Amanda Quick is inspired by ideas.

The senior broadcast and digital journalism major said there are great ideas for businesses and nonprofits from student entrepreneurs across the country, and on campus at Syracuse University too.

“College campuses are the best place to start up a business,” she said. “Schools have the resources, mentors and programs to help get a business off the ground.”

But the ideas created by college students are rarely transferred to other universities, Quick said. This issue soon became the inspiration for her own startup business, “The Next Zuck.”

The company is a media website that features student entrepreneurs from campuses all over the country, she said. The goal of the company is to create a platform for college entrepreneurs, and allow them to connect with their peers.

The Next Zuck also provides information for the college entrepreneurs, such as details about possible mentors, competitions and investors.

The website also helps publicize the students’ companies, and currently features videos.

“The big thing is giving them the press and exposure they need,” she said. “Student businesses won’t get covered immediately by Forbes or CNBC.”

The website gives people and investors an inside look at what is happening on college campuses, many of which Quick has visited herself, including University of Pennsylvania and Ohio State University.

Quick said the website features a variety of content from a wide range of students who are entrepreneurs in different fields, from high tech applications to baking pastries to clothing lines.

As a broadcast and digital journalism major, Quick said she has always had an interest in telling people’s stories and The Next Zuck allows her to combine her passions of journalism and business.

“I’ve always wanted to be a reporter,” she said. “Whether you are reporting on sports, business or feature pieces, you are telling someone’s story.”

The Next Zuck is still working on a revenue model, but Quick said she is constantly looking for new ideas and student entrepreneurs to profile. As a recipient of the iSchool Entrepreneurship Engagement Fellowship, Quick will be able to work on her own business idea next year while also earning a master’s degree.

Published on March 16, 2014 at 11:52 pm

Contact Jen: [email protected]