Mitch Nelson is a graduate from Florida State University and participated in an entrepreneurship program. With the knowledge and skills he gained, he went on to start his own business called DivvyUp Socks. What makes DivvyUp unique is that for every pair of socks bought, another pair is donated to a Florida homeless shelter. I asked Mr. Nelson the following questions:
1. What inspired the idea for your business?
"I formed a group with other students in the entrepreneurship program with the intention of giving back to the community. My group and I visited a local homeless shelter and when we asked how we could help, the answer was simple: socks."
2. What was your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?
"Being on a college campus at the time, we had a huge market we weren't necessarily prepared for. The idea was out and it was popular, but demand was pretty hard to meet. As a result, we finally decided taking our business online was the best way to reach and help the most amount of people."
3. What do you think I should take away from this course?
"Well, the most important thing I learned was how to identify opportunities. A common misconception people have is that entrepreneurs have to have completely original ideas or come up with "the next big thing," but really it's all about figuring out what people actually want and finding a way to give it to them in the best way."
Reflection:
I thought it was very interesting how this company arose out of a college entrepreneurship program. I was surprised that something as simple as asking what a homeless shelter needed could spur the development of a successful business.
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