Student Entrepreneurs Launch New Round of Ventures through Suffolk Crowdfunding Course
Savory waffles sold from a food cart, a cinch-locking bag that deters theft of package deliveries, and a children’s book about a guppy who tries too hard to fit in are three of the latest Suffolk University student-run ventures that launched crowdfunding campaigns April 7. Suffolk’s Sawyer Business School introduced one of the nation’s first experiential courses on crowdfunding in fall 2016. The acclaimed course is now in its second semester.
“Crowdfunding is shaping up to be an important factor for startup success,” said Sawyer Entrepreneurship Professor Chaim Letwin. “To run a successful campaign one must be passionate about their venture. That is why it is important to not only teach our students why some campaigns are successful while others are not.”
The crowdfunding course came out of conversations between Letwin and Professor Jenni Dinger, a colleague in the Sawyer Business School. Dinger and Letwin co-teach the course and both research crowdfunding.
This semester’s ventures include:
Waffleholics, founded by Carmen Reddick and Max Taylor, aims to create the most delicious sweet and savory waffles, starting with a Boston food cart business.
Beyond Borders is a full-length political documentary film by David Apostolides and John Moran.
Baggabox prevents package theft by securing deliveries to your door in a cut-resistant, cinch-locking bag. The Baggabox team includes Jamie Manning, Faisal Janahi and Alonso Villarreal.
Goliath Gallon, founded by Zack Smith, makes a reusable, BPA-free and easily cleaned gallon bottle.
Cosmic Eye, founded by Ashton Viqueras-LaRochelle, utilizes augmented reality technology to enhance what you see through a telescope.
Kwapis Can’t Hang is a children’s book by Dana Prandato about a guppy that enters a new bowl and pretends to be someone she is not in a misguided attempt to fit in.
Claude and the Magic Garden is a children’s book by Chris Hassapis that tells a magical story of two brothers living in a foreign land and trying to fit in.
Pup Picnic, founded by Joe Tassinari, is a 2-in-1 dog bowl with a water bottle attachment.
More information on student crowdfunding campaigns from earlier this year can be found at www.suffolk.edu/business/undergraduate/71487.php
Suffolk University, located in historic downtown Boston, with an international campus in Madrid, is a student-centered institution distinguished by excellence in education and scholarship.
