Nick Carpenter
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SustainaFill

  • Entrepreneurship
  • Product
  • Business Strategy
Type
Entrepreneurship pitch, Husky Startup Challenge, Dec 2024
Role
Developed the concept, business model, and pitch
Tools
Pitch deck, Market research, Financial modeling
Status
2nd place.
SustainaFill title and concept
SustainaFill title and concept
The mobile app concept and key features
The mobile app concept and key features
Five-year profitability projection
Five-year profitability projection
The problem: campus refill station awareness
The problem: campus refill station awareness

I came up with SustainaFill to help students find campus water refill stations more easily, reduce single-use plastic waste, and save money. The idea is a mobile app that shows real-time GPS locations of refill stations, sends hydration reminders and alerts for nearby stations, and connects with student IDs so universities can see how stations are used and where to add more.

I put together a full business plan for SustainaFill. The plan includes a university licensing model with fees based on school size, partnerships with eco-friendly brands, and reports that share anonymous data insights. I projected a path from an initial investment year to about $1.5 million in net profit by year five with 250 university partners. My research showed that 91% of students would use reusable bottles if refill stations were easy to find. I also created a customer profile and compared SustainaFill to other apps, highlighting its focus on campuses, indoor navigation, and tools for university administrators.

I presented SustainaFill on demo day and finished in second place. The judges praised the app's design, the clear customer profile, and the revenue model. This project shows how much I enjoy combining engineering with entrepreneurship, and it connects to my goal of starting a company that makes a positive difference.