Written by Davidson College student, Ceyda Yesillik ’28
Is the perfect co-founder someone you have known for almost a decade? The answer is yes, at least according to Anushri Modi ’26 and Srijit Banerjee ’26. Though they knew each other since high school, it was Davidson College that brought their idea to life. Four years of collaborating on complex Computer Science projects gave them full confidence in their partnership. Unlike co-founders who are still learning to work together, their established communication style set them apart in a competitive landscape of new AI startups.
Anushri and Srijit started CaseMock to provide college students with a case interview prep tool for management consulting positions, and the Hurt Hub supported them the entire way. Their journey of making consulting recruiting accessible started with applying to and winning the Try It Fund, but their idea fully flourished through winning the Avinger Impact Fund.
Just like the Try It Fund, the Avinger Impact Fund starts with a written application, but the stakes get higher from there. The finalists are invited to an additional presentation to the Avinger Impact Fund Committee. When Anushri and Srijit were selected as finalists, they immediately started preparing to pitch. They built a demo, found ways to relate to their audience, and practiced over and over again. When they ultimately won the Avinger Impact Fund, they started building their viable version of CaseMock.
Looking back on their journey, Anushri shared that she wished they had started working with the Hurt Hub earlier. The events and alumni connections were so helpful in building the project. Srijit recalls the Q&A event with Bill Creelman, the Chairman and Founder of Spindrift, and Andrew Ashur ’19, the Hurt Hub’s Alumni Innovator-in-Residence, as a pivotal point in developing CaseMock.
The Hurt Hub also connected them with mentors, most notably Entrepreneurship Program Manager Charles Smith. They met frequently with Charles to determine how to survey college students about their interview prep needs, resolve process bottlenecks, and identify community partners in career coaching. It was Charles who suggested they partner with the Matthews Career Center.
Through their partnership with the Matthews Career Center, they finalized their tool with feedback from the counselors and even received the opportunity to present a demo to the Consulting Academy. The Consulting Academy is a weekly workshop hosted by the Matthews Career Center for those recruiting for consulting, and their demo allowed Anushri and Srijit to connect directly with their niche user group. CaseMock currently has more than 85 sign-ups and 60 returning users. Now that they have graduated, they are looking forward to expanding to more colleges to reach even more students. Expanding the interview prep tool to other industries is also on the horizon.
CaseMock is proof that the right idea, the right partner, and the right community can turn a college project into something that genuinely improves students’ lives. Anushri and Srijit leave Davidson with not just degrees, but a sustainable project with real users and a clear path forward.
The Hurt Hub’s ability to champion students like Anushri and Srijit is a direct result of our community’s generosity.
The Try It Fund is made possible through the support of the Charlie Hinnant ’72 Fund, Davidson alums, and other community sponsors. Complementing this, the Avinger Impact Fund, established in honor of Robert L. Avinger, Jr. (Class of 1960 and Professor of Economics, 1967-1980), fuels the vision, qualities, and passions of an innovator, with a focus on creativity, energy, and initiative that will lead to success in future endeavors.
