College students will soon have access to an online marketplace where they can buy, sell and trade items with other students at their university without having to pay transaction fees or shipping.
CollegeBom allows students to sell items of interest to other students -- whether it be a microwave, laptop, textbook or even furniture.
The site is unique in that it automatically pairs buyers and sellers. Users create a profile and then enter a description of what they want to buy or sell. The site automatically sends a notification when items are available, and then the users take it from there.
For security purposes, users must have an official university email address, which is confirmed. Paypal integration is also being added so users don’t have to exchange cash.
The site is the brainchild of Steve Solomon, a freshman at the
University of South Florida who plans to graduate in 2017 with a double major in International Business and Finance.
"I wanted to create a centralized marketplace for college students. …a great resource that will genuinely help them." says Solomon, CollegeBom’s founder.
The site also provides adverstising opportunities to small businesses situated in neighborhoods near the university, allowing them to grow student traffic.
Launch is scheduled within the next two months for USF students. Eventually it will expand to other college campuses.
CollegeBom is a charter member of the
USF Student Innovation Incubator, and is taking advantage of the office space and mentorship opportunities. "They try to do as much as possible to help you, says Solomon. "I can almost guarantee I wouldn’t be this far without the incubator."
Solomon also attended
Startup Weekend Tampa Bay recently, where he gained knowledge and connections to help with the launch.
Writer:
Megan Hendricks
Source: Steve Solomon, CollegeBom
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