This summer, the Dingman Center will be conducting interviews with the 11 student startups who are participating in our first in-person Terp Startup summer accelerator since 2020. Participating student entrepreneurs will receive a stipend up to $5,000 that will enable them to work exclusively on their startups over the next eight weeks.
Founders: Weixiang Wang ’22, Computer Science and Statistics minor. Liqianrui Yang ’22 Economics and Management major, Technology Entrepreneurship and Corporate Innovation minor. Shi Yingzhou ’23 Finance and Information systems major. Keying Sun ’23 Statistics major. Kaiwen Lu ’24 Mathematics major Science, technology, ethics, and policy minor. Rong Yan ’24 OMBA and Finance major. Zeyang Liu ’22 Economics major. Zijian Zhang ’22 Computer Science major Statistics minor. Ziqi Zhang ’22 Computer Science major. Nanxin Luo ’24 Finance; Information systems. Yiying Lu ’22 Information System and Supply Chain Management major. Yongqi Zheng ’24 Operations Management & Business Analytics and Marketing major.
DC: In two to three sentences, how would you describe your startup?
Wang: JuJu is a company that is doing pre-scheduled food delivery services and group food delivery services. We can provide consistent arrival time every day and save 40% on pre-ordered, scheduled food delivery from the best, local and distant restaurants. We have fixed pickup locations in complex scenarios such as campus.
DC: At what point did you know you wanted to create your own startup?
Wang: When I found I and my trusted partners are able to develop an App by ourselves, we think we have a unique way to think and analyze the market and users. We thought we might regret it in the future if we started a company now, but we would regret sure if we do not.
DC: What or who is your biggest influence for your startup?
Wang: When we get into the startup shell at UMD a startup student organization at UMD, many people are interested in what we are doing and like to talk with us about our venture and give us help. Ian, Ananum, Pranav, Franco, Kiy, Ben, Fady, and all the members of the startup shell gave us so much inspiration and encouragement.
DC: What updates or significant accomplishments can you share with us about your company from the last six months?
Wang: We have achieved 25% market penetration among the Chinese international students’ community at UMD. Accumulated 540 users, and achieved a 98% of retention rate of all users. During the last month we were running, we had 50+ orders for weekday lunches. We won second place on the Contrary Capital pitch competition. Accepted in the Terp Accelerator. And launched our website: jujufooddelivery.com
DC: As a student business owner, how do you define success?
Wang: We truly bring value to our customers as what we have planned.
DC: What are you hoping to achieve during the Terp Startup Accelerator this summer?
Wang: Improve our understanding of our target customers. Get a clear idea of what problems we are solving and what kinds of value we can bring to customer. Practicing personal skills such as pitching and doing user interviews. Get more advice from experienced people.
DC: If you could give advice to any aspiring entrepreneurs, what would it be??
Wang: If you really believe in what you are doing right now, ignore all the noise around you whether it is positive or negative. A just cause attracts much support, an unjust one finds little.
To learn more about JuJu Food Delivery visit the website here. Additionally, help JuJu get a better understanding of customer needs by filling out the form here.