u/Ace_Innovate

I'm a 21-year-old Minnesota-based founder working on an development an app that aims to revolutionize the math ed scene by making engaging with the subject genuinely meaningful and fun through gamification, social features, music, art, and personality.

I've already put a lot of work into laying the foundation:
- LLC
- Business bank account
- Website
- Business email
- 30+ page design document
- 130+ market research responses

The problem is that I've hit a roadblock:

I have been alone for a year working on this on my spare time, but I can't actually realistically build a project like this by myself and am looking for a team as well as a way to procure funds to support that team. I need talented people in areas like programming, art/UX/UI, sound design/audio, and curriculum design, but I don't have the money to hire a team. Right now I only have a few thousand dollars.

I need guidance on how founders actually get from this stage to a real company.

Specifically, I'm looking for advice on:
- Finding co-founders or talented collaborators.
- Getting mentorship or personal guidance from experienced entrepreneurs.
- Preparing for crowdfunding (Kickstarter or similar).
- Marketing before launch and building an audience.
- Any resources in Minnesota (or elsewhere) that could help someone in my position.

My current idea is to transfer to the school in St. Thomas for entrepreneurial guidance given their history with helping with that. As a matter of fact, I'm actually meeting with the University of St. Thomas business school to see what startup resources they offer and how they can help me build my business. I know a lot of startups began in dorms or garages, so something like this is possible. However, I am worried that St. Thomas might still not be what I am looking for, so I am here to ask for advice on what I should do if plans go array.

If you've built a startup, especially in gaming or edtech, what would you do if you were in my shoes?

Incidentally, I am not really wanting to be in Minnesota for a project like this. I want to move to Raleigh, North Carolina, but it’s too expansive unfortunately. It unfortunately makes the most sense for me to build this in Minnesota. That is a whole separate problem though. :/

I’m considering transferring to the University of St. Thomas because of its entrepreneurship program. I have a business idea that I believe has strong potential, but what I really need is help building a talented team, finding mentors, and eventually securing funding.

My question is: can a St. Thomas’ entrepreneurship program realistically help with those things? Have any of you had success finding co-founders, mentors, investors, or other valuable connections through college?

I used to think college was mainly about getting a degree, but if it can actually help launch a business though connections, that changes my perspective. I’d love to hear your experiences, especially if you’ve been through a program like St. Thomas’s.