ENTREPRENEURIAL VENTURES
Outside of the classroom, my interests extend beyond academic pursuits, particularly into the realm of entrepreneurial ventures. This inclination towards entrepreneurship is not merely a hobby, but a passionate endeavor where I invest significant time and energy. My drive to innovate and create solutions to real-world problems is evident in my active engagement with various entrepreneurial projects. These ventures provide me not only with practical experience in the business world but also with an avenue to apply my theoretical knowledge in dynamic, real-life scenarios in other fields. This blend of academic learning and entrepreneurial activity forms the foundation of my personal and professional development, constantly pushing me to explore new opportunities and challenges.
During my first semester in college, I realized that many students including myself, struggled in purchasing textbooks every semester. This had been an existing issue for every college student in the nation and I wanted to address it. I noticed the absence of a platform for students to exchange their old textbooks with one another in order to avoid the high costs of textbooks out in the market. The reality is that no student enjoys spending hundreds of dollars every semester on textbooks. Yet, many students, if not all, keep their old textbooks at home, rather than selling them to other students who could benefit from them.
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This challenge sparked my creativity and innovative thinking, leading me to seek an immediate solution.
I decided to develop and design a platform that enables college students to easily connect with thousands of other students in a matter of seconds. Therefore, I created “BookAway”.
A mobile app designed to facilitate seamless interactions among college students. BookAway allows students to sell their textbooks to one another, rather than selling them to an outside bookstore. This system ensures that student-sellers receive a higher value while student-buyers enjoy reduced prices, creating a win-win scenario for all. BookAway was designed to be user-friendly, allowing students to download the app on their smartphones and connect with thousands of students both within their college and statewide, making it the most convenient and accessible way for college students to buy and sell their textbooks.
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The app had a profoundly positive impact at my community college. Its success was so noteworthy that the school’s newspaper, “The Round Up”, wrote an article about myself featuring my app. The app quickly became a success, with thousands of students downloading it and benefiting from this innovative platform I had created. BookAway not only addressed this significant challenge but also demonstrated the power of student innovation in finding practical solutions for real-life scenarios.
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During my entrepreneurial journey, I made the strategic decision to sell the BookAway app and shift my area of focus to the real estate sector. This decision was driven primarily by personal growth objectives. Selling the app, which had already proven its value and impact, provided me with the necessary capital and experience to venture into real estate, an industry known for its dynamic opportunities and potential for long-term growth.
This transition was not merely a shift in business focus, but a calculated step towards diversifying my portfolio and applying my entrepreneurial skills to a new field.
My journey into real estate entrepreneurship began with the construction of my first tiny house. In the past years, tiny homes have gained massive popularity through social media. However, recognizing the need for both expertise and legal compliance, I had to obtain my California Contractors License through rigorous state exams. The charm of tiny homes comes from their cost effectiveness and sustainability, offering an innovative approach to using Earth’s resources wisely. Innovators like Elon Musk aka TESLA have ventured into creating compact 375 square feet tiny homes due to the numerous benefits they offer. Tiny homes, address broader societal needs like affordable housing and environmental sustainability. In fact, tiny homes may offer a viable solution to the global homelessness crisis. By providing affordable and efficient living spaces, they present a practical alternative to traditional housing, especially in areas where housing costs are prohibitively high. These small structures ensure that families in need can access shelter at a fraction of the cost of standard homes.
Apart from construction development and the return on investment (ROI) of this real estate project, what truly captivates me the most about this tiny house venture is the opportunity to build lifelong memories with my beloved ones. This project has been more than an exploration of construction and real estate; it has been a journey of familial bonding and shared learning. It has allowed me to connect with my family on a deeper level, as we collaborate and grow together, while finding joy not just in the creation of a physical structure, but in the strengthening of family ties that this project fosters.
