Julia Haber ’18, founder of WAYV, brings a two-day entrepreneurial journey to the quad

WAYV trailer

Julia Haber ’18 won a top Panasci Business Plan award just before she graduated for her concept for a unique immersive retail experience. This week, she is bringing that idea to life on the SU campus, as WAYV + Shopify, a two-day entrepreneurial experience arrives at the Shaw Quad, October 1 and 2, from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. each day.

“I am a proud Newhouse graduate, still in the glow of my wonderful four years at Syracuse,” said Haber.  “I am excited to head “home” to ‘Cuse with WAYV, my startup which creates hyper-tailored experiences specifically for college students and helps support students through their academic and extra curricular journeys. We have partnered with 30 college campuses and thousands of students to provide access to outside of the classroom learning opportunities.

“I founded WAYV during my senior year at Syracuse with the support of many programs across all colleges including the Blackstone LaunchPad powered by Techstars at SU Libraries.   We just launched our four school tour in support of our amazing partner, Shopify, at Cornell University.  We now proudly head to Syracuse this week, and then onto Babson College and Bentley University.  We look forward to educating students about the entrepreneurial opportunities through the interactive pop up experience that we have created for Shopify, the quintessential e-commerce platform.”

“Nothing makes me happier than bring this experience back to where it all began as Shopify x WAYV pop-up on the SU campus on October 1st and 2nd on Shaw Quad in partnership with the LaunchPad,” added Haber.

trailer at sunset

Julia Haber on the quad

Photo:  Julia Haber ’18 on the Shaw quad

Shopify background article here:

You+ Shopify is an immersive two-day experience on four college campuses in the U.S. where students will be educated and inspired to turn their passions and ideas into a business. Shopify is the leading multi-channel commerce company, providing merchants of all sizes with the tools they
need to start, manage and grow their businesses. 800,000+ merchants around the world have used Shopify to go from an idea to a business. Shopify’s mission is to make commerce better for everyone and to inspire the next wave of independent business owners around the world, and You+Shopify is just one important way we’re preparing future leaders to be independent business owners. Whether students are dreaming about entrepreneurship or it’s not something they’ve even considered, the You+ Shopify experience will show them some of the possibilities through the lens of six independent business owners who use Shopify: Bombas, HexComix, Zandra Beauty, Think Board, Pipcorn, and Final Straw. Students will have the opportunity to explore, ask questions, get involved, and find out what kind of independent business owner they could be. Shopify customer care representatives will also be onsite to answer questions and facilitate learning. The program was designed in conjunction with WAYV, a startup founded by recent college graduate Julia Haber, who was inspired to unlock exclusive, hyper tailored experiences for college students. WAYV fosters a network of students dispersed around the globe, united through the experiences it develops with brands, specifically for the college market. The concept for WAYV grew out of Haber’s undergraduate experience at Syracuse, launching successful pop ups across campus for major brands, as well as social issues, all inspired to enhance the lives of college students. She turned the concept into a venture as a student, competing and winning in the Panasci Business Competition and the New York State Business Plan Competition, and launched the business full-time after graduation.

For more information, follow at @OurWAYV and @Shopify

https://www.ourwayv.com/
Media Inquiries:
For Shopify media inquires, please email press@shopify.com
For WAYV media inquiries, please email jd@ouwayv.com