Happy April - only a couple of weeks left in the semester before final exams kick in and the start of summer! From minimizing textbook costs to one of the rising leaders in the sports tech industry, we’re highlighting another month in BC tech & entrepreneurship. Go Eagles! 🦅
Featured Startups
🚌 Student Startup: Bell
Bell is a digital platform that allows students to directly buy and sell textbooks on their college campuses. Students will be able to search for their college-specific courses and be connected with upperclassmen who have taken the same course and are looking to sell their books. This completely student-driven economy will allow students to essentially break even with regard to college textbook costs, as they are both buying and selling books to their peers. By eliminating shipping and rental fees, college students will now be able to put their money into their education.
Co-Founder: 🦅 Ava Korbani CSOM‘26
🎓 Alumni Startup: huupe
huupe is a smart basketball hoop that allows players to train like pros, track their progress, and compete against other users. The company’s new product is built around the concept of a smart basketball hoop, alongside a content network of training videos that users can watch while playing. By utilizing computer vision, the screen behind the backboard allows basketball players to work with virtual trainers and get their shots analyzed. They recently raised an $11 million seed round, co-led by Protagonist VC, Marvan Ventures, TRI Investments, and Kawn VC.
Founder: 🦅 Paul Anton MCAS ‘15
Featured Student + Alum
🚌 Student: Joaquin Penelas
Joaquin is a junior studying Economics and Philosophy at Boston College. This past summer, he interned at Global Mortgage Group in Singapore, where he made financial models and researched global trends in the real estate financing sector. On campus, Joaquin is an associate for SSC Venture Partners’ Venture Studio and is also involved in the Boston College Economics Association and Pickleball Athletic Club. This summer, he will be a Product Management Business Analyst at Johnson Controls.
🦅 Joaquin Penelas MCAS ‘24
🎓 Alum: Amanda Zhao
Amanda is an investor at Bullish, an early-stage consumer investment firm and brand strategy agency, whose investments include Peloton, Warby Parker, Hu Chocolate, and Harry’s. She has also spent some time working with TikTok strategy at ThingTesting, as well as growth equity with PSG. Amanda holds degrees in Finance and Marketing from Boston College, and during her time on campus, was one of the leaders of the Women’s Innovators Network.
🦅 Amanda Zhao, CSOM ‘22
Updates
⏭ What’s Happening This Month?
4/26 - WIN is hosting their Female Founders dinner - RSVP here.
5/1 - Start@Shea is hosting their Strakosch Venture Competition Finals.
5/3 - The Woods College Entrepreneurship Certificate Program is hosting a Founder Panel: Turning Your Side Gig Into a Startup - register here.
5/4 - Last day of classes for BC students and the start of study days!
🗣 Other BC Tech + Startup Community News
huupe, the smart basketball hoop company, and founder Paul Anton, who were featured in this edition, recently raised an $11M seed round.
Ancora.ai, and co-founder Danielle Ralic, a clinical oncology hub, just partnered up with the American Cancer Society to expand access to cancer innovation.
Endstate and CEO / co-founder Bennett Collen partnered with Concepts and Sneaker News for a networking event during NFT NYC.
Founder of Gen-Z VCs, Meagan Loyst, hosted a happy hour in Boston, featuring fellow alum Lurein Pereira, and his company GiveCard as a panelist.
Please reach out via email for any other BC tech news or features!
📚 Campus Organizations
Connect with Boston College Tech + Entrepreneurship Student Organizations:
BC Venture Capital & Private Equity (BC VCPE)
Thanks for Reading!
If you have any feedback, suggestions, or tips (startups, people, updates, or roles to profile), please reach me (Alex Park – CS + Marketing @ BC ‘24) via email. Connect with me through Twitter, LinkedIn, or check out my website!
Thanks for reading Eagle Eye Newsletter! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.