From restaurants to transportation, current UA students John-Mark Bantock, Sam Ellis, Taylor Hedberg and Lindsey Erlick have developed an electric bike venture. The business is based on electric bikes that will be designed by the future owner using the best components on the market.
Over the course of a year as part of their McGuire experience, the students developed a business plan, conducted more than 100 interviews with retailers across the nation, established a fully operational supply chain with various suppliers, manufacturers, assemblers, painters and retail partners, and tested it all out on a fully functioning prototype.
The team also created a marketing plan and implemented a full social media campaign that positioned electric bikes as a cool, trendy way to commute, and ultimately pitched their venture to potential investors.
The team members won first place in the year-end venture competition. More importantly, the team has started a business called Velocis Bikes.
The group attributes its success to the McGuire experience.
"Through the McGuire Center, you have access to funding for prototypes and market research, experienced proven entrepreneurs, an amazing website development team, a law team, and access to angel investors who will tell you exactly what your weak points are," said Ellis. "If you put in the time and effort, McGuire can help you turn an idea into an actual fully operational company."
