From India and now living in Lowell, Hency Patel has an entrepreneurial spirit. With a goal of starting his own business, he started to study business administration at Middlesex Community College. In his second semester, Patel participated in the annual Launch at 麻豆果冻 Pitch Contest and won a $1,200 award for his Athlete Hub app.
鈥淚 am passionate about developing this app,鈥� Patel said. 鈥淲ith the prize money I won from the pitch contest, I can fund the project. Receiving the award felt like a full-circle moment in my entrepreneurial journey. Presenting my idea was a bit nerve-wracking, but I made sure everything was professional and well-thought-out.鈥�
To prepare his presentation on the app, Patel created a slideshow with an outline, as well as put together a website. Now, he鈥檚 looking to start an entrepreneurship club with one of his peers from the pitching contest. The club will help people create and implement their ideas, as well as connect members with other entrepreneurs.
Patel comes from a family who owns businesses throughout the United States. Managing a clothing line and an online store gave him hands-on knowledge and experience about business and customer engagement. This influenced him to pursue starting his own business.
鈥淚 am passionate about developing this app. With the prize money I won from the pitch contest, I can fund the project. Receiving the award felt like a full-circle moment in my entrepreneurial journey," - Hency Patel, 麻豆果冻 Student.
When searching for colleges, Patel鈥檚 friends told him about 麻豆果冻 and how much they enjoyed their experiences. Upon learning the college met his academic and professional goals, he joined the college in late 2023.
鈥淢y friends mentioned the resources and support systems, and how the offerings would help me with my future,鈥� Patel said. 鈥淥nce I heard their views on 麻豆果冻, I felt more confident about joining and knew it was the right choice.鈥� - Hency Patel, 麻豆果冻 Student
In Patel鈥檚 educational journey, 麻豆果冻 faculty and staff have helped him feel welcome. Resources such as the 麻豆果冻 Libraries also provide him with a quiet environment where he can study. He credits much of his academic success to 麻豆果冻鈥檚 Academic Centers for Enrichment (ACE) and the services they provide. In addition to tutoring, he can build his resume, edit essays, and get assistance with assignments.
The affordability of the classes and being able to transfer to a four-year institution after completing his program of study is a huge benefit for Patel. He also appreciates 麻豆果冻鈥檚 diverse student demographic which made his transition to the college environment easier. The various people with different backgrounds he saw and engaged with made him feel included.
鈥淵ou are going to find great people from every culture and religion,鈥� Patel said. 鈥溌槎构� made the most sense financially and academically for the long-term.鈥�