Young entrepreneur Mahir Laul shares how Velric is using AI to replace outdated resumes with dynamic proof-of-work missions, making hiring faster, fairer, and more accurate for recruiters and candidates alike.
Join us on the Startup Storybook podcast for an eye-opening chat with Mahir Laul, founder of Velric, who's on a mission to eliminate resumes forever. As a self-taught entrepreneur who took a leave from college to build his startup, Mahir explains how his frustration with inflated resumes and inefficient hiring sparked the idea for an AI-driven platform that scores candidates based on real-world missions tailored to their skills.
In this episode, Mahir dives into Velric's innovative scoring system, anti-cheat measures, and how it cuts pre-screening time by up to 45%. We explore his journey from high school hustles to pitching investors, the future of education in an AI world, and why locking in with relentless work is key to entrepreneurial success. Tune in for practical advice on validating ideas quickly, embracing AI tools, and turning bold visions into reality.
Chapters00:00 Intro and Welcome02:00 Why Mahir Hates Resumes05:30 How Velric's AI Scoring Works10:15 Preventing Cheating with AI Missions15:00 Candidate Onboarding and Proof of Work20:30 Sourcing Missions from AI25:00 Mahir's Entrepreneurial Journey35:00 Early Hustles and Lessons Learned45:00 Networking and Building Connections55:00 The Future of Education and Upskilling1:00:00 Advice for Young Entrepreneurs1:05:00 Devil's Advocate: Defending the Resume1:10:00 Where to Find Velric
Discover More about Mahir below:
Velric: https://velric.ai/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahir-laul-a77b11224
Want to be on the podcast yourself, or know somebody who might be a good fit? Reach out to us here.
Help us in our mission to encourage the next generation of college entrepreneurs! If this content interests you, please let us know by following the podcast and most importantly sharing it with a friend! Lastly, help us build a community by commenting below your thoughts on the episode!
#CollegeStartups #YoungEntrepreneurs #AIHiring #StartupStorybook #VelricAI
Co-founders Colt Waller and Ryder McNeal return to share how Prevo Streaming is revolutionizing the world of short films by giving student filmmakers a platform to shine and connect with industry pros.
Join us on the Startup Storybook podcast for an engaging follow-up with Colt Waller and Ryder McNeal, co-founders of Prevo Streaming. Both SMU film alumni, they recount their paths from aspiring producers to creating a service that rescues high-quality student short films from hard drives. Ryder, returning from a prior episode, and Colt discuss how cold calls ignited their partnership, Prevo's growth from a basic app to a hub with newsletters, podcasts, and talent spotlights, and the scrappy drive fueling success in Hollywood.
In this episode, they explore balancing jobs, grad school, and startup demands, the power of optimism and collaboration, and how SMU's outsider status sparked innovation. They offer advice for college entrepreneurs on starting early, persisting, and acting on ideas via competitions or side hustles. Tune in to learn how Prevo builds a filmmaker pipeline and inspires your own ventures.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:40 Colt’s Background and Journey to Prevo
02:30 Ryder’s Story and the Spark for Prevo
09:00 The Problem Prevo Solves for Student Filmmakers
12:00 Evolving Prevo: From Streaming to Spotlighting Talent
18:00 Balancing School, Jobs, and Startup Growth
22:00 Challenges in the Film Industry and Staying Optimistic
30:00 Lessons in Collaboration and Thinking Outside the Box
48:35 Advice for Freshmen: Start Now and Find Balance
52:45 Wrapping Up: Where to Find Prevo
Discover More about Colt and Ryder below:Prevo Streaming: https://prevostreaming.com/LinkedIn (Colt): https://www.linkedin.com/in/colt-wallerLinkedIn (Ryder): https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryder-mcneal
Want to be on the podcast yourself, or know somebody who might be a good fit? Reach out to us here.
Help us in our mission to encourage the next generation of college entrepreneurs! If this content interests you, please let us know by following the podcast and most importantly sharing it with a friend! Lastly, help us build a community by commenting below your thoughts on the episode!
#CollegeStartups #YoungEntrepreneurs #FilmInnovation #StartupStorybook #PrevoStreaming
Biotech entrepreneur and MUSIQ Bio founder Manwal Harb shares how his passion for science and helping others led him from Lebanon to Texas, where he’s using ultrasound technology to revolutionize drug delivery.
Join us on the Startup Storybook podcast for an epic conversation with Manwal Harb, CEO of MUSIQ Bio. What began as a fascination with nanotechnology and a desire to improve patient outcomes has grown into a company developing cutting-edge ultrasound-based solutions to make drug delivery safer, more effective, and less invasive.
In this episode, Manwal shares how his journey from Lebanon to the U.S. shaped his perspective on innovation and leadership. He discusses his path from being born in Lebanon to now launching his startup, the challenges of pursuing a PhD while launching a startup, and the importance of clear communication within teams and in relationships. Tune in to hear Manwal’s story of resilience, purpose, and how curiosity can lead to live-saving technologies.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Manny and Musiq Bio and Paulomi Modi and Nucleate Texas
08:35 What is Nucleate?
10:41 Introducing Manny and MusiQ Bio
11:37 Manny’s Journey from Lebanon to the US
20:00 Transitioning into College: Community College vs. University
27:32 Choosing the Right Graduate School
30:00 MusiQ Bio’s Technology
40:00 Applications of Ultrasound in Medicine
1:06:00 Importance of Communication in Business
1:17:35 Navigating Team Dynamics and Trust
1:26:12 Different Business Models in Life Sciences
1:29:31 Advice for Future Entrepreneurs
Discover more about Manny and MusiQ Bio below:
MusiQ Bio: https://www.musiqbio.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manwalharb/
Discover more about Paulomi and Nucleate Texas:
Nucleate Texas: https://nucleate.org/locations/texas/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulomimodi/
Want to be on the podcast yourself, or know somebody who might be a good fit? Reach out to us here.
Help us in our mission to encourage the next generation of college entrepreneurs! If this content interests you, please let us know by following the podcast and most importantly sharing it with a friend! Lastly, help us build a community by commenting below your thoughts on the episode!
Auburn baseball player–turned-entrepreneur Brooks Fuller shares how a simple act of service during COVID grew into a booming moving business rooted in faith and purpose.
Join us on the Startup Storybook podcast for a powerful conversation with Brooks Fuller, the founder and CEO of Room to Room Movers. What began as a way to help Auburn University students pack their dorms during the COVID-19 lockdown quickly grew into a booming moving and storage company serving campuses across the South.
In this episode, Brooks shares how a moment of service sparked an entrepreneurial journey rooted in faith, patience, and purpose. We’ll explore how he turned a crisis into opportunity, built a culture focused on people over profit, and grew his company organically from pickup trucks and Excel sheets to custom software and a multi-campus operation. Tune in to hear Brooks’ story of stewardship, perseverance, and how staying grounded can lead to extraordinary growth.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Brooks Fuller
01:55 The Origin of Room to Room Movers
06:00 From Service to Business
09:45 Balancing Baseball and Business
11:15 Transition from Athlete to Entrepreneur
13:30 Building a Team and Operations
17:00 Developing Custom Technology
25:30 Funding Growth Organically
27:30 Service as a Core Value
31:00 Leadership and Delegation
34:45 The Role of Mentorship
42:45 Faith as a Foundation
58:30 Advice From Brooks
Discover More about Brooks and Room2Room Movers below:
Room2Room Movers: www.r2rmovers.com
LinkedIn: Brooks Fuller
Want to be on the podcast yourself, or know somebody who might be a good fit? Reach out to us here.
Help us in our mission to encourage the next generation of college entrepreneurs! If this content interests you, please let us know by following the podcast and most importantly sharing it with a friend! Lastly, help us build a community by commenting below your thoughts on the episode!
#CollegeEntrepreneur #StartupTrends2025 #FaithInBusiness #YoungEntrepreneur #AuburnStartups #BusinessValidation #OrganicGrowth
Join us on the Startup Storybook podcast for an inspiring conversation with Turner Rey, the innovative mind behind Embrace Strings. As a professional violist and student of Music Performance and Entrepreneurship at Abilene Christian University, Turner identified a common issue among violists: neck pain from traditional chin rests. This led him to develop a customizable chin rest, merging his love for music with his entrepreneurial spirit.
In this episode, Turner delves into the creation of Embrace Strings, the unique challenges he faced in the classical music industry, and the valuable lessons learned while building a business during his college years. We explore how he balances his dual roles as a student and entrepreneur, the mindset that fuels his progress, and actionable insights for anyone looking to transform a personal passion into a successful venture. Tune in to hear Turner’s journey and discover how he’s harmonizing success in both music and business.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:00 Turner’s Story
04:40 The Birth of Embrace Strings
07:20 Pitch Competitions and Springboard
10:05 The Iteration Process and Customer Feedback
14:15 Understanding Patents and Protections
23:10 Involvement with the Griggs Center
25:00 VelocityTX
30:00 Can I Ask Myself A Question?
32:30 The Mission of the Startup Storybook Podcast
39:00 Future Plans and Partnerships
42:25 Special Partnership Announcement!
43:15 Wes Reflects on Podcast Experience
46:45 The Most Important Question??
Discover More about Turner and Embrace Strings below:
Embrace Strings: About Embrace Strings
LinkedIn: Turner Rey
Want to be on the podcast yourself, or know somebody who might be a good fit? Reach out to us here.
Help us in our mission to encourage the next generation of college entrepreneurs! If this content interests you, please let us know by following the podcast and most importantly sharing it with a friend! Lastly, help us build a community by commenting below your thoughts on the episode!
Thomas Lester is the founder of Heatstream Solutions, a packaging startup pioneering some of the most advanced self-heating packaging in the world. As a lifelong coffee drinker, Thomas often wondered why no one had created a truly effective self-heating coffee cup. That question became the spark for Heatstream.
During his second year at Auburn University, Thomas won funding for the idea in AU’s Tiger Cage Pitch Competition, and he hasn’t looked back since. Thomas shares what it takes to bring a physical product to market, lessons of leadership from guiding his team, and advice for college entrepreneurs looking to start their own venture.
Heatstream Solutions: heatstreamsolutions.com
LinkedIn: Thomas Lester
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Thomas Lester and Heat Stream Solutions
02:42 The Birth of an Idea: Self-Heating Coffee
05:59 Prototyping and the Tiger Cage Competition
08:50 The Product Development Journey
11:39 Navigating the Patent Process
14:58 The Role of Mentorship and Networking
17:55 Pitching and Selling the Vision
20:53 Building a Team and Leadership Dynamics
23:49 Future Vision and Market Potential
36:24 Understanding Product Costs and Pricing Strategy
38:47 Navigating the Challenges of Entrepreneurship
42:20 The Value of Experience Over Failure
44:59 The Role of College in Today's World
53:51 Faith and Business: A Personal Journey
Want to be on the podcast yourself, or know somebody who might be a good fit? Reach out to us here.
John and Chelsea Giles, alumni of Abilene Christian University, are the founders of DomeDock - America’s #1 hat rack. What started as a project in their garage has grown into a thriving, profitable business that even caught the attention of Shark Tank.
What makes their story especially inspiring is that neither John nor Chelsea considered themselves entrepreneurs in college. Yet, when the idea struck, they took a chance and turned it into a nationally recognized brand. The Gile’s share how DomeDock went from a side project to a household name, and why college is the best time to take a chance.
DomeDock: domedock.com
Luke Carrell is the founder of Side Coach Sports, a platform that connects young athletes with opportunities to train with veteran college players. After completing his undergraduate degree in marketing while playing baseball at the University of Oklahoma, Luke is now pursuing his MBA at Ohio State, all while continuing his baseball career.
The idea for Side Coach came from Luke’s own experience giving lessons to kids in his community. He noticed that young athletes were eager to learn from college players, and that college athletes were just as eager to mentor the next generation. Side Coach bridges that gap, creating a space where aspiring athletes can grow by learning directly from those already competing at the next level.
Side Coach Sports: sidecoachsports.com
Luke Carrell: LinkedIn
Want to be on the podcast yourself, or know somebody who might be a good fit? Reach out to us here
Cole Piotrowski is a lifelong entrepreneur, former student-athlete, and now founder of McCarren Capital. While at Ole Miss, Cole launched Godors Spray, a cleaning product for athletic gear, and went on to win $10,000 at the SEC Pitch Competition. After graduating in May 2025, he shifted his focus to real estate, starting McCarren Capital, an advisory firm connecting private groups with investment opportunities. His story is a testament to the power of hard work and execution in your business.
Godors Spray: godors.com
McCarren Capital: mccarrencapital.com
LinkedIn: Cole Piotrowski
Want to be on the podcast yourself, or know somebody who might be a good fit? Reach out to us here:
Mikey Schumacher is the founder of But Cute, a collectible plush brand that celebrates imperfections through storytelling and quirky designs. After completing his undergraduate degree in Advertising at the University of Colorado Boulder and graduate studies in Entrepreneurship at the University of Southern California, Mikey channeled his creative toy ideas into a brand built to resonate with people of all ages. Since launching But Cute at the end of 2024, he has won $35,000 of funding in a USC pitch competition, raised over $50,000 through Kickstarter, and is now raising capital from institutional investors. Mikey’s mission with But Cute is to inspire people to be “perfectly imperfect.”
Want to be on the podcast yourself, or know somebody who might be a good fit? Reach out to us here:
Olkaris Marandu is a senior Business Management major at Auburn University and the founder of Glory EV, a startup empowering the future of electric mobility by installing EV chargers for both commercial and residential clients.
Between balancing his studies and serving in the Alabama National Guard, Olkaris has developed the discipline, work ethic, and perspective it takes to succeed as a student founder. Combined with a passion for sustainable energy, he’s building Glory EV with the mission of making access to electric vehicles seamless and practical for anyone in the Southeast.
Learn more about Glory EV:
Website: gloryevchargin.com
Instagram: @gloryevcharging
Connect with Olkaris:
LinkedIn: Olkaris Marandu
Want to be on the podcast yourself, or know somebody who might be a good fit? Reach out to us here.
Colin and Grant, graduates of Louisiana State University, are the CEO and CTO of Farm Smarter AI — a platform that gives farmers across the country a holistic understanding of best practices, regulations, and practical solutions for challenges like choosing the right seed, treating pests, and more.
Frustrated by how difficult it is for farmers to navigate complex regulations and countless options while still managing day-to-day work on the farm, they set out to build a truly farmer-focused tool. Farm Smarter uses AI (Agricultural Intelligence) to streamline the learning process so farmers cannot only stay compliant, but thrive.
What began as a project in an LSU AI class has grown into a nationally recognized startup. Colin and Grant have competed in multiple pitch competitions across the country, including the Rice Business Plan Competition ($100,000) and the Entrepreneurship Pelican Cup at the University of Louisiana Monroe ($50,000). Farm Smarter is now primed to be a major player in the untapped market of agricultural intelligence.
Colin and Grant’s journey shows what’s possible when cutting-edge technology meets one of the world’s oldest industries. In this episode, they share how Farm Smarter started in a classroom, grew into a nationally recognized company, and is now shaping the future of farming.
Whether you’re interested in AI, entrepreneurship, or the future of agriculture, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
Learn more about Farm Smarter AI:
Website: Farm Smarter
Instagram: @farmsmarter_technolgies
Connect with Colin and Grant:
LinkedIn: Colin Raby
LinkedIn: Grant Muslow
Want to be on the podcast yourself, or know somebody who might be a good fit? Reach out to us here.
Ryder McNeal is a graduate student at Southern Methodist University and co-founder of Prevo Streaming, a platform for aspiring filmmakers to showcase their work. Frustrated by how hard it is for new creators to get their films in front of an audience, Ryder and his team built Prevo to be truly filmmaker-focused. Since launching last year, Prevo has streamed hundreds of films for thousands of viewers, and is now expanding with features that let audiences vote for their favorite entries in competitions and give filmmakers access to the supplies they need to bring their visions to life.
Learn more about Prevo Streaming:
Website: Prevo Streaming
Connect with Ryder and Prevo Streaming:
LinkedIn: Ryder McNeal
LinkedIn: Prevo Streaming
Instagram: @prevostreaming
Download Prevo Streaming here:
Google Playstore: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.uscreen.prevo&pcampaignid=web_share
Apple Appstore: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/prevo/id6504887118
Want to be on the podcast yourself, or know somebody who might be a good fit? Reach out to us here!
Graycen Hall is a graduate student at the University of Kentucky and co-founder of Madhouse Games. With a degree in neuroscience and a semester of board game design class, Graycen teamed up with her co-founder Claire Carpenter to launch their first game: a dueling robot card game that blends excitement with education. Their mission is to create games that are fun and engaging, all while helping you learn!
LinkedIn:
Topics include:
Board game design, neuroscience, entrepreneurship, game development, science education, STEM, innovation, Kickstarter, creative expression, community engagement, product development, social impact, learning tools, academic journeys, startup stories, small business, play-testing, and game mechanics.
Collin Bishop is a student-athlete, finance and economics major, and entrepreneur at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. He has competed in the Stumberg Competition at Trinity the last two years and is a student leader in the entrepreneurship program. Collin has multiple ventures he is pursuing and a great outlook on the life of a student founder.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/collin-bishop-7a991b262/
Grafton Hearnsberger is a junior Business Administration major at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. He is the founder of ARCANE, a private network for the next generation of entrepreneurs, leaders, and visionaries. Grafton plans for ARCANE to be a place for innovators to connect and learn from each other, growing the world of entrepreneurship.
Website: ARCANE
Instagram: @ARCANE
LinkedIn: Grafton Hearnsberger
Instagram: @grxfton
Gabe Irvine is a student-athlete, finance and accounting major, and entrepreneur at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. He is the founder of Interactive Investing Insights (3I), an app that leverages AI to help users learn how to invest successfully. Though still in the early stages of his venture, Gabe brings valuable insights into the financial world, the disruptive power of AI in the industry, and his strategy for capturing market share as a multi-talented student entrepreneur.
LinkedIn: Gabe Irvine
3I: Interactive Investing Insights
Vincent is a PhD student at UT Health San Antonio studying cancer biology. He is the co-founder and CEO of Powerhouse Therapeutics, leading advances in cell and gene therapy, as well as Head of Strategy for Nucleate, a student-run organization that represents the largest community of bio innovators. Vincent and his team at Powerhouse are passionate about making advances in cancer therapy, and are having extraordinary success. After finishing his dissertation, Vincent will continue running Powerhouse Therapeutics and pushing to make the world a better place
Website: powerhousetherapeutics.com
LinkedIn: @powerhousetherapeutics
Nucleate: nucleate.org
Nucleate Demo Day: Nucleate Demo Day
Vincent Pham: Vincent Pham LinkedIn
Trace Bullinger is a senior Biology major at Abilene Christian University. He runs Boss Bats, sourcing and reselling used baseball bats, Simply Flowers, which sells bouquets and arrangements at ACU events, and has multiple side hustles as well. Trace’s goal after completing his degree is to gain experience in the medical field and potentially start his own business a few years into his career. Trace is a great example of how the entrepreneurial mindset can open up opportunities in something as simple as flowers and baseball bats.
Boss Bats Facebook: bossbats.facebook.com
Boss Bats Instagram: @bossbats
Simply Flowers: @simplyflowers
LinkedIn: Trace Bullinger
Austin is a recently graduated Computer Science major from Abilene Christian University. He is a co-founder of Zute Predictive, an AI-consulting company. Join us to dive into Austin's entrepreneurial story and learn fascinating new things about artificial intelligence and how young and experienced entrepreneurs alike can take advantage of it!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zute-predictive/
Website: https://zutepredictive.com/