Building Rummage: what made this student an entrepreneur
One year ago, I drew a couch on a napkin and called it a business idea. I had no idea it would be the beginning of my journey as a student founder — and the spark behind what eventually became Rummage.
It started with a class assignment. We were told to create a “napkin sketch” of a business idea for our entrepreneurship course. That assignment’s deadline just so happened to fall on the exact same day as the application for the University of South Carolina’s Proving Ground pitch competition. Our professor encouraged the whole class to apply. He reasoned we’d already mapped out business models, revenue streams, and unique value propositions. Why not shoot our shot?
So, on a walk with my dog, I pulled out my phone and submitted my application on a whim. My concept was a student-only marketplace: a platform built for students to buy and sell with other students. The inspiration? My own miserable, week-long search for a couch.
My napkin sketch? Literally a phone screen with a cartoon couch inside it.
A few days later, I got an email saying I’d made it to the semi-finals. I was shocked. The semi-finals consisted of a hands-on workshop with mentors where we refined our business model and pitch. Then, we had our pitches professionally filmed and submitted to the judges. That process alone taught me so much. How to structure a pitch, how to communicate value clearly, and how to accept feedback from experienced entrepreneurs.
A few weeks later, I learned I had advanced to the finals. That’s when the imposter syndrome really hit. I was up against polished teams with full business plans and functioning products. I was just... me. It felt surreal.And yet, I pitched anyway.
I didn’t win. But something even more surprising happened — an anonymous donor gave me $1,000 after the finals. People came up to me telling me they loved the idea. That moment felt like a green light. For the first time, I realized this concept might actually resonate with people. I walked away from the stage with no trophy but something far more powerful: validation.
But then things came to a screeching halt. I mean the lack of planning had to catch up to me sometime, right?
I had no roadmap, no next steps, no structure. I had no idea what to do next. I was burnt out from the competition prep and the semester itself. The $1,000? I spent most of it on a trip to Miami for Swim Week. (I have zero regrets. It was a great trip.)
Spring turned into fall, and I found myself needing to attend an entrepreneurship event for class credit. I went to the Startup Sprint at the Boyd Innovation Center, a local hackathon-style event to develop and pitch ideas over two days. That’s where I first heard about Cola Starts, a six-week dive into startup strategy, branding, and customer discovery. Caroline Crowder, who had actually been a judge at my original pitch, was running the program.
I pulled her aside and explained my neglected Idea. I asked if Cola Starts was the right space to bring it back to life. Her response: “Absolutely.”
That was the moment the spark reignited.
I jumped into Cola Starts with renewed purpose and finally began building what would become Rummage. Over those six weeks I learned invaluable lessons from experienced founders and leaned on the amazing members of my cohort for support. As the program came to an end I clung to the momentum, terrified of history repeating itself.
Progress started small. I built my first landing page on Mailchimp and created two social media accounts. Then came the Squarespace site launch and I even hosted a pop-up event at a student housing complex. I was finally building something real — not just pitching a concept, but watching it come to life.
At this point, spring had come again, and so did a new Proving Ground. I applied and this time, I knew what I was doing. I had experience, data, and direction. I made it to the finals again and pitched Rummage on the same stage I once stood on, full of doubt. Only this time, I was confident. I knew my platform, I knew my audience, and most importantly — I knew myself.
Rummage is still evolving. Every week, I learn something new and apply it. I’ve pivoted, tweaked, rebranded, and reimagined. Right now, I’m exploring a shift toward peer-to-peer student consultations — allowing student entrepreneurs to book time with others who’ve been in their shoes. I’ve realized that sometimes, the best resource isn’t an app or a YouTube video. It’s someone who’s just one or two steps ahead of you.
What I’ve learned is that entrepreneurship is rarely a straight line. It’s a cycle of passion, doubt, learning, burnout, rebuilding, and breakthroughs. And that’s okay.
If you’re reading this as a student with an idea, here’s my advice:
A napkin sketch is a valid beginning.
Validation can come from the most unexpected places — don’t ignore it.
You’re not behind. You’re just early.
If you’ve hit pause, you can always hit play again.
Special thanks to Dr. Graybeal for being my biggest motivator and supporter from the beginning, as well as Caroline Crowder, Dana Watkins, and the incredible BIC (Boyd Innovation Center) community for believing in student entrepreneurs before we believe in ourselves.
This journey is far from over, and I can’t wait to keep building.
