Mandy Wang, who graduates this month from Cal State Fullerton, is taking that gigantic first step out of the classroom toward the rest of her life — as a new entrepreneur.
The business administration-entrepreneurship major is the founder of Little Nexus, a platform that helps nonprofits in their fundraising efforts with local business, especially restaurants.
“Our mission is to make fundraising efforts much more effective than they already are by tearing down barriers,” she explains. “Many nonprofits, especially student clubs, have nowhere to turn when developing fundraising campaigns and end up not starting one or doing a poor job at it. Little Nexus aims to change that.”
The business is currently in the testing and validation phase, Wang notes. “We have our beta site up and running with booking functionalities, and we are working on signing on restaurants and student organizations as users.”
She’s been pitching her business at a number of local competitions and was the winner in the University’s Business Plan Competition in April. “As an entrepreneurship student, my classes definitely helped me in implementing what I learned into my own business,” she says.
“Through joining student organizations like Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda, and [the entrepreneurship business fraternity] Sigma Upsilon Mu, I am able to use my networking skills to build connections and seek out opportunities,” Wang adds.
“Mandy is a great communicator and is driven to succeed,” says John Jackson, director of the campus Center for Entrepreneurship. “She has the ability to work with all types of people, which I consider a rare skill. People like Mandy and trust her. This awareness and intention empowers her to make the right decisions, whether they big or small.”
“I loved every bit of my time at CSUF. I wish I had gotten here sooner,” said Wang. “But in the short time that I’ve been here, I’ve made lifelong friends, been a part of an officer team to set a precedent within my club, and built a business from nothing. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience during the last two years of my college career.”