About Priyankaa Nigam
Priyankaa is a senior at Westview High School in San Diego, California. She is an aspiring business major with an interest in entrepreneurship.
When she is not working on business ventures, she is deeply involved with Compass 4 Humanity, a non-profit organization committed to empowering underserved communities through education. In her free time, she likes to knit and crochet, which inspired her first entrepreneurial endeavor, Pri’s Purls and Presents.
Q&A with Priyankaa
Q: How was your experience as a summer intern at Jetson?
A: "My internship at Jetson was nothing short of transformative. I was incredibly fortunate to have Mr. Will Rush as my mentor. The weekly discussions, where each of us presented our business plan, were really insightful. The most rewarding part was realizing that my business, EDU EATZ, could become a viable solution to a real-world problem. My 10-week journey at Jetson was extremely positive, offering me unparalleled insights into entrepreneurship that I wouldn’t have gotten through traditional coursework. "
Q: Tell us more about the business you’ve created.
A: "EDU EATZ is a platform that connects students with local cooks to provide nutritious, affordable, and culturally diverse meals right to their doorsteps. Although EDU EATZ was born from the realization that I’m going to miss my dad’s butter chicken in college, it aims to solve a multitude of dining-related issues college students face. Our service not only fills the emotional gap left by missing home-cooked meals but also serves as a tool to combat unhealthy eating habits and food insecurity on campus. In addition, EDU EATZ empowers local cooks by providing them with an avenue to share the meals that they enjoy cooking while earning some extra cash."
Q: How does Jetson's program apply to EDU EATZ?
A: "Jetson’s program has been instrumental in taking my business from an idea to a well-defined business plan. I gained essential skills in customer discovery, competitive analysis, and Go-To-Market strategies. The program’s structured approach to entrepreneurship provided a roadmap that I could directly apply to develop and scale my own venture."
Q: How has your perspective on entrepreneurship changed?
A: "When I started my first business, Pri’s Purls and Presents, it was more of a creative endeavor. I did not really think about market research or competitive analysis. The internship exposed me to the complexities of turning a passion or an idea into a viable business. Entrepreneurship involves not only vision or innovation but also a deep understanding of the market you’re entering. An Entrepreneur recognizes a problem or a pain point, then determinedly solves it."
Q: What advice would you give to a freshman interested in starting a business/being an entrepreneur?
A: "Being an entrepreneur can be a fun and rewarding experience, but you cannot underestimate the effort you will need to put in. While enthusiasm and a compelling idea are important starting points, entrepreneurship requires meticulous planning and research. Also, surround yourself with mentors and peers who can offer constructive feedback and diverse perspectives."