Davidson College — Group Office Hours with Andrew Ashur ’19

Launching a Startup at Davidson? You Don’t Have to Do It Alone.

Starting a business is tough—especially as a student. It can feel isolating, like you’re figuring everything out on your own. But you don’t have to.

The Davidson Student Founder Office Hours are here to change that. This is a space where student entrepreneurs connect, share wins and challenges, and hold each other accountable. Whether you’re actively building a startup or just curious about entrepreneurship, this is your place to learn, grow, and build alongside like-minded students.

What’s the Goal?

We’re creating a community of Davidson founders who help each other succeed. Here’s what you’ll get:

✅ Refine your startup idea by practicing your one-liner and pitch.

✅ Accountability check-ins to track progress and stay motivated.

✅ Support from fellow founders—learn from their experiences and share yours.

✅ Real talk about the startup journey—the wins, the struggles, and everything in between.

How It Works (Pilot Session)

📍 Location: The Hurt Hub, Davidson College

📆 Date: Monday March 31, 2025

🕡 Time: 6:30-8 PM

The Flow of the Evening

🍕 6:30-7:00 PM – Social Time & Pizza

This is a casual time to meet other founders, grab some pizza, and talk about what you’re working on. No structure—just good conversations with like-minded students.

🗣️ 7:00-8:00 PM – Group Office Hours

This is where we get structured. The session will follow a format inspired by Y Combinator’s group office hours, giving everyone a chance to pitch, check in, and get feedback.

Session Format (1 Hour)

1. Welcome & Pitch Practice (10 min)
   • Each student gives a 30-second pitch of their startup (or idea).
   • Helps with refining messaging & public speaking.
2. Founder Check-Ins (30-40 min)
   • Answer 3 simple but powerful questions:
     1. What did you accomplish in the last two weeks?
     2. What are you aiming for in the next two weeks?
     3. What’s your biggest challenge right now?
   • Moderators keep the flow moving.
3. Open Discussion & Peer Feedback (10-20 min)
   • Need help? Ask for advice, connections, or feedback.
   • Get insights from other student founders.

Who Should Join?

💡 Students currently working on a startup → This is for you.

👀 Aspiring entrepreneurs → Curious? Sit in and learn.

About the Moderator – Andrew Ashur

👋 I’m Andrew Ashur, and I’ll be leading the discussion.

I graduated from Davidson in 2019 while playing D1 baseball, majoring in economics and Spanish, and working three jobs. I know firsthand how hard it is to balance school, work, and launching something of your own.

Today, I’m the founder of Lucid Bots, a fast-growing robotics company building autonomous robots for dangerous and demanding jobs. I’m also the founder of Persto, a SaaS platform for mentoring communities, and serve as the Innovator in Residence at The Hurt Hub.

I’ve raised over $18M in venture capital, built and scaled teams, and navigated the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. My goal is to make sure every student who walks into this room gets real, tangible value—whether that’s refining your pitch, getting actionable feedback, or feeling more connected to the Davidson startup community.

I’ll help guide the conversation, but this is a collaborative space—you’ll get the most out of it by engaging, sharing, and supporting your fellow founders.

Why This Matters

🚀 You’ll build confidence through real-world pitch practice.

🤝 You’ll stay accountable with biweekly check-ins.

📈 You’ll join a network of driven student founders.

🔥 You’ll get plugged into the Davidson startup ecosystem.

Entrepreneurship is easier (and more fun) when you’re part of a community. Join us for the first session and start building with fellow Davidson founders.

📩 Questions? Feel free to reach out to me at aashur@lucidbots.com.

See you there.