Adam Coelho wanted to create an easier way for students at large universities to get together. So he created CitiSync, a Gainesville-based social Web utility that provides information about local happenings and events.
He introduced CitiSync to potential investors along with 49 other start-up businesses in Atlanta Wednesday.
Coelho, a UF marketing senior, said he hopes to take advantage of the networking opportunity at Startup Riot 2010 in Atlanta. Meeting potential investors could help the company grow, he said.
“It would make everything a lot more real,” he said. “It’d be all the difference in bringing this idea to every college student.”
Sanjay Parekh, the creator of Startup Riot, said he chose CitiSync because he likes to support entrepreneurs in college, according to Stephanie Ramirez, the marketing director for CitiSync.
Startup Riot is a one day conference where start-up businesses introduce their organizations to investors and compete to win prizes. More than 150 businesses applied, and 50 were chosen to present.
CitiSync is one of the few businesses selected that was started by a college student.
Coelho explained the values and goals of CitiSync in a four-slide presentation at the conference. The presentation included information about the newly released exclusive deals feature, the development of an iPhone application and the target market of college students.
Entrepreneurship shown in a company like CitiSync is a way to grow fast and enter the market cheaply, said Arnold Heggestad, the director for the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Warrington College of Business Administration.
It’s a new trend for students to use the Web to develop businesses that cater to local markets, he said.
Providing the service to eventually help all college students get the most out of their college experience is the main reason why Coelho created the company, Coelho said. CitiSync’s target market is college students living in college towns.
“I’m sure that other local environments will be just as receptive,” Heggestad said.
Erik Zika, CitiSync client and general manager of 101 Cantina at 1632 W. University Ave., said he thinks the company has a large growth potential.
“They have a value behind their service,” he said.
To generate revenue and the incentive to use the site, CitiSync created an exclusive deal feature. The feature sends text messages of deals only available to the site users.
The feature was released Wednesday after the conference and first deal will be at Mother’s next Wednesday.
CitiSync client TJ Goodman, owner of Mother’s Pub and Grill at 1017 W. University Ave., said if the service continues to bring in business, he would be willing to pay for it in the future.
“What’s different about Adam is he took the time to understand my business,” Goodman said. “What’s great is the exchange of ideas.”
-Caroline Lewis
