The Student-Entrepreneur Panel hosted by Acadia Launchbox on Tuesday, March 12th from 5:30 – 6:30 pm was an engaging and insightful evening. Our five student-entrepreneur panelists from left to right: Brandon Snyder, founder of Wolfville E-scooters; Ben Tompkins, founder of Collared Connections; Alex Dulay, founder of Touching Hearts; Axel Eschholz, co-founder of Verifyyou; and Kirsten Lawrence, founder of Enactus Foodsharing initiative, shared stories of their entrepreneurial journeys thus far. An audience of eager Business Administration, Computer Science, Community Development, and Engineering students listened as the panelists answered questions posed by Launchbox Manager, Brendan Macneil.

To commence, panelists introduced themselves and explained their businesses, setting the stage for the discussion. Alex a 3^rd year BBA student majoring in Entrepreneurship & Innovation described her mission to empower underprivileged Asian communities through fair trade practices. She works directly with communities in the Philippines and other countries in Southeast Asia who craft knives, jewelry, carvings and other products to ship and sell to Canadians. Profits are reinvested into those same communities.  

Axel, a graduating Computer Science major elaborated on his business partner’s idea which is an identity verification service aimed at authenticating individuals' digital presence to combat AI-generated content. “My goal is to simply try to keep myself open and keep my business open to as many opportunities as come by way.” he stated.  

Kirsten, a 4^th year BBA student majoring in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, explained the Enactus Foodsharing initiative. A program which addresses student food security at Acadia tackles food waste and fosters community through equitable access to nutritious food. When asked what her vision was Kirsten replied: “A program that’s reliable, established, consistent, so that there is always affordable, accessible food for students.” She has several volunteers including multiple Nutrition students who grocery shop, cook and bake, serve, and clean up after the meals. So far, her program has served over 1,000 free meals to students. She plans to make this program more accessible in the future by adding a small one-time fee to every student account to fund the program.  

Brandon, a 5^th year BBA student, shared his mission to provide environmentally friendly, modern, and cost-effective transportation alternatives for Acadia students and Wolfville residents. Wolfville E-Scooters is set to launch in April of this year with 25 scooters hitting the streets. Scooters will be easy to access through their app, where users can pay for their rides and locate the scooters.  

Ben, a 3^rd year BBA student, outlined his business model as a contractor-rating platform akin to TripAdvisor, allowing clients to evaluate the performance of contractors and ensuring quality service for future engagements. His mission is to elevate the recognition of contractors and tradespeople for their expertise by giving them a platform to advertise their services, while guaranteeing the residents of the community receive reliable contract services.

Throughout the evening, panelists responded to various questions, including their strategies for acquiring customers, their visions for the future of their businesses, and their approaches to securing funding. They discussed the role of angel investors and the benefits they provide to startups, emphasizing how these investors not only offer crucial financial backing but also bring valuable expertise, guidance, to the emerging businesses. Some panelists shared insights into starting with funding from family and friends to maintain equity in their businesses.

As the event concluded, the floor opened for audience questions and informal networking. The evening facilitated a valuable exchange of knowledge, allowing panelists to gain insight for their ventures while providing attendees with insights into the entrepreneurial journey. All in all, the Student-Entrepreneur Panel event proved successful for both panelists and attendees, fostering learning and inspiration within the Acadia community.