Join us on the Startup Storybook podcast for an engaging conversation with Logan Russell, founder of Runner's High Cookies. What started as a passion for baking and a knack for balancing school and business has grown into a thriving cookie enterprise. In this episode, Logan shares his journey from a college student to a successful entrepreneur, discussing the challenges of managing a business while pursuing a degree in urban planning. Discover how Logan's commitment to community and innovation has shaped his approach to entrepreneurship, and learn about the unique flavors and creative strategies that set Runner's High Cookies apart. Tune in to hear Logan's story of resilience, community, and the sweet rewards of following your passion.

Young entrepreneur Mahir Laul shares how Velric is using AI to replace outdated resumes with dynamic proof-of-work missions, making hiring faster, fairer, and more accurate for recruiters and candidates alike.

Join us on the Startup Storybook podcast for an eye-opening chat with Mahir Laul, founder of Velric, who's on a mission to eliminate resumes forever. As a self-taught entrepreneur who took a leave from college to build his startup, Mahir explains how his frustration with inflated resumes and inefficient hiring sparked the idea for an AI-driven platform that scores candidates based on real-world missions tailored to their skills.

In this episode, Mahir dives into Velric's innovative scoring system, anti-cheat measures, and how it cuts pre-screening time by up to 45%. We explore his journey from high school hustles to pitching investors, the future of education in an AI world, and why locking in with relentless work is key to entrepreneurial success. Tune in for practical advice on validating ideas quickly, embracing AI tools, and turning bold visions into reality.

Chapters00:00 Intro and Welcome02:00 Why Mahir Hates Resumes05:30 How Velric's AI Scoring Works10:15 Preventing Cheating with AI Missions15:00 Candidate Onboarding and Proof of Work20:30 Sourcing Missions from AI25:00 Mahir's Entrepreneurial Journey35:00 Early Hustles and Lessons Learned45:00 Networking and Building Connections55:00 The Future of Education and Upskilling1:00:00 Advice for Young Entrepreneurs1:05:00 Devil's Advocate: Defending the Resume1:10:00 Where to Find Velric

Discover More about Mahir below:

Velric: https://velric.ai/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahir-laul-a77b11224

Want to be on the podcast yourself, or know somebody who might be a good fit? Reach out to us ⁠here.

Help us in our mission to encourage the next generation of college entrepreneurs! If this content interests you, please let us know by following the podcast and most importantly sharing it with a friend! Lastly, help us build a community by commenting below your thoughts on the episode!

#CollegeStartups #YoungEntrepreneurs #AIHiring #StartupStorybook #VelricAI

Co-founders Colt Waller and Ryder McNeal return to share how Prevo Streaming is revolutionizing the world of short films by giving student filmmakers a platform to shine and connect with industry pros.

Join us on the Startup Storybook podcast for an engaging follow-up with Colt Waller and Ryder McNeal, co-founders of Prevo Streaming. Both SMU film alumni, they recount their paths from aspiring producers to creating a service that rescues high-quality student short films from hard drives. Ryder, returning from a prior episode, and Colt discuss how cold calls ignited their partnership, Prevo's growth from a basic app to a hub with newsletters, podcasts, and talent spotlights, and the scrappy drive fueling success in Hollywood.

In this episode, they explore balancing jobs, grad school, and startup demands, the power of optimism and collaboration, and how SMU's outsider status sparked innovation. They offer advice for college entrepreneurs on starting early, persisting, and acting on ideas via competitions or side hustles. Tune in to learn how Prevo builds a filmmaker pipeline and inspires your own ventures.

Chapters

00:00 Intro

00:40 Colt’s Background and Journey to Prevo

02:30 Ryder’s Story and the Spark for Prevo

09:00 The Problem Prevo Solves for Student Filmmakers

12:00 Evolving Prevo: From Streaming to Spotlighting Talent

18:00 Balancing School, Jobs, and Startup Growth

22:00 Challenges in the Film Industry and Staying Optimistic

30:00 Lessons in Collaboration and Thinking Outside the Box

48:35 Advice for Freshmen: Start Now and Find Balance

52:45 Wrapping Up: Where to Find Prevo

Discover More about Colt and Ryder below:Prevo Streaming: https://prevostreaming.com/LinkedIn (Colt): https://www.linkedin.com/in/colt-wallerLinkedIn (Ryder): https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryder-mcneal

Want to be on the podcast yourself, or know somebody who might be a good fit? Reach out to us ⁠here.

Help us in our mission to encourage the next generation of college entrepreneurs! If this content interests you, please let us know by following the podcast and most importantly sharing it with a friend! Lastly, help us build a community by commenting below your thoughts on the episode!

#CollegeStartups #YoungEntrepreneurs #FilmInnovation #StartupStorybook #PrevoStreaming

Biotech entrepreneur and MUSIQ Bio founder Manwal Harb shares how his passion for science and helping others led him from Lebanon to Texas, where he’s using ultrasound technology to revolutionize drug delivery.

Join us on the Startup Storybook podcast for an epic conversation with Manwal Harb, CEO of MUSIQ Bio. What began as a fascination with nanotechnology and a desire to improve patient outcomes has grown into a company developing cutting-edge ultrasound-based solutions to make drug delivery safer, more effective, and less invasive.

In this episode, Manwal shares how his journey from Lebanon to the U.S. shaped his perspective on innovation and leadership. He discusses his path from being born in Lebanon to now launching his startup, the challenges of pursuing a PhD while launching a startup, and the importance of clear communication within teams and in relationships. Tune in to hear Manwal’s story of resilience, purpose, and how curiosity can lead to live-saving technologies.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Manny and Musiq Bio and Paulomi Modi and Nucleate Texas

08:35 What is Nucleate?

10:41 Introducing Manny and MusiQ Bio

11:37 Manny’s Journey from Lebanon to the US

20:00 Transitioning into College: Community College vs. University

27:32 Choosing the Right Graduate School

30:00 MusiQ Bio’s Technology

40:00 Applications of Ultrasound in Medicine

1:06:00 Importance of Communication in Business

1:17:35 Navigating Team Dynamics and Trust

1:26:12 Different Business Models in Life Sciences

1:29:31 Advice for Future Entrepreneurs

Discover more about Manny and MusiQ Bio below:

MusiQ Bio: https://www.musiqbio.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manwalharb/

Discover more about Paulomi and Nucleate Texas:

Nucleate Texas: https://nucleate.org/locations/texas/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulomimodi/

Want to be on the podcast yourself, or know somebody who might be a good fit? Reach out to us ⁠here.

Help us in our mission to encourage the next generation of college entrepreneurs! If this content interests you, please let us know by following the podcast and most importantly sharing it with a friend! Lastly, help us build a community by commenting below your thoughts on the episode!

Auburn baseball player–turned-entrepreneur Brooks Fuller shares how a simple act of service during COVID grew into a booming moving business rooted in faith and purpose.

Join us on the Startup Storybook podcast for a powerful conversation with Brooks Fuller, the founder and CEO of Room to Room Movers. What began as a way to help Auburn University students pack their dorms during the COVID-19 lockdown quickly grew into a booming moving and storage company serving campuses across the South.

In this episode, Brooks shares how a moment of service sparked an entrepreneurial journey rooted in faith, patience, and purpose. We’ll explore how he turned a crisis into opportunity, built a culture focused on people over profit, and grew his company organically from pickup trucks and Excel sheets to custom software and a multi-campus operation. Tune in to hear Brooks’ story of stewardship, perseverance, and how staying grounded can lead to extraordinary growth.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Brooks Fuller

01:55 The Origin of Room to Room Movers

06:00 From Service to Business

09:45 Balancing Baseball and Business

11:15 Transition from Athlete to Entrepreneur

13:30 Building a Team and Operations

17:00 Developing Custom Technology

25:30 Funding Growth Organically

27:30 Service as a Core Value

31:00 Leadership and Delegation

34:45 The Role of Mentorship

42:45 Faith as a Foundation

58:30 Advice From Brooks

Discover More about Brooks and Room2Room Movers below:

Room2Room Movers: www.r2rmovers.com

LinkedIn: Brooks Fuller

Want to be on the podcast yourself, or know somebody who might be a good fit? Reach out to us ⁠here.

Help us in our mission to encourage the next generation of college entrepreneurs! If this content interests you, please let us know by following the podcast and most importantly sharing it with a friend! Lastly, help us build a community by commenting below your thoughts on the episode!

#CollegeEntrepreneur #StartupTrends2025 #FaithInBusiness #YoungEntrepreneur #AuburnStartups #BusinessValidation #OrganicGrowth

Join us on the Startup Storybook podcast for an inspiring conversation with Turner Rey, the innovative mind behind Embrace Strings. As a professional violist and student of Music Performance and Entrepreneurship at Abilene Christian University, Turner identified a common issue among violists: neck pain from traditional chin rests. This led him to develop a customizable chin rest, merging his love for music with his entrepreneurial spirit.

In this episode, Turner delves into the creation of Embrace Strings, the unique challenges he faced in the classical music industry, and the valuable lessons learned while building a business during his college years. We explore how he balances his dual roles as a student and entrepreneur, the mindset that fuels his progress, and actionable insights for anyone looking to transform a personal passion into a successful venture. Tune in to hear Turner’s journey and discover how he’s harmonizing success in both music and business.

Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:00 Turner’s Story

04:40 The Birth of Embrace Strings

07:20 Pitch Competitions and Springboard

10:05 The Iteration Process and Customer Feedback

14:15 Understanding Patents and Protections

23:10 Involvement with the Griggs Center

25:00 VelocityTX

30:00 Can I Ask Myself A Question?

32:30 The Mission of the Startup Storybook Podcast

39:00 Future Plans and Partnerships

42:25 Special Partnership Announcement!

43:15 Wes Reflects on Podcast Experience

46:45 The Most Important Question??

Discover More about Turner and Embrace Strings below:

Embrace Strings: About Embrace Strings

LinkedIn: Turner Rey

Want to be on the podcast yourself, or know somebody who might be a good fit? Reach out to us ⁠here.

Help us in our mission to encourage the next generation of college entrepreneurs! If this content interests you, please let us know by following the podcast and most importantly sharing it with a friend! Lastly, help us build a community by commenting below your thoughts on the episode!

Thomas Lester is the founder of Heatstream Solutions, a packaging startup pioneering some of the most advanced self-heating packaging in the world. As a lifelong coffee drinker, Thomas often wondered why no one had created a truly effective self-heating coffee cup. That question became the spark for Heatstream.

During his second year at Auburn University, Thomas won funding for the idea in AU’s Tiger Cage Pitch Competition, and he hasn’t looked back since. Thomas shares what it takes to bring a physical product to market, lessons of leadership from guiding his team, and advice for college entrepreneurs looking to start their own venture.

Heatstream Solutions: heatstreamsolutions.com

LinkedIn: Thomas Lester

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Thomas Lester and Heat Stream Solutions

02:42 The Birth of an Idea: Self-Heating Coffee

05:59 Prototyping and the Tiger Cage Competition

08:50 The Product Development Journey

11:39 Navigating the Patent Process

14:58 The Role of Mentorship and Networking

17:55 Pitching and Selling the Vision

20:53 Building a Team and Leadership Dynamics

23:49 Future Vision and Market Potential

36:24 Understanding Product Costs and Pricing Strategy

38:47 Navigating the Challenges of Entrepreneurship

42:20 The Value of Experience Over Failure

44:59 The Role of College in Today's World

53:51 Faith and Business: A Personal Journey

Want to be on the podcast yourself, or know somebody who might be a good fit? Reach out to us ⁠here.

John and Chelsea Giles, alumni of Abilene Christian University, are the founders of DomeDock - America’s #1 hat rack. What started as a project in their garage has grown into a thriving, profitable business that even caught the attention of Shark Tank.

What makes their story especially inspiring is that neither John nor Chelsea considered themselves entrepreneurs in college. Yet, when the idea struck, they took a chance and turned it into a nationally recognized brand. The Gile’s share how DomeDock went from a side project to a household name, and why college is the best time to take a chance.

DomeDock: domedock.com