passion for premium drinks with her entrepreneurial spirit, Hoi-San crafted a healthier, naturally sweet alternative tailored for networking events and other social settings. Through Boozy Frozen Treats, Hoi-San is not only offering a delightful frozen treat but also creating a unique social experience that brings people together. With her unwavering dedication to quality, creativity, and community, Hoi-San continues to drive her venture forward, leaving an indelible mark on the frozen treats industry.Venture Profileentrepreneurshiphttps://vlab.virginia.edu/ilab/b/news/posts/a-new-approach-to-athleisure-play-henryTue, 08 Aug 2023 13:50:00 GMTae514cbc-3b7b-4593-9af5-883c9a5da328:f325c527-1eac-4b66-b30f-2098d20b8733Samantha KeeEllie Jamison and Grace Collins are the founders of Play Henry, an apparel brand creating elevated activewear and accessories for pickleball players. Inspired by the social and athletic aspects of pickleball, they create pieces that seamlessly transition from active to social play, or as they call it, from court to cocktail. Their first product, the pickleball dress is designed as a shift dress, with a built-in bra for support and unattached, matching biker shorts to prevent the material from riding up. The dress is both technical and flattering so it can be worn for exercise, running errands, or grabbing a drink with friends. The pair are revolutionizing the athletic apparel industry, taking advantage of the current gap in the market for pickleball clothing, given the recent surge in the sport’s popularity. The two met at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business in 2022. In their first month, they turned to pickleball as a way to be active, socialize and decompress from school. After engaging with the pickleball community, they started to recognize a trend. Women loved grabbing drinks post-play but didn’t love doing so in their leggings or shorts. This sparked an idea… what if classic, flattering silhouettes were made with technical fabrics so women could feel comfortable and stylish both on and off the court. And thus, Play Henry was born. The name being an ode to their families (“Henry” is a family name for both Ellie and Grace), Play Henry is defined as a playful take on something classic. Ellie and Grace faced many challenges in initially creating and finding their brand voice. From these challenges, they learned that creating a successful, meaningful brand takes time, patience, and commitment. They are currently focused on launching a pre-order for their pickleball paddle and going into production with the manufacturer of their pickleball dress this month. The dress will be produced in the United States and available for purchase soon. You can join the waitlist today at playhenry.com. The two credit leadership within the Darden community, especially Damon Devito, for the encouragement to move forward with Play Henry. Ellie and Grace would advise aspiring entrepreneurs to ask as many questions as possible, and to not be afraid of asking for favors. They have learned that there are more people excited, willing and able to help than initially thought, and encourage others to take advantage of this support. In reflecting on their current experience with entrepreneurship, they see that perfection is the enemy of progress. It is important for them to produce high-quality products that add value to consumers while constantly iterating and improving.https://vlab.virginia.edu/ilab/b/news/posts/environmental-sustainability-with-petrichorFri, 04 Aug 2023 18:00:00 GMTae514cbc-3b7b-4593-9af5-883c9a5da328:65f51dcf-73c7-4c95-b7dd-5208ff7a348bSamantha KeeCurie Chang is the founder of Petrichor, an apparel creation and disposal startup that creates sustainable, affordable, and high-quality basic apparel. Embodying the principles of extended producer responsibility, Petrichor takes full accountability for the end-of-life environmental impact of its products. With a unique focus on designing specific end-of-life stages, each garment is thoughtfully crafted for recycling, upcycling, or natural decomposition. Petrichor’s mission is to reduce global textile waste through functional solutions. In the next 5 years, Petrichor’s goal is to become the go-to sustainable replacement for frequently used basic apparel. The company embarks on its journey with premium, 100% hemp tops, intentionally crafted for post-consumer mechanical recycling. This idea of environmental impact originated from Curie’s experience in witnessing firsthand the impacts of the 2020 Cameron Peak wildfires in Colorado. Seeing the sky disappear in a cloud of ash while people fled brought home the devastating feedback loop between climate change and wildfires. What she observed about the resulting displacement, health impacts, and recovery matched what she learned while working at the Federal Reserve Board -- that negative events hit disadvantaged groups harder. With this in mind, she began to think about what she could do to become a part of the solution. She started with a question she had always wondered about as a curious consumer of the fashion industry: “Where do my clothes go when I’m done with them?” This question inspired the founding of Petrichor to address one of the least environmentally sustainable industries: textiles and fashion. Petrichor strives to safeguard the environment and future generations through practical solutions, achieving this objective by crafting sustainable alternatives for essential garments and adopting end-of-life design principles. Curie would advise budding entrepreneurs to be ready to go where their ideas lead them. She reminds that whatever the idea is, the entrepreneur should “Know your support network, and what you can afford to lose.” She also emphasizes the importance of giving oneself grace in the face of the new challenges, triumphs, and failures that come with progress.Venture Profileentrepreneurshiphttps://vlab.virginia.edu/ilab/b/news/posts/roomme-avoiding-roommate-horror-storiesWed, 02 Aug 2023 15:00:00 GMTae514cbc-3b7b-4593-9af5-883c9a5da328:d3ed03e2-54b3-4734-985a-135029e79256Samantha KeeSebastian Oliver, Brian Bernard, and Dmitriy Telemtayev (pictured above, from left to right) co-founded RoomMe, a digital platform that helps college students find roommates. The three founders have always been interested in entrepreneurship and creativity through business and have found a way to implement this passion in their company. Sebastian is a recent graduate of the University of Virginia, having studied Computer Science and Economics, with multiple internships in the software and consulting fields. His love for working at the intersection of technology and business is evident through this work, with RoomMe being his fourth venture. Brian is a current student in the McIntire School of Commerce, studying Finance and Entrepreneurship. He first started cultivating an interest in the intersection of technology and entrepreneurship through drop shipping in high school. Now, he expounds upon that interest doing investment banking within technology. Dmitriy studies Quantitative Finance and Entrepreneurship at UVA, having always been interested in starting new things. These projects range from starting food resale in middle school to managing investors’ funds through a long/short equity model through high school and college. The founders' combined entrepreneurial vision and creativity are further enhanced by the technical erudition of software engineers, Ryan Chung and Mateen Afshari. Chung’s coding prowess and Afshari’s expertise in systems architecture have played an instrumental role in refining the RoomMe platform. RoomMe is the trio’s newest venture that all are working tirelessly towards success for. Dmitriy initially came up with the idea through YikYak, a popular anonymous social media app, and brought Sebastian and Brian together onboard. The trio and others in the community bonded over poor roommate-matching experiences in university. The out of state, in-state, and international students began to use their different yet similar perspectives to work towards alleviating this issue. The main goal of RoomMe is to help as many people as possible. From apartments to students, nothing brings the founders more joy than knowing they improved the operational efficiencies at an apartment or connected two students that end up becoming lifelong roommates. As long as RoomMe is able to make others’ lives easier, the venture has achieved success. Sebastian, Brian, and Dmitriy want to provide what they wish they had. They intend to provide a modern housing management solution and craft the best college roommate solution. The i.Lab presents a unique opportunity for the founders of RoomMe to learn from mentors and founders from diverse backgrounds. With so many driven entrepreneurs, the trio views the i.Lab as a great place to iterate ideas from many unique vantage points. They advise others to “trust your gut, work hard, and validate your proof of concept constantly.” The founders champion a good team and consistent work ethic, working under the idea that “culture is king.”Venture Profileentrepreneurshiphttps://vlab.virginia.edu/ilab/b/news/posts/pioneering-battery-technologies-with-torpelFri, 28 Jul 2023 14:30:00 GMTae514cbc-3b7b-4593-9af5-883c9a5da328:259f4034-8772-44fb-8aec-49352242f46fSamantha KeeRecent Chemical Engineering PhD graduate Chen Cai and current UVA professor Gary Koenig have worked together for years on battery research. They have discovered and developed an electrode manufacturing technique to load in more electroactive materials, resulting in batteries with longer lifetimes under a certain size. Their intended target is currently wearable/portable electronics with batteries that would ideally take up very little space. Chen started off his PhD under the advisory of Professor Koenig in 2018. The original electrode structure was for fundamental research about Li-ion transport in batteries. As the results yielded more interesting cycle stability, they saw the potential for further investment into this specific type of battery. As a current early-stage venture, Cai and Koenig are extensively optimizing the technology, discovering customers, and raising funds. The unique nature of a technology-based start-up company is creating a solution before there is an actual problem, then tailor the solution to real-world problems. They intend to maximize their experience at the i.Lab by gaining mentorship and taking advantage of networking opportunities. They also intend to learn as much as possible about different entrepreneurial techniques and continue “learning, developing, and creating.”Venture Profileentrepreneurshiphttps://vlab.virginia.edu/ilab/b/news/posts/eliminating-transaction-fees-with-pareWed, 26 Jul 2023 16:00:00 GMTae514cbc-3b7b-4593-9af5-883c9a5da328:1e4c43d3-8306-4f35-aa3d-1cbc5753d179Samantha KeeKarthik Ramu and Akhil Maheepathi are the founders of Pare, a company that helps small businesses combat high transaction fees by providing a service that allows them to accept payments with 0% transaction fees and provide consumers with 10% + rewards. Currently, their focus is primarily on restaurants, personally reaching out to small business owners and explaining how Pare can best support them and mitigate their pain points. The pair initially met at UVA’s top undergraduate consulting club, and have since discovered a shared passion for building things and startup creation. Before Pare, Karthik and Akhil built a meal exchange purchase platform, which led to the realization of just how much transaction fees impacted small businesses. Upon further research, they found that even small on-campus food trucks were paying $100/day and losing $25k/year to transaction fees. They explored this frustration and the emphasis on increasing scales, due to the fact that every other payment processor and/or pickup app has approximately the same rates. To address this major issue, Karthik and Akhil saw the opportunity to create Pare, alleviating the issue of these transaction fees through the use of crypto and blockchain technology. One of the biggest challenges that the two have faced so far is simplifying the user experience. Reducing the complexity of crypto projects is a major issue and barrier to entry to the common people. They are working on making the wallet creation process and on-ramping as simple as possible while maintaining a high level of security and compliance with regulations. The two have also learned to be more open to new ideas that come with change, embracing the fear that comes with uncertainty to advance for the better. Karthik and Akhil intend to make the most by learning from all the members in the batch, connecting with mentors and speakers, and getting strong feedback and advice from those around them. Regarding words of advice to future and developing entrepreneurs, the pair encourages others to find problems and create constant communication with users and anyone willing to give feedback. According to Karthik and Akhil, “It’s a hard journey, but it’s all about persevering.”Venture Profileentrepreneurshiphttps://vlab.virginia.edu/ilab/b/news/posts/revolutionizing-travel-with-nonstop-pointsMon, 24 Jul 2023 14:30:00 GMTae514cbc-3b7b-4593-9af5-883c9a5da328:9358fbd8-e065-4b0d-b4a4-56d8c2b81515Samantha KeePayton Turner is the founder of Nonstop Points, an affiliate marketing company that focuses on helping students, from undergraduate to law, MBA, or medical degrees be able to afford travel at a reduced price. Payton has always been entrepreneurial and enjoyed traveling. From a young age, whether it was a lemonade stand, or opening a small store in his garage to sell items he produced, Payton loved business. He always had a goal to work for himself and build businesses. While he loves to travel, he realized that it is a very expensive hobby, so he began researching the workings of points and miles and now uses them to travel the world for a significantly reduced price. Combining his passion for business with his interest in travel, Nonstop Points was born. People often sought Payton out for advice on how they too could travel on a budget, which is when he realized there was a need in the market to help others learn about award travel. To him, success looks like building a platform that is the go-to for budget student travel tips and tricks. More specifically, if he is “helping more students be able to travel, then Nonstop Points is a success.” Currently, he aims to scale his audience and be able to reach as many students and young individuals as possible. One of the biggest challenges that Payton has faced so far is getting the right partnerships into place. Balancing the best content with affiliate links (revenue) has proven to be an overlapping issue that he is working to overcome. At the i.Lab, his goal is to learn as much as possible. He wants to see how other founders go about problem solving as well as the systems and tools they implement to fix those problems and scale their companies. For Payton, the more he is able to connect with other founders and learn from their experiences, the better. Ultimately, Payton’s goal is to “help as many other young individuals, in life or at heart, be able to have the same great opportunities and experiences.” With regard to advice for budding entrepreneurs, he says to “just get started” on any problem one might want to solve, and let the details fall into place. While the process may seem overwhelming, the hardest part is just getting started.Venture Profilehttps://vlab.virginia.edu/ilab/b/news/posts/spot-fitness-putting-the-we-in-weightliftingTue, 08 Nov 2022 13:00:00 GMTae514cbc-3b7b-4593-9af5-883c9a5da328:a22a9d3f-aef6-46a6-84c8-165f0d6b7de8Jason BrewsterFor many individuals, fitness is simply a daily part of their lives. For CEO and co-founder of the Spot social fitness app, Jeremy Suh, it’s his lifestyle. Whether he’s doing calf-raises in a Chipotle line or a 3-hour chest workout, Jeremy lives to exercise. By combining this love for exercise with a passion for software programming in his daily life, Jeremy stumbled upon an idea to enhance his weightlifting experience. Spot is a student-founded social fitness platform that encourages and bolsters fitness accountability, as well as fosters community connectivity through photo sharing, workout logging, and social networking. Weightlifting is often seen as a solo activity. While people are together in gyms, they are most often working out and lifting alone, which doesn’t provide peer reinforcement and accountability in the “community,” which are two things Jeremy saw lacking from his gym experience. The idea for Spot formed when Jeremy realized he had difficulty even remembering the names of people at his gym. Was the familiar face over by the squat rack Juan? Or was it Jacob? Maybe Jason? The sense of a community amongst so many like-minded and similarly focused individuals was totally getting overlooked. Where was the peer-to-peer system for weightlifting? In addition to getting to know other people concurrently working out with him, Jeremy also realized there must be a better way to tracking his workouts. According to Jeremy’s friend, Aditya Kumar, who would soon join him in developing an application, “Many current weightlifting apps are very good at what they do functionality wise, but most have an outdated user interface and none offer an even remotely robust set of social features.” With determination to tackle this problem head-on, he contacted highschool friend Aditya Kumar, a relatively new, but passionate gym-goer. Aditya and Jeremy previously worked on a variety of projects together, ranging from science fairs to selling fidget spinners, in highschool, and their friendship grew as they both entered UVA as first year students in 2020. At UVA, Jeremy introduced Aditya to weightlifting, and meeting at the gym became a regular ritual for the pair. With Jeremy’s epiphany, they aligned around the apparent need to bring together avid gym-goers, and they began digging deeper into this void in the weightlifting community. While researching closely related weightlifting issues with no streamlined solutions, Aditya, who stepped into the COO role at Spot, recognized that the majority of current workout-logging apps were outdated and costly. The weightlifting community needed more than just a functioning “gym-Instagram,” it needed a feature-specific platform. Jeremy and Aditya began creating their minimal viable product with friends being their initial users. Over the summer of 2022, Spot evolved from an initial simple social media sharing to the application the weightlifting community needs, including specific features that have proven to help strengthen community, such as workout-logging and group challenges. Spot is a platform focused on weightlifting- and fitness-related content, with an emphasis on interacting with your local gym. This system helps users find others that are nearby while also incentivizing accountability through connections with the local gym community. Spot intends to build more immersive local weightlifting communities while being a one-stop fitness profile. As a longtime weightlifter, Jeremy has seen and experienced the importance of using community as a way to improve fitness accountability. In making Spot, Aditya and Jeremy hope to spread this inclusivity to others as they start to build a passion for weightlifting, this time with a little help from veteran weightlifters within their community who have been in their shoes. To join the Spot community, click here to download the iOS app. Furthermore, if you are interested in being a brand ambassador, please contact 571-758-8340.https://vlab.virginia.edu/ilab/b/news/posts/la-foi-jewelry-faith-brings-inclusivity-to-a-new-brandWed, 02 Nov 2022 18:00:00 GMTae514cbc-3b7b-4593-9af5-883c9a5da328:1a4597d9-7425-4a54-a644-56447c875711Jason BrewsterLA FOI JEWELRY was founded in 2021 by Darden alum Liana Lei. Born and raised in a small city in China, Liana grew up in a family of entrepreneurs and learned at an early age that nothing worthwhile comes easy. Her Dad used to tell her in order to add value and impact society, there will be trials and errors but if you love what you do, it will pay off. She began her own entrepreneurial venture when LA FOI, meaning “faith” in French, was born. Although Liana has experienced challenges in her early entrepreneurial journey, she distilled the lessons learned from each pitfall and launched the mission-driven jewelry brand to empower women in various industries. She and the co-founders, Eko Liu and Annie Shen, decided it was time to create a jewelry brand with a better meaning and a deeper level of inclusivity. Unlike other jewelry brands, LA FOI focuses on affordability and sustainability. The rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and hair accessories are constructed of brass, copper, and crystals. These products are adjustable from sizes 6-10, which aligns with their zero-waste policy, and are priced under $60. The brand goes far beyond fit and price. Liana endeavorsto support fellow women by donating 10% of profit to different women-focused foundations,including Stem for Her, Global Fund for Women, Anita B, Mental Health America, Fund for Homeless, and African Women’s Development Fund. In a saturated market, Liana’s goal is to show young professionals that you can look stylish and radiate confidence while supporting fellow women. Liana says, “I want to make charitable actions more accessible to everyone and educate people on their unleashed power of simply being mindful of what to buy. Liana has spent her summer with the UVA i. Lab incubator growing her skills and expanding her business. She admits being self-accountable can be difficult at times, but the program has driven her to do more. By week 3 of the program, Liana had a third of the inventory accounted for and introduced a retail omnichannel with cross-social platforms (Pinterest, Facebook store, and Instagram store) to drive online traffic to LA FOI Jewelry's official website and expand to local stores for offline presence and increased brand awarenes. She engaged with the Shopify Logistics team and Pinterest Marketing Managers to learn best practice. With the help of Craig Honick, mentor assigned by Jason Brewster, Director of iLab Incubator program, Liana sharpened her storytelling skills and conveyed a more convincing message with her updated website, including adding specific chats with the jewelry designers behind the scene and revealing the importance of each women foundation and why LA FOI chose them. Liana says “being an entrepreneur is about staying on your toes and pivoting directions when needed.” Having those in the program with the same mindset helped her climb hurdles and achieve progress organizationally. Throughout the 10-week incubator program, Liana scaled the business than initially anticipated. She hosted two successful pop-up shops with an additional $700+ in revenue and secured a long-term partnership with a local boutique to boost LA FOI’s offline presence. With help of the summer cohort, Emily Ashtiani and Wynston Archer modeled for this summer's best-selling collection. By week 6, Liana was able to bootstrap a high-quality photo shoot with over 200 edited photos to upgrade the current official Instagram account and launch their very own Pinterest board. LA FOI sold its first lab-grown diamond and by the end of the summer, the LAFOI_Jewelry Instagram account reached over 1000 followers, which is a great milestone for such a startup in a crowded market. Looking forward, LA FOI plans to continue to grow organically by adding a new collection to the current six: The Rainbow, Vintage, Grande, Eclat, Essential, and Together collection. She is currently working closely with the designers and women supporting foundations in preparation for the next collection to be revealed in Q1 2023. She hopes to have her consumers personally choose the next foundation to give back to in the near future and increase the engagement between female jewelry designers, women foundations, and caring customers.https://vlab.virginia.edu/ilab/b/news/posts/vibez-music-democratizing-song-choiceMon, 31 Oct 2022 16:00:00 GMTae514cbc-3b7b-4593-9af5-883c9a5da328:d729d268-79f7-4661-8b8a-5db98fbf5a80Jason BrewsterVibez Music was founded in March of 2019 by Cresta Campbell, Trey Winn, Jordan Holsey, and Rehan Chaudhry. The founders didn't initially picture themselves as entrepreneurs in their undergraduate years at UVA, but they noticed something was missing when it came to listening to music while they were together. Although Cresta’s favorite genre is Afro R&B, Trey’s is Hip-Hop, and Rehan enjoys Rap, they realized there was no way to share these flavors of music without passing around a single phone or searching through a playlist. Vibez Music was born to fix that. Vibez offers a collaborative listening experience that seamlessly connects users to a single real-time playlist (or “Vibe”) that allows them to add songs to the queue, vote, and see what’s next. In other words, Vibez is a modern-day jukebox. Vibez currently requires hosts (the person playing the music) to have a premium Spotify subscription, but guests only need the Vibez Music app to see nearby Vibez or join with a Vibe code. The company is currently offering three different listening modes (Voting Based, Turn Based, and Approval) that are meant to tailor a Vibe based on the desired control settings and number of guests. They have plans to expand on these “Vibe Modez” and develop more ways for users to interact with each other going forward. Whether it's in restaurants and bars, while frequenting fraternity parties, or by simply hanging out with friends, curating the right Vibe is important. Now, Vibez Music takes the pressure off the host and encourages those attending to interact with each other. Trey Winn is a music major who loves studying how music connects people and Cresta Campbell is an avid music listener who’s always enjoyed facilitating vibes (or being “on aux”). Based on their anecdotal research and expertise, Vibez Music has curated a service where inclusivity is encouraged and needed. They hope their app can allow people to show off their favorite new songs while simultaneously discovering their friends’ vibe. Throughout this summer, the UVA i.Lab helped bring this idea to life. In week one, the team discussed what themes and designs they wanted in the app, after which 8-12 people provided testing. The following week, they pushed the platform to UVA fraternities while continuing to address bugs and changes that would constitute much of their next update. By week 5, Vibez had met with a number of local Charlottesville businesses, including Crozet Pizza, Biltmore, Common House, Asado, and House of Cuts Barber Studio, where they were able to gather feedback and gauge interest from potential users. The culmination of testing and socializing the idea in these first weeks allowed the group to introduce some impactful upgrades to the app’s functionality and user interface. In week 8, these upgrades came to fruition through a new App Store update and an event with Crozet Pizza where approximately 20 people remarked that “the idea is genius and super cool.” The i.Lab incubator program also allowed Vibez to undertake important administrative steps and progress on key issues for the business. The founders set up their internal working infrastructure, made important progress on licensing considerations, updated their website at www.vibezmusicapp.com , made use of graphic design resources, and created a promotional video that encapsulates all of what Vibez has to offer. Another mark of success was a spike of 800 downloads in Italy over the summer with no international promotion, reflecting the app’s ability to impact large concentrated groups and catch on fast. Moving forward, Vibez is hopeful to drive similar levels of engagement in college towns like Charlottesville. They plan on creating a strong presence on grounds for Welcome Week and beyond, and they aim to partner with numerous student organizations that would like to facilitate their music with Vibez. The founders feel the app has the potential to truly enhance social gatherings and introduce a new dynamic to partying. From a business perspective, Vibez has high hopes for establishments that want to upgrade their customer experience. The founders are in the process of developing a means to work directly with a variety of physical stores. They will offer a suite of enhanced features, modez, and data to subscribing businesses and introduce a never-before-seen level of interactivity between establishments and their customers. Vibez Music is currently accepting sign-ups for their business pilot program, through which they will rollout and test paid business solutions with different establishments. Please fill out this form if interested in joining the pilot: Vibez Music Business Pilot Program Ultimately, Vibez Music aspires to be a revolutionary service to anyone who enjoys the music in their space. The founders are excited at the potential of Vibez and the chance to introduce a level of democracy and fun to the listening experience. You can trust they will be working hard to improve their product and spread good Vibez all around grounds this fall! Download Vibez today and start democratizing music!https://vlab.virginia.edu/ilab/b/news/posts/earnestly-coFri, 28 Oct 2022 15:15:00 GMTae514cbc-3b7b-4593-9af5-883c9a5da328:0ff2f65f-b55f-411f-ad1b-539341b98e9fJason BrewsterFrustrated with the waste created by thoughtless gifts that end up in storage cabinets, junk drawers, and landfills, Emily Ashtiani launched Earnestly , a corporate gifting concierge. Emily is a passionate champion for customer experience, which is one of the main reasons she decided to start her venture. Earnestly was born from Emily’s time leading a wide portfolio of initiatives within Deloitte Digital, at the intersection of best-in-class technology and empathetic, user-first design. “After sending many gifts to clients and mentors during celebratory project milestones and holidays while working as a consultant,” she said, “I knew from experience how much help companies need when it comes to adding a personalized touch to their gifts.” The solution is Earnestly. It functions as an all-in-one corporate gifting service that empowers busy leaders by helping them choose meaningful gifts that improve customer and employee retention rates. Earnestly has been a labor of love for Ashtiani. She describes her business as “shopping for delight,” and she wants to help her clients – and those who receive the gifts – to feel a strong sense of joy and marvel in response to the gifts Ashtiani curates and sends. Working on projects for which she has a personal affinity helps her understand the ethos of her clients, an important part of helping them choose high-impact gifts. “Every engagement I decide to work on, whether it be rewarding pitch judges for volunteering their time or helping brides celebrate after selecting and signing their chosen wedding venue, I get to witness the recipient’s positive experiences and become a part of their story,” Ashtiani said. One strong example of a previous client experiences comes in the form of LinguaeMundi, an international translation services firm based in Portugal. The company wanted to do something nice for their clients, and Earnestly worked closely with LinguaeMundi to tell their story with unique products from Portugal-based artisans, as well as hand-written notes with their branding and a personalized message. These gifts surprised and delighted their clients, and the owner even received a plethora of text and LinkedIn messages thanking him for the gesture. There was another unexpected result too. When it was time to renew yearly contracts, the negotiated rates increased, and the working relationship between LinguaeMundi and their clients were better than before. They even hired Earnestly for another round of gifts to send their clients. At that point, Ashtiani knew she was doing something right. On trend, Earnestly sources unique gifts from a network of small businesses, in addition to coordinating fulfillment and delivery for clients. Ashtiani has even found creative ways to work with her classmates and help uplift their ventures too—some of whom were former participants in the i.Lab incubator. “I was really excited to have multiple opportunities to source from and collaborate with past i.Lab participants such as Gretchen Pace ( Goose & Willow ), Elizabeth Blankenship ( By Eilly ), Liana Lei ( La Foi ), and Charity Dinko ( NorthShea ). It’s been really fun and energizing to work closely with these talented founders. The stories behind how they created their ventures and products are inspiring to not only myself, but to the recipients as well.” Ashtiani keeps a small, close-knit network to make sure every product is up to grade. The most important thing Ashtiani learned through this process is the importance of a strong network and supportive mentors. She has met many people who have given her advice on sales, legal, and market strategy, to name a few things. Some of these mentors include Damon DeVito and Murry Pitts. Early supporters such as MJ Toms, Maggie Dodson, and Carolyn Miles were critical as well. Having this network available to assist her has been instrumental as she continues to grow Earnestly. Ashtiani, a recent graduate of the full-time MBA program at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, has enjoyed the journey of entrepreneurship. She started Earnestly during her second year at Darden, because she wanted to take the risk to find out what kind of value and impact she could create in the world. One of her recent clients, Damon Devito, says “Emily has already helped two of my businesses with projects that had been shelved or stuck because we don't have (or need) a director of gift giving. Earnestly serves that role for us and it's been so impactful that one of the gifts inspired a broader marketing campaign featuring women led startups." The results were beyond Ashtiani’s initial projections. Earnestly’s booked revenue has increased by 150% over the past few months. Ashtiani is looking forward to servicing new clients and is excited to see how her venture continues to grow and take shape. Earnestly offers free 30-minute consultations with prospective clients. You can find out more by visiting her website www.Earnestlyco.com or contact her at emily@earnestlyco.comhttps://vlab.virginia.edu/hoos-venturing-fall-2021/Mon, 11 Oct 2021 21:42:00 GMTae514cbc-3b7b-4593-9af5-883c9a5da328:dbd587fd-b1d1-4eaf-97d3-d54b0b6f84df