This semester, the Dingman Center will be conducting interviews with the 11 student startups participating in our in-person New Ventures Practicum!
Founder: Dominic Sims ’24, Business Management
DC: Which Dingman Center programs have you been involved with?
Sims: I am currently a Dingman intern for Student Programs. I have been a part of the Terp Startup Accelerator, and I have attended quite a few networking events. My venture has been a part of Terp Marketplace and the New Venture Practicum Course.
DC: In two to three sentences, how would you describe your startup?
Sims: My venture is a community. The community emphasizes inclusion, collaboration, and education to reduce the stigma around plant-based medicine. We hope to spark a conversation between two people, to educate one another about how this medicine could potentially help them. We are not encouraging people to use the medicine, but to open their minds and get rid of prejudices.
DC: What or who is your biggest influence on your startup?
Sims: My biggest influence on my startup is myself. My brand is centered around my personal values and my hope to change the world by listening to others and not judging before we hear their story.
DC: How did you come up with the name of your venture?
Sims: The name Under the Radar came from my liking of making an impact without being in the spotlight. The graphics on the clothing are meant to be discreet and flying under the radar is another way to say discreet.
DC: What’s the most important thing you are working on right now and how are you making it happen?
Sims: Right now I am focused on getting people to join the community. I have been passing out flyers and encouraging everyone to follow the venture’s Instagram @clothing.utr
DC: As a student business owner, what motivates you?
Sims: What motivates me is to create generational wealth and break the cycle of working and still not having money. I want my future kids to not share some of the experiences that I’ve gone through. I also want to help people who may feel as though there is no solution to their health problems or do not want to use opioid medications. My goal is to build a community where people feel as though they can be themselves without feeling stuck in one category.
DC: If you could give advice to any aspiring entrepreneurs, what would it be?
Sims: The advice I would give other entrepreneurs is to not be afraid to take risks. We often feel like we have to have all the answers before we address the problem but making that leap can be the best teacher. Failure is a step closer to success, so don’t view it as a negative but a step closer to your goal. Also, take everything with a grain of salt and make strategic decisions for yourself. You know how you want your business to look and it is best to fail on your own terms rather than fail on someone else’s.
