Entrepreneurship isn’t something Culverhouse College of Business students wait to pursue after graduation. It’s something they live out in real time.
That idea sits at the heart of “Capstone Legends: Student Entrepreneurs at The University of Alabama,” written by professors Jef Naidoo and Vishal Gupta. The book highlights students who aren’t waiting for the “right moment” to start a business. They’re building companies while still in class.
A few of the students highlighted in the book took part in a student panel discussion, “Student Entrepreneurship at UA: Opportunities and Challenges,” moderated by Gupta with Naidoo also on the panel. Among the topics they discussed were what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur, pitfalls to avoid, and challenges they face in today’s artificial intelligence world. Naidoo also spoke about the book and what an inspiration these entrepreneurs’ journeys are to other Culverhouse students seeking their own business startup path.
From Classroom to Company
While working on Capstone Legends, Naidoo found that it was wasn’t the businesses UA students are building that stuck with him. The mindset behind them is what grabbed his attention.
“These students are not waiting for life to begin,” he said. “They’re building it here.”
That mindset is something he finds impressive and humbling. In those conversations with students, he had a recurring thought: “I wish I had done this at their age.”
The students featured in Capstone Legends are redefining what it means to be “ready.” They’re taking ideas from class discussions and turning them into real companies, often while balancing full course loads and campus involvement.
For Naidoo, that willingness to act and move forward without having everything figured out is what makes their stories so powerful.
“It’s truly inspirational,” he said. “They’re creating something real, something that can change industries, even culture.”
While students benefit from mentorship, resources and programs like the Crimson Entrepreneurship Academy, Naidoo says faculty are equally energized by what they see.
“These students challenge us,” he said. “They make us think differently about what’s possible.”
It’s why he often points to them when speaking with prospective students and their families. Beyond rankings or programs, he sees these entrepreneurs as proof of what the university can cultivate.
“This is where we make legends,” he said.
Start Before You’re Ready
Laughlin is founder of Cruise Funding, which helps small businesses get speedy access to capital through a more streamlined process. He’s also started Digital Tap AI, which helps companies stop wasting money on their tech systems, particularly through cloud storage management.
For Laughlin, entrepreneurship didn’t begin with a polished pitch or a perfect plan. It started with experience and a willingness to act quickly.
After working in private banking and seeing firsthand the challenges clients faced, he brought an idea to a professor, threw together a last-minute pitch deck and entered the Edward K. Aldag Student Business Plan Competition, just days after the deadline. He finished second in the New Idea category and used the $1,500 prize money to launch his company.
Move fast, figure it out later is a motto that’s shaped his approach ever since.
“You’re never actually ready to start your own company,” Laughlin said. “You just have to do it.”
Early on, one of his biggest challenges was credibility. As a young founder entering a complex industry, he had to earn trust from clients and investors. His solution was to put himself out there.
“Just be an extrovert about it,” he said. “If you’re afraid to talk to people, you’re not going to grow. Don’t worry about losing. You don’t lose if you don’t try.”
Find Your Niche
Bell is founder of Da Lab, a company that offers branding design, social media management, AI content creation, analytical reporting, and Google business indexing. The goal is to help small businesses stand out online.
Her path into entrepreneurship started with exploration. She discovered an interest in marking through the Crimson Entrepreneurship Academy. Turning that interest into a business came with the challenge of trying to stand out in a crowded field.
“Digital marketing is very saturated,” Bell said. “Finding a niche was really hard.”
Instead of waiting for opportunities, she created them. She volunteered at conferences, reached out to professionals and intentionally placed herself in new environments, even when it meant stepping outside her comfort zone.
“I would just email and say, ‘I’m a student. Can I help?’” she said.
Those efforts paid off. It led to connections, clients, and a clearer sense of direction. Bell also faced imposter syndrome, a common hurdle among young entrepreneurs.
“I didn’t feel like I deserved to be in certain rooms,” she said.
Her way through it wasn’t eliminating that feeling. Instead, she pushed forward.
“Fake it till you make it,” she said. “Eventually, you start to believe it.”
Build a Brand That Feels Personal
Coulson is founder and designer of Jewels by Ky. She designs everything from necklaces, bracelets, hats backpacks, and sweatshirts.
Coulson’s entrepreneurship journey started as a simple hobby of making jewelry. It turned into a business when classmates asked to buy her pieces. Early sales were small, but the momentum was real.
What set it apart wasn’t just the product. It was the brand. Coulson leaned into making her business feel personal. She was selling something tied directly to her. That connection became a key differentiator, especially in a crowded space.
“I kind of became the brand,” she said. “You have to find ways to really set your business apart, whether it’s just you as an individual and making it your own personal. I’ve never been scared that anybody could copy or take it away.”
That meant showing up in person, talking directly with customers and building relationships one interaction at a time. In the beginning, she even hand-delivered orders. It was a small detail that made a big impression.
As the business grew, so did her understanding of branding. She paid close attention to trends, customer preferences and how her audience responded to different styles. When things shifted, she adjusted by rebranding when necessary to stay relevant and aligned with her target market.
“I’ve had to figure out what people actually want,” she said. “If you create something that doesn’t connect, it just sits there.”
