Dakota Stern, a senior majoring in management information systems at the Culverhouse College of Business, didn’t expect a warehouse full of outdated electronics to spark a $50,000 windfall. But through grit, innovation, and a relentless drive to create something meaningful, Stern transformed a scrap-based side hustle into a thriving environmental venture—and claimed the top prize at the University of Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute’s Edward K. Aldag Jr., Student Business Plan Competition in April.
His company, Dak Dynamics LLC, in which he is CEO, began with little more than a network of eBay sellers and a passion for refining precious metals from discarded circuit boards. “It started as kind of an arbitrage model,” Stern said. “We’d buy circuit boards, refine them for gold, silver, and other metals, and sell the extracted value.”
But Stern wanted more than quick profits—he wanted purpose. That vision was made clearer when he partnered with Tuscaloosa Environmental Services. Suddenly, he had 32,000 pounds of e-waste and a real business to build. “That was day one for me,” Stern said. “No warehouse, no infrastructure—just a need, and an opportunity.”
Now, Dak Dynamics provides municipalities and local businesses with free electronics recycling pickups. Stern’s company handles the full back-end process—stripping, sorting, and reselling everything from CPUs to aluminum casings. The company has also expanded into refurbishing and reselling systems and components, creating additional revenue streams.
In a unique twist, Stern is piloting a repurposing program that turns discarded tech into functional art and home goods—think circuit board wall hangings or mailboxes built from old Mac towers. “We’re even bringing in repurposing contractors and building a repurposing room in our new facility,” Stern said.
His commitment to sustainability and community impact caught the attention of judges at the Aldag competition, where he went in hoping for a niche award—but left with the grand prize. “The $50,000 lets us take the next step now,” Stern said. “We can invest in trucks, pallet scales, and a full-time facility without waiting months to grow into it.”
Behind his rapid success lies a deep entrepreneurial spirit, which started when he was a kid growing up in Evanston, Illinois. Stern set up lemonade stands in strategic locations, easy for thirsty Northwestern University football fans to spot on their long trek to the stadium. When he arrived at UA, Stern’s business acumen matured when he started an Amazon FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon) store. That paved the way for Dak Dynamics.
Stern’s always found ways to create value. Now, with graduation around the corner and a team of student contractors behind him, Dak Dynamics is poised to expand beyond Tuscaloosa.
But for Stern, the goal remains the same: “I’ve always wanted to build something of my own,” he said. “Something that lets me make a living, create jobs, and give back to the community. This business is that vessel.”