This paper outlines cumulative research on food deserts in relation to college students; namely, that there are communities classified as food deserts because significant numbers of the population lack access to grocery stores selling fresh produce or other goods normally called “healthy.” These areas are often also food swamps, or areas with intense access to sugar-dense, high-fat foods. Research as a whole suggests that three, among many, things might primarily drive food insecurity for individuals caught in these food deserts: lack of access to a personal vehicle, low income or prohibitively expensive healthy foods, and personal education or culture (Wright, 2016). College students both fit into the geographical food deserts and are individuals who tend to have a worrying level of food insecurity (Kim, 2018). It is costly to make adjustments to entire environments to rid communities of food desert qualities, and it is not always effective as ending food insecurity or malnutrition; instead, it can be much more effective to focus on individuals within communities and help push cultures into a better direction. This project demonstrates that ASU students are experiencing food dissatisfaction and are in a food desert worthy of attention and action, and that students are motivated to see a solution. The solution that the paper focuses on is a food delivery system of fresh produce and foods for students. 


Food is one of the most universal and uniting human experiences. It is a powerful tool to bring communities together and it is a simple way to bring joy to an individual. This project is an exercise in marketing and entrepreneurship that was inspired by these ideas, which culminated in a fundraiser bake sale to benefit Creighton Community Foundation, a local nonprofit.

Allow yourself to rediscover peace. PAX is aimed to help college students find pockets of peace in their hectic day-to-day. Through art services, students will find avenues to relieve stress and anxiety via creative outlets. With directed art sessions, students will be able to express their creativity in a healthy and healing manner. Our vision is to introduce and instill a stress relieving outlet in the lives of college students.

The Clutch Services App is a platform that was imagined with the intent to bridge the gap in the Arizona State student commerce market that exists between student entrepreneurs and consumers. Our thesis validated the gap in the market through intensive research that emphasized student demand and an in-person demonstration of the problem the application would seek to solve. We consistently surveyed the student population testing if there is an existing platform that closes the gap in the market, their awareness of entrepreneurs on campus, interest in supporting student-owned businesses, and overall interest in a platform that would host ASU student-owned businesses. Additionally, we hosted an ASU Student Business Fair, on campus, to physically represent the functionality of the app and its purpose. Through these methods we were able to successfully validate the demand for a platform, exclusively for ASU students, that showcases student-owned businesses to better connect them with the student population.

The Clutch Services App is a platform that was imagined with the intent to bridge the gap in the Arizona State student commerce market that exists between student entrepreneurs and consumers. Our thesis validated the gap in the market through intensive research that emphasized student demand and an in-person demonstration of the problem the application would seek to solve. We consistently surveyed the student population testing if there is an existing platform that closes the gap in the market, their awareness of entrepreneurs on campus, interest in supporting student-owned businesses, and overall interest in a platform that would host ASU student-owned businesses. Additionally, we hosted an ASU Student Business Fair, on campus, to physically represent the functionality of the app and its purpose. Through these methods we were able to successfully validate the demand for a platform, exclusively for ASU students, that showcases student-owned businesses to better connect them with the student population.

We founded an operational startup company and developed a consumable product to sell to ASU students. Our primary objective is the provision of affordable nutritious energy bars to overworked and overwhelmed college students. We aim to support hungry students in efforts to fuel their bodies efficiently and nutritiously; in order to do so, we donate 20% of our profits to charity to support students in debt. Our business won the Business Catalyst Choice Award for having "the most promising business concept" in the Founder's Lab 2022-23 Cohort.

Startups in the paper manufacturing are few & rare between. Agrix Paper takes a step towards innovating the traditional mass-scale paper making process & introduce non-wood fiber sourcing into the papermaking space. Using a hemp fiber-base, Agrix Paper hopes to develop a new paper manufacturing process that derives high-quality paper sourced from hemp & agricultural waste. Agrix Paper will reinvent the papermaking process for a more sustainable industry future.

Startups in the paper manufacturing industry are few and far between. Agrix paper takes a step towards innovating the traditional mass-scale paper making process and introduces non-wood fiber sourcing into the papermaking space. Using a hemp fiber base, Agrix Paper hopes to develop a new paper manufacturing process that derives high-quality paper sourced from hemp and agriculture waste. Agrix Paper will reinvent the papermaking process for a more green and sustainable future.

Shifting Horizons in Entrepreneurship, better known as SHE is a multimedia reporting project that explores the experiences and narratives of Arizona-based female business owners. This collaborative project uses multimedia reporting techniques such as writing, photography, social media and a podcast to showcase how women are making a space for themselves in entrepreneurship.