Month: May 2025

SideQuest Creators Secure $2,500 Entrepreneurial Excellence Award at Nisbet Venture Fund Competition

Post author By Liz Ahwal
Post date May 12, 2025
No Comments on SideQuest Creators Secure $2,500 Entrepreneurial Excellence Award at Nisbet Venture Fund Competition

First Year Entrepreneurs Address Campus Engagement Challenges

Two first-year Davidson College students are already making their mark on campus life after winning the prestigious Entrepreneurial Excellence Award at the 2025 Nisbet Venture Fund pitch competition. Niko Cope ’28 and Gavin Higgins ’28 impressed judges with their innovative platform SideQuest, a centralized event discovery and engagement solution designed specifically for college students.

The duo identified a critical gap in campus connectivity: despite Davidson’s vibrant community, students struggle to discover events due to fragmented information sources. Their research, polling over 90 Davidson students, revealed that approximately 90% of students rely on word of mouth for event information, while 80% depend on emails, and only 50% use social media or WildCat Sync.

“Winning the Entrepreneurial Excellence award at the 2025 Nisbet Pitch Competition allows us to keep pushing forward on a problem we care deeply about––low student engagement on college campuses,” said Niko Cope. “This funding will help us launch SideQuest, a real solution that students can start using as early as Orientation 2025.”

Revolutionizing Campus Event Discovery Through Gamification

SideQuest stands apart from existing solutions by combining comprehensive event information with gamification elements. The platform features three interactive views: a searchable event list with tag filtering, an interactive campus map with event pins, and a dynamic calendar.

What makes SideQuest unique is its approach to incentivizing participation. Students earn points for attending events, with leaderboards showcasing the most engaged users. Top participants can receive monthly rewards, encouraging students to explore diverse campus activities.

“The Entrepreneurial Excellence Award is an incredible vote of confidence in us as we continue building a solution to low student engagement and growing as entrepreneurs,” shared Gavin Higgins. “Thanks to the Hurt Hub––its staff, supporters, and community––we’re now pursuing opportunities we once thought were out of reach.”

With their $2,500 award, the team plans to finalize the platform’s core infrastructure and ensure a successful campus-wide rollout. They’ve already developed a minimum viable product with core functionality, including event listing, calendar integration, and basic user accounts.

Fostering Innovation Through the Nisbet Venture Fund

The Nisbet Venture Fund, established in 2014 through generous support from Marian Nisbet and Chip Nisbet ’86, provides Davidson students and recent alumni the opportunity to compete for up to $32,500 in grants and investment for their innovative, for-profit ventures.

This annual business development program and pitch competition prepares finalists through coaching and mentorship from seasoned entrepreneurs and business professionals before they pitch to a panel of investors and entrepreneurs.

The Entrepreneurial Excellence Award specifically recognizes the team that has demonstrated exceptional dedication to learning, mentorship, and growth throughout the program—qualities that Cope and Higgins exemplified.

From Classroom to Campus: A Student-Led Solution

What makes SideQuest particularly compelling is that it was conceived, designed, and developed by students to solve a problem they personally experience. The team previously received the “Try-It Fund” from the Hurt Hub, which they used to secure subscriptions to Bubble for app design, Google Admin and SendGrid for email services, and the domain sidequestdavidson.com.

Looking ahead, Cope and Higgins aim to implement seamless event updates, optimize their recommendation engine, and develop a native mobile app. They’ve planned for comprehensive usability testing and are working on developing pathways for organizations to easily post their events.

Their business model offers multiple potential revenue streams: a shared-upside revenue model, free for local businesses who get more student engagement and customers.,

Supporting Davidson’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

The success of Cope and Higgins highlights the Hurt Hub@Davidson’s commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship within the Davidson community. By supporting student-led ventures like SideQuest, the Hurt Hub helps transform classroom learning into real-world solutions.

As SideQuest prepares for a potential campus launch as early as Orientation 2025, the Davidson community can look forward to a more connected, engaged campus experience—thanks to the vision of two entrepreneurial first-year students and the support of the Try-It and Nisbet Venture Funds.

To find out more about SideQuest visit SideQuestDavidson.com or reach out to Niko Cope (nicope@davidson.edu). Learn more about the Nisbet Venture Fund and other entrepreneurial opportunities at the Hurt Hub@Davidson by visiting https://hurthub.davidson.edu/.

Access to Capital Article Community Education Innovation Nisbet Venture Fund Startup Student

Davidson Students Launch Innovative Student-Only Rideshare Platform, Win $5,000 in Nisbet Venture Fund

Post author By Liz Ahwal
Post date May 6, 2025
No Comments on Davidson Students Launch Innovative Student-Only Rideshare Platform, Win $5,000 in Nisbet Venture Fund

Zip founders, Daulet Berdikulov '28, Isaiah Dinar '28, and Cillian Hallinan '28.

Zip, a student-exclusive rideshare service focused on safety and affordability, wins $5,000 in the Incubation Track

Three first-year Davidson College students have turned their vision for a safer campus transportation solution into a winning business concept, securing $5,000 in non-equity funding through the Hurt Hub@Davidson’s Nisbet Venture Fund Incubation Track.

Meet the Student Entrepreneurs Behind Zip

Cillian Hallinan ’28, Isaiah Dinar ’28, and Daulet Berdikulov ’28 impressed judges with their concept for Zip, a rideshare platform exclusively for college students. The platform aims to address significant safety concerns in the traditional rideshare market while creating flexible employment opportunities for students seeking to earn extra income.

“For us, the process of the Nisbet Venture Fund was as impactful as winning the competition,” the team shared. “We had been discussing the idea for ZIP for months, but when applying and being accepted as a Finalist for the incubation track, this competition forced us to kick our idea into high-gear and begin tackling the big questions of our business idea.”

Solving Real Campus Problems

The Zip concept addresses several critical issues facing college students:

Enhanced Safety: By ensuring all drivers and riders are verified students, Zip creates a safer alternative to traditional rideshare services. This innovation addresses alarming trends in the industry, as sexual assault cases filed against Uber have surged from fewer than 100 to over 1,500 in just the past 18 months. Zip’s verification system directly targets these growing safety concerns, particularly important given that 44% of women in 2024 rank safety as their top priority when selecting rideshare options.
Affordable Transportation: The team plans to implement set pricing for common routes, eliminating the price volatility that often comes with traditional rideshare platforms.
Student Employment Opportunities: Zip creates flexible campus job opportunities in an environment where student employment options are often limited.

The team will focus initially on building a strong foundation at Davidson College before expanding to nearby institutions. They have an ambitious vision to eventually integrate with Davidson One—recognizing this as a challenging but potentially transformative goal—though they’re careful not to set expectations for this higher-complexity integration until they’ve proven their core service and gathered user feedback.

From Idea to Implementation

While still in the early stages, Zip has already demonstrated impressive momentum. Prior to winning the Nisbet Venture Fund prize, the team secured $1,000 through the Hurt Hub’s Try It Fund, which they’re using to develop a pilot version of their app with the help of a fellow Davidson student developer.

“Winning the $5,000 completely changes ZIP’s direction,” the team explained. “As a team, we have so much greater motivation going into the summer to perfect our business by the start of the next academic year. The $5,000 is what will make our open beta launch possible.”

The Nisbet Venture Fund Impact

The Nisbet Venture Fund, established in 2014 through the generous support of Marian Nisbet and Chip Nisbet ’86, provides Davidson students and recent alumni the opportunity to compete for up to $32,500 in grants and investments for their innovative, for-profit ventures.

The Incubation Track specifically targets newly formed ideas with limited prior development, offering:

A $5,000 non-equity prize
Assigned mentorship throughout the competition season
Access to all Nisbet Venture Fund finalist prep sessions

The team credits their mentor, Andrew Ashur, with helping them refine their concept. “Andrew was the perfect mentor for us,” they noted. “He immediately showed us holes in our idea and challenged our limits. We could not have won without Andrew’s help.”

Looking Ahead

With their Nisbet Venture Fund win, the Zip team is now focused on launching an open beta version of their platform for the Davidson community at the beginning of the next academic year.

“The staff and mentorship provided is unparalleled,” the team shared. “The team behind the program are so helpful and dedicated to making every business idea flourish.”

The Hurt Hub@Davidson continues to foster entrepreneurship and innovation among Davidson students through programs like the Nisbet Venture Fund, helping transform promising ideas into viable businesses that address real-world challenges.

To stay connected with Zip and learn more about their company reach out to Cillian Hallinan at cihallinan@davidson.edu. To learn more about the Nisbet Venture Fund and other entrepreneurship opportunities at Davidson College, visit The Hurt Hub@Davidson.

Access to Capital Community Education Innovation Nisbet Venture Fund Startup Student

Odysseas Koufos ’25 Secures $25,000 Nisbet Venture Fund Prize for Bizcards

Post author By Liz Ahwal
Post date May 5, 2025
No Comments on Odysseas Koufos ’25 Secures $25,000 Nisbet Venture Fund Prize for Bizcards

Davidson Student Entrepreneur Revolutionizes Hospitality Industry with Digital Key Technology

Davidson College senior Odysseas Koufos ’25 is transforming the hospitality industry with Bizcards, an innovative digital key card system that recently earned him the prestigious $25,000 Acceleration Track prize in the annual Nisbet Venture Fund competition at Davidson College on April 16, 2025.

Launched in 2022, Bizcards addresses two critical challenges in the hotel industry: inefficient check-in processes and environmental waste from plastic key cards. The system allows hotel guests to:

Complete pre-check-in procedures online
Receive digital keys directly to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet
Bypass front desk lines entirely
Access rooms immediately upon arrival
Reduce plastic waste from traditional key cards

“Traditional hotel key cards are prone to loss, damage, and quickly become obsolete, contributing significantly to environmental waste,” explains Koufos. “Our system not only eliminates these issues but also enhances guest experience by reducing wait times and streamlining the entire check-in process.”

Innovative Technology Gives Bizcards Competitive Edge in Hospitality Tech

What distinguishes Bizcards in the competitive hospitality technology market is its unique compatibility with existing door lock systems. Through a strategic collaboration with a Greek research institute, Bizcards is developing proprietary technology enabling existing hotel door locks to read virtual key cards without expensive hardware modifications.

This breakthrough technology significantly reduces implementation costs for hotels compared to competing systems that require complete hardware overhauls, making Bizcards particularly attractive to small and medium-sized hotel chains seeking digital solutions at accessible price points.

Sustainable Business Model Driving Growth in Hotel Digital Access Market

The venture operates on a scalable, volume-based pricing model:

$1.05 per virtual card for smaller operations (up to 50 cards monthly)
As low as $0.30 per card for larger establishments (over 5,000 cards monthly)

With substantial profit margins and a growing market demand for contactless, eco-friendly hotel solutions, Bizcards is positioned for significant growth in the digital hospitality services sector.

Nisbet Venture Fund Fuels Davidson Student Entrepreneurship

The $25,000 Acceleration Track prize will fund critical next steps for Bizcards, including:

Development of the first beta version
Integration of AI-driven customization features
Implementation of chatbot functionality
Beta testing with partner hotels

“Over the past four years, Odysseas has demonstrated his grit, resilience, and commitment to being an entrepreneur,” said Liz Brigham ’04, W. Spencer Mitchem ‘59 Executive Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship of the Hurt Hub@Davidson. “He exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit we aim to foster through the Nisbet Venture Fund program.”

Established in 2014 through the generous support of Marian Nisbet and Chip Nisbet ’86, the Nisbet Venture Fund provides Davidson students and recent alumni the opportunity to compete for up to $32,500 in grants and investment for their innovative, for-profit ventures.

Davidson Entrepreneur Continues Journey at University of Chicago

Having recently accepted an offer from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, ranked #4 overall in the U.S. News & World Report 2025 Best Business Schools rankings, Koufos plans to continue developing Bizcards while pursuing additional funding opportunities. These include the New Venture Challenge, which offers a substantial investment pool of $2 million ($1M from UChicago and $1M from investors). Koufos also aims to engage with other entrepreneurial resources at Booth, such as the Polsky Founders’ Fund Fellowship (PF3) and the Build and Launch Summer Accelerators.

“Davidson College and the Hurt Hub have been instrumental in helping me develop both the business concept and the connections needed to bring Bizcards to market,” said Koufos. “The mentorship and support I’ve received through the Nisbet Venture Fund program have been invaluable.”

The Acceleration Track of the competition is specifically designed for ventures with significant development prior to application. Participants receive personalized coaching and mentorship from seasoned entrepreneurs and business professionals before pitching to a panel of investors and entrepreneurs.

Are you a hotel owner, manager, or simply curious about upgrading your key card system?
Join Bizcards’ early adopter program by filling out this form.

By signing a non-binding Letter of Intent, you’ll receive an exclusive 50% discount for the first year of service with Bizcards — the digital key card solution designed for boutique hotels.

For direct inquiries, reach out to Odysseas Koufos at odkoufos@gmail.com or connect with him on LinkedIn.

For more information about the Nisbet Venture Fund and how Davidson College supports student entrepreneurs, visit the Hurt Hub@Davidson website.

Access to Capital AVINGER IMPACT FUND Innovation Startup Student

Transforming Coconut Waste into Sustainable Solutions: Victoria Ochieng ’27 Wins $8,000 Avinger Impact Fund

Post author By Liz Ahwal
Post date May 1, 2025
No Comments on Transforming Coconut Waste into Sustainable Solutions: Victoria Ochieng ’27 Wins $8,000 Avinger Impact Fund

Innovative venture “Koredo Koir” addresses environmental challenges while empowering Kenyan farmers.

Turning Environmental Challenges into Economic Opportunities

Davidson College sophomore Victoria Ochieng ’27 has been awarded $8,000 from the Avinger Impact Fund to further develop her innovative venture, Koredo Koir. The company transforms coconut husk waste into valuable, eco-friendly products while creating sustainable income streams for farmers in Kenya.

“My passion lies in ethically harnessing local resources to uplift both communities and the environment,” says Ochieng, an Environmental Studies and Economics double major at Davidson.

From Waste to Worth: The Koredo Koir Story

According to the Kenya Coconut Development Authority, Kwale County produces approximately 20 tons of coconut husk waste daily. This waste is typically burned, releasing CO2 into the atmosphere, or disposed of in landfills and waterways, causing environmental harm. Meanwhile, coconut farmers gain limited economic benefits once coconuts are harvested, despite husks comprising 60% of the fruit.

Koredo Koir addresses these challenges by:

Extracting coconut fiber from husks to produce biodegradable, customized door mats and ropes
Converting the remaining portion of the waste into coco peat, a lightweight organic growing medium with high water holding capacity.
Enriching coco peat with biochar to improve nutrient retention, enhance quality for agricultural use, and sequester carbon from the atmosphere.

The biochar-enriched coco peat serves as a sustainable planting medium and soil enrichment solution for farmers facing soil degradation, particularly in arid regions of Kenya where drought is prevalent. The product is also ideal for urban farmers in densely populated cities like Nairobi, where vertical gardening is gaining popularity.

Plants grown using Koredo Koir's Coco Peat — Plants grown using Koredo Koir’s Coco Peat.

A Koredo Koir mat produced from Coconut Waste for a local medical center in Kenya. — A Koredo Koir mat produced from coconut waste for a local medical center in Kenya.

Personal Mission Rooted in Lived Experience

For Ochieng, Koredo Koir’s mission is deeply personal. Raised in a remote village called Winjo in Migori, Western Kenya, by a single mother who supported the family through farming, Ochieng understands firsthand the challenges faced by small-scale farmers.

“My mother and farmers like her are the reason I work in agriculture,” explains Ochieng. “With irregular rains and soil degradation, my mother is among millions of farmers struggling to produce enough to sustain their families.”

Ochieng co-founded Koredo Koir with Kevin Omondi and Judith Owiny, who both grew up in Kwale on a coconut farm. Together, they have built a venture that aims to address environmental conservation while creating sustainable livelihoods.

Recognition and Future Plans

The Avinger Impact Fund win adds to a growing list of achievements for Koredo Koir, including:

4th place out of 40 applicants at the Kenya Climate Innovation Centre
Winner of the Vijana na Agribiz 2022 Competition
Winner of the MbeleNaBiz Business Plan Competition
Winner of the Global Engagement Summit Pitch Competition
Finalist in the Nisbet Venture Fund Pitch Competition (Acceleration Track), competing for $25,000

With the Avinger funding, Koredo Koir plans to further refine their product design, enhance doormat durability and aesthetics, and optimize the biochar-coco peat ratio for maximum agricultural benefit. The team is also exploring strategic partnerships with agricultural institutions in Kenya to ensure product compatibility with existing fertilizers.

Production expansion is another priority, with construction already underway for an office and demonstration farm. The company aims to acquire specialized machinery to improve production efficiency, double their impact, and reduce production costs.

“We are also exploring new opportunities in other East African countries and conducting research on international markets, particularly targeting countries like the USA and UK, which are among the largest importers of coco peat and coir fiber,” notes Ochieng.

About the Avinger Impact Fund

Established in honor of Robert L. Avinger, Jr., a member of the Davidson Class of 1960 and professor of Economics from 1967-1980, the Avinger Impact Fund fuels the vision, qualities, and passions of innovators who demonstrate creativity, energy, and initiative that will lead to success in future endeavors.

Through small, project-based grants of up to $8,000, the fund supports Davidson College student entrepreneurs looking to validate and advance their ideas. The Hurt Hub@Davidson has found that funding, paired with mentorship and guidance early in a company’s lifecycle, can make a significant impact on future success.

For more information about the Avinger Impact Fund please visit https://hurthub.davidson.edu/avinger-impact-fund/. To learn more about Victoria Ochieng’s venture, please visit https://ke.linkedin.com/company/koredo-koir

Tags Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Startup

for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
at Davidson College

First Year Entrepreneurs Address Campus Engagement Challenges

Revolutionizing Campus Event Discovery Through Gamification

Fostering Innovation Through the Nisbet Venture Fund

From Classroom to Campus: A Student-Led Solution

Supporting Davidson’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Zip, a student-exclusive rideshare service focused on safety and affordability, wins $5,000 in the Incubation Track

Meet the Student Entrepreneurs Behind Zip

Solving Real Campus Problems

From Idea to Implementation

The Nisbet Venture Fund Impact

Looking Ahead

Davidson Student Entrepreneur Revolutionizes Hospitality Industry with Digital Key Technology

Innovative Technology Gives Bizcards Competitive Edge in Hospitality Tech

Sustainable Business Model Driving Growth in Hotel Digital Access Market

Nisbet Venture Fund Fuels Davidson Student Entrepreneurship

Davidson Entrepreneur Continues Journey at University of Chicago

Turning Environmental Challenges into Economic Opportunities

From Waste to Worth: The Koredo Koir Story

Personal Mission Rooted in Lived Experience

Recognition and Future Plans

About the Avinger Impact Fund

Hello!

Are you a Prospective Davidson College student or Prospective coworking member?

for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Davidson College

First Year Entrepreneurs Address Campus Engagement Challenges

Revolutionizing Campus Event Discovery Through Gamification

Fostering Innovation Through the Nisbet Venture Fund

From Classroom to Campus: A Student-Led Solution

Supporting Davidson’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Zip, a student-exclusive rideshare service focused on safety and affordability, wins $5,000 in the Incubation Track

Meet the Student Entrepreneurs Behind Zip

Solving Real Campus Problems

From Idea to Implementation

The Nisbet Venture Fund Impact

Looking Ahead

Davidson Student Entrepreneur Revolutionizes Hospitality Industry with Digital Key Technology

Innovative Technology Gives Bizcards Competitive Edge in Hospitality Tech

Sustainable Business Model Driving Growth in Hotel Digital Access Market

Nisbet Venture Fund Fuels Davidson Student Entrepreneurship

Davidson Entrepreneur Continues Journey at University of Chicago

Turning Environmental Challenges into Economic Opportunities

From Waste to Worth: The Koredo Koir Story

Personal Mission Rooted in Lived Experience

Recognition and Future Plans

About the Avinger Impact Fund

Hello!

Are you a Prospective Davidson College student or Prospective coworking member?

for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
at Davidson College