Starting a business is never easy, but doing it as a college student between study groups, part-time jobs, writing term papers, and cheering on your school’s team, adds a whole new layer of complexity. But as half of all Gen Z want to start their own business, a growing number of college students are doing just that. And Georgetown University is making it easier for their students, with a remarkable success rate. The Summer Launch Incubator (SLI) is helping student founders not just survive the startup journey, but to learn from it. Whether these companies succeed over the long term isn’t the point; the students are gaining the skills to succeed for their next company, or the one after that. Their stories offer essential lessons for other young people who are beginning to imagine themselves as entrepreneurs.

Based out of Georgetown’s McDonough Entrepreneurship Initiative, the program was designed specifically for their student entrepreneurs to develop and launch their ventures at Georgetown’s Leonsis Venture Lab for an intensive summer program. They get expert mentorship, in-depth workshops, and the resources to build their ideas into functioning ventures. It culminates in a showcase where students present their startups to the broader Georgetown community and potential investors. But it’s not only what the students are building, it’s what they’re learning to be successful.

One of the biggest lessons? You don’t have to wait until you “know everything” to start. , a rising sophomore majoring in computer science and ethics, developed an app called , which allows friend groups to create time-locked digital photo capsules that can only be opened on a future date. With no uploads from a camera roll, it prioritizes in-the-moment authenticity—something missing from social media. She realized they were constantly documenting their lives, but the instant nature of social media made everything feel forgettable. The time capsule brings back that thrill of rediscovering memories while creating genuine moments of connection with friends.

She had crucial strategic guidance from different mentors: on business development strategy, on user engagement, and on scaling consumer products. Brooke had no prior experience building apps solo. But instead of waiting until she had a co-founder or a computer science degree, she dove in, using AI tools and feedback from real users to test and refine her idea. She’s now on her thirteenth TestFlight version and counting. Her takeaway for other young founders:

Another critical lesson Brooke learned is that some things can’t wait—especially legal and regulatory foundations. From the beginning, she built privacy protections, content moderation, and compliance into her app. She also secured a trademark, only to run into naming conflicts in the App Store—proof that even with protection, the legal terrain is complex. Her experience underscores a truth most founders learn the hard way: If your product is successful, these issues will find you. Better be ready.

Brooke learned two other important lessons: AI can accelerate development dramatically, but you still need to and iterate based on real feedback, not just technical capability. And can be more valuable than viral marketing: finding institutions where your product solves a real problem creates sustainable user acquisition.

For other student founders, the spark to start a company came from a personal problem that wouldn’t go away. Recent Georgetown biotech grads all knew what it felt like to drag themselves through school on little sleep, bad food, and unrelenting academic pressure. As the trio learned more about the science behind the gut-brain connection, they realized that poor gut health might be making the stress even worse—and that improving it could be a reliable, natural way to support student mental well-being. They decided to use beneficial bacteria to help fight stress and support a brighter mood. is a custom-formulated natural product built to help students manage stress and feel better, starting from the inside out.

What they discovered along the way is that a good product isn’t enough—you also have to tell a good story. Communicating their mission, and on a limited budget, was one of their toughest challenges. But it’s also where they learned to lean into authenticity: to speak directly to your audience, share why you started, and stay relentlessly focused on the people you want to help. When you build a company from personal experience, that Don’t bury it. Use it.

They also had two experienced mentors to guide them on the right track: and , helped them refine their ideas and connected them with many other helpful people. The trio learned that when starting a company, a lot can change very quickly. , creative, and learning to roll with the punches was crucial for their success to date.

was founded by a team of student entrepreneurs who also had a shared frustration: the challenges of off-campus housing. , a finance major at Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business, brings a strong foundation in entrepreneurial finance, venture capital, and quantitative investment strategies; , a business administration and marketing major at the University of Louisville, contributes hands-on real estate experience as a licensed realtor; and their CTO is a full-stack web developer building their platform.

The trio had seen how tough it was for college students to find reliable off-campus housing. Landlords were wary of renting to young tenants with no credit history. Students struggled with co-signer requirements and steep deposits. The market just wasn’t designed for them. So they decided to build a student-first housing platform that simplifies the off-campus rental process. They describe it as a hybrid between Zillow and Airbnb, but built specifically for college students. They list properties near campuses and provide tools that remove traditional barriers. Students can qualify using academic and financial informationsuch as 1098-T tax forms, GPA, and pay stubs. Landlords benefit from security deposit alternatives and a dashboard that automates rent collection. In the process, they learned the , and that especially one that sits between two skeptical parties, like landlords and student tenants. Every feature of their platform, from the GPA-based vetting system to the rent guarantee program, is . And every marketing decision they make now begins with a simple question: How do we make people feel safe choosing us?

They also learned that than promotions. Instead of chasing a viral moment, they’re building relationships with student organizations, university housing offices, and even NIL athletes who help spread the word by running student ambassador campaigns to grow awareness and trust. Their mentors were industry experts and , who helped them refine their business model and anticipate operational challenges as they attempt to raise the seed funding needed to prepare for launch later this year. Their approach shows that smart growth isn’t always loud growth—it’s strategic, steady, and focused on who your audience already trusts.

Across these ventures, one truth stands out: . At every turn, these student entrepreneurs have been guided by experienced leaders—from media executives and serial founders to healthcare innovators and digital strategists. What they all say, in different words, is this: Even the best ideas need an ecosystem. You need someone to ask the right questions, to challenge your assumptions, and to open the doors you didn’t know existed. For young founders, a good mentor doesn’t just accelerate the business. They accelerate belief.

And finally, the students agree on this: Things change. Fast. What you thought you’d be building in May might not resemble what you're launching in September. But . They’re the ones who stay curious, listen closely, and keep building.

At Georgetown, these students are doing more than launching companies. They’re learning that are grounded in helping improve themselves and others. And they’re developing the entrepreneurial mindset they will need in a fast changing world: to be resilient, resourceful, and willing to pivot when they hit roadblocks. For any young person wondering whether they have what it takes to start something of their own, these stories offer a powerful answer: Yes, you have what it takes. You have the support of your community. You just have to begin.