For Subscribers

Looking Fly on the Cheap Here are some surefire methods for polishing your college startup's appearance.

By Joel Holland

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Looking Fly on the Cheap

Portraying a professional image can make or break a college startup. Luckily, with new apps and other small-scale resources making their way to the economical entrepreneur's desktop, these three college startups are finding more ways to make a good impression on the cheap.

Sensing opportunity in the recent explosion of online video, Babson College juniors Alexey Ossikine and Alex Debelov, both 21, set out to help advertisers reach and interact with content consumers. After launching Crelligence Media in 2008, the two needed to broadcast a professional image. "By leasing a virtual office at the prestigious Two International Place in Boston, customers think we're running a multimillion-dollar company," says Ossikine, who used Interactive Offices Worldwideto set up his company with the high-profile business address, local phone number, receptionist and mail forwarding. "Meanwhile, we're actually college students only paying about $300 a month."

While an undergrad at Rice University, Neha Gupta saw a growing interest in organic products and launched Sama Baby, a Houston-based luxury organic cotton clothing line for babies and toddlers. Gupta needed an 800 number for customers and merchants, so she turned to Grasshopper's virtual phone system. Plans start at $9.95 per month, so it's "an inexpensive way to make a college business look more professional," says Gupta, 24.

As a student at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Ryan Durkin felt the frustration among peers having to juggle online college resources like social networks, the university homepage and course websites. So in 2007, he partnered with Jared Stenquist and Boris Revsin to start CampusLIVE, a web portal dedicated to the college community. Durkin and his team decided to turn to web-based project collaboration tool Basecampto keep everyone on point. Now, at a cost of between $24 and $149 per month, Durkin can have employees across campus working on projects ranging from designing new campus features to connecting with local charities. Says Durkin, 23, "CampusLIVE needed a tool to inexpensively and effectively communicate within the company."

Joel Holland, 25, is the founder and CEO of Footage Firm in Reston, Va.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

They Started a Side Hustle Producing an 'Obvious' Food Item. It Hit $300,000 Monthly Revenue Fast — On Track for Over $20 Million in 2025.

When Jason Rosenbaum and Hailey Swartz couldn't find the product they wanted to see on grocery store shelves, they took matters into their own hands.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Management

Selling Your Business Goes Beyond a Price Tag — Ask Your Buyer These 5 Questions to Ensure They're the Right Fit

Before you sign the dotted line, ask the questions that reveal who your buyer really is — and what they truly value.

Real Estate

Why Buying a 'Second Home' First is the New Way to Build Wealth — and Enjoy Free Vacations

The dream of owning a home has never felt more out of reach. So, a growing number of aspiring homeowners are making an unconventional choice.

Business News

Here's How Much Google Software Engineers, Product Managers, and Data Scientists Make in a Year

Data revealed in federal filings shows how much Google is compensating its employees.

Business News

Microsoft Executive Says Using AI Has Saved $500 Million in Productivity Costs, as the Company Conducts Mass Layoffs

Microsoft is leveraging AI tools for cost savings in various departments, including customer service.