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Beyond the Bottom Pitching Dreams ,Chasing Wins
Chapter 60The next morning, Jamal woke up with a renewed sense of purpose. The previous day's events had ignited something in him—a fire to push harder, to prove that he belonged in this world of entrepreneurs and innovators. As he grabbed his laptop and headed out the door, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something big was coming, and he was ready to seize it.Classes that day were a blur. While his professors talked about theories and case studies, Jamal’s mind kept drifting back to the pitch competition. He knew he needed to fine-tune his ideas, gather data, and start building a stronger case for his platform. But he also knew that he couldn’t do it alone.After class, Jamal met up with Ethan at their favorite campus café. Ethan was already there, sipping on a coffee and looking over a few notes.“Got a minute?” Jamal asked, taking a seat across from him.Ethan looked up and grinned. “For you? Always. What’s on your mind?”Jamal leaned in, his excitement bubbling over. “I’m goi
Beyond the Bottom Scavenger Hunt Shenanigans
---Chapter 61The next day, Jamal walked into the entrepreneurship club meeting with a grin that hadn’t left his face since he’d woken up. Today was different—today was the day of the annual “Campus Scavenger Hunt,” and Maya, the club president, had promised that this year would be “bigger, better, and crazier than ever.”Jamal found Zoe, Leah, and Ethan already gathered by the door, looking excited but a bit skeptical.“Are you guys ready for this?” Jamal asked, holding up a small envelope that Maya had handed out to everyone as they entered.Ethan raised an eyebrow. “I’m ready for whatever this is, but ‘crazy’ doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence.”Leah grinned. “Come on, it’ll be fun. Plus, I’ve been here long enough to know we’re going to end up running all over campus, and there’s no way I’m losing.”Zoe chuckled. “She’s right. You know she has a hidden competitive streak.”Jamal smiled and handed over the envelope. “It’s a scavenger hunt. The rules are simple—find the clues
Beyond the Bottom The Pitch is on
Chapter 62The countdown to the pitch competition was in full swing, and Jamal was feeling the pressure. The stakes were high, and winning meant more than just bragging rights—it was his chance to prove that he could turn his dreams into a reality. He was going to need the right team to make this happen."I’ve decided to put a team together," Jamal said, his focus intense. "Zoe, Leah—I want you both on it."Leah, who was balancing her law courses and preparing for the upcoming exams, raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure about this? Law school isn’t exactly easy to juggle with extracurriculars."Jamal grinned. "I know it’s a lot, but I need your expertise, especially for the strategy and presentation. You’ve got a sharp mind for negotiation. Trust me, it’ll be worth it."Leah smiled, but the doubt lingered in her eyes. "Alright, alright. I’m in. But we better keep it efficient. Between my cases and assignments, I don’t have much time to spare."Zoe, who was busy with her own demanding cour
Beyond the Bottom Battle of Wits
---Chapter 63Jamal sat at the café table, staring down at the notes in front of him. His mind was racing, but no matter how hard he tried to focus, it kept drifting to one thing.Leah.It wasn’t just the fact that the competition was fast approaching. It wasn’t just the pressure of having to get everything right. No, it was Max.Every time Max entered the room, Jamal couldn’t shake the feeling that the guy wasn’t just there for business. Max was charming, easygoing, and way too comfortable around Leah. It had only been a few weeks since Max started hanging around, but it already felt like he was trying to plant himself firmly between Jamal and Leah.Jamal shook his head, trying to push the thoughts away. This wasn’t the time for distractions. He had to focus on the competition, on the pitch, on the work they needed to do. But every time Max was around, it was like a cloud hanging over everything.Leah’s voice snapped him back to the present."Jamal," she said, her tone sharp. "You’r
Beyond the Bottom The Pitch To remember
---Chapter 64The day of the pitch competition had arrived. The energy in the air was palpable, a mix of nerves and excitement, as students and entrepreneurs from all walks of life filled the venue. The sleek, modern space was filled with bright lights, large screens, and rows of tables where teams were prepping their final presentations.Jamal stood at the back of the room, pacing back and forth. His team was ready, and yet his heart raced, not from the pressure of the competition itself, but from the feeling he couldn’t shake—his growing feelings for Leah.Leah had always been there for him, a steady force in the chaos that was his life. She had a sharp mind, a strong sense of justice, and an unwavering loyalty to her friends. Over the past few weeks, as they worked tirelessly on their pitch, Jamal found himself thinking about her more and more. It wasn’t just admiration anymore. It was something deeper.He watched her now, standing confidently with Zoe, both discussing their prese
Beyond the Bottom A subtle shift
---Chapter 65: The excitement from the pitch competition still buzzed in the air, but Jamal couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted. As the day wore on, Leah was all smiles, recounting how well their presentation had gone, but Jamal’s thoughts were elsewhere—his eyes often drifting to where Max had stood earlier, or to Leah’s subtle glances in his direction.The competition had gone well. The investors were intrigued, the judges seemed impressed with their ideas, and for a moment, Jamal felt a sense of pride swell within him. But beneath that pride, there was something else—a gnawing uncertainty he couldn’t ignore.Leah had been so focused on the pitch, on getting their startup off the ground, that Jamal had barely had a chance to tell her how much she meant to him. His feelings for her had only deepened over the past few weeks, and every time they shared a moment—whether it was working on the project together or just talking between classes—he felt a pull, a connectio
Beyond the Bottom Dinner, Decisions,and New Beginnings
---Chapter 66The restaurant was buzzing with energy as Jamal, Leah, and Zoe settled into a booth near the back. The dim lighting gave the place a cozy vibe, and the scent of sizzling burgers and fries filled the air. Jamal was still reeling from the competition results, but it was a different kind of energy now—one that felt lighter, like the weight he’d been carrying all day had started to lift.Leah slid into the seat across from Jamal, smiling at him with that warm, genuine smile that made his heart race. Zoe, ever the instigator, sat beside Leah, clearly happy to be out of the dorm room and into a space where they could all breathe a little easier.“So,” Zoe began, tapping the menu lightly on the table, “now that we’ve conquered the pitch competition, what’s next for Team Empire? I vote we get the biggest burger they have and celebrate in style.”Leah chuckled. “I like that idea. We definitely earned it.”Jamal took a deep breath, trying to push past the nervousness swirling in
Beyond the Bottom The Prize and the Messages
Chapter 67The morning after the pitch competition was unusually quiet. The surge of adrenaline had faded, leaving Jamal in a restless calm as he sat at his desk, fingers drumming against the wooden surface. His laptop was open, but the screen blurred in his vision.Stacks of notebooks, pitch drafts, and empty energy drink cans still littered the desk—remnants of the late nights that had led up to yesterday’s event. His phone lay silent beside him, face up, the screen dark. No notification yet.The results were supposed to arrive by noon. It was already 12:17 p.m.A soft knock echoed from the dorm door before Ethan stepped inside. He was in his usual laid-back hoodie and jeans, a cup of coffee in hand, his brown hair slightly tousled as if he’d been up late too."Still nothing?" Ethan asked, glancing at Jamal's phone.Jamal shook his head. "Nope. Not yet."Ethan set his coffee down on the dresser, then leaned against the wall with a grin. "Dude, chill. You nailed that pitch. Trust me,
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The New Rival
Chapter 88The atmosphere on campus was buzzing with life as students spilled out of lecture halls and lounges, creating a lively hum of chatter and movement. Jamal sat on a bench near the main quad, sketching out ideas for a new project in his notebook. Skilbridge was still in the back of his mind, but he decided to let it simmer while focusing on other aspects of college life. He hadn’t realized how much he needed to take a break from the pressure. The app, the meetings, the constant rush—it all felt like a weight that had slowly crept onto his shoulders.Leah joined him, balancing a tray of iced coffee and a small paper bag filled with pastries. “I got your usual,” she said, handing him a cup with a smile.“Thanks,” Jamal replied, taking a sip. “You’re a lifesaver.”Leah settled next to him on the bench, tearing into one of the pastries. “So, how’s the app coming along?”Jamal paused, glancing at his phone screen where the Skilbridge dashboard sat open in front of him. “It’s… comin
Threads Of Connection
Chapter 87The room fell into an uneasy silence as everyone huddled around Ethan’s laptop. The subject line of the email glared back at them like a warning beacon.“Cease and desist?” Zoe asked, her voice filled with disbelief. “What does that even mean? What are they claiming?”Ethan opened the email, scanning the contents quickly. His brow furrowed as he read aloud.“To Whom It May Concern: It has come to our attention that your product, Skilbridge, infringes upon proprietary features and intellectual property owned by Zenith Networks. We demand that you immediately cease all development and distribution of your app, or we will pursue legal action…”He trailed off, his face pale. “They’re claiming we stole their idea.”“That’s ridiculous!” Leah said, pacing the room. “Our app is entirely original. Zenith Networks focuses on corporate networking events—we’re not even in the same space!”“Makes sense,” Zoe muttered, folding her arms. “Milo always bragged about how his dad’s company wa
Defining Moments
Chapter 86The morning of the investor pitch was met with nervous energy. Jamal woke early, sitting on the edge of his bed, staring at the pitch deck on his laptop for the hundredth time. The stakes had never felt higher.Ethan was already awake, of course, sipping on a mug of coffee and fine-tuning the app’s demo on his screen. “You ready for this?” he asked without looking up.“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Jamal replied, closing his laptop. “How’s the demo looking?”“Solid,” Ethan said confidently. “It’s running smoother than ever. We’re good to go.”The rest of the team slowly trickled in. Leah arrived with a large paper bag of pastries, followed by Zoe, who was balancing a tray of coffee cups. Evan strolled in last, carrying a rolled-up banner that read: "Skilbridge: Bridging Gaps, Building Connections."“Why do we need a banner?” Ethan asked, raising an eyebrow.“Presentation is everything,” Evan said, unfurling it dramatically. “You’re welcome.”Leah chuckled. “I’m with Evan on th
Building Bridges Contd
Chapter 85The following morning, Jamal woke up to the sound of his phone buzzing on his nightstand. Groggily, he reached over, glancing at the screen. It was a message from Rachel."Hey, can we do that video call later today? I have a few ideas that might help us with the next pitch."Jamal quickly typed back. "Sure! How about 3 p.m.?"Rachel replied almost immediately. "Sounds perfect. Talk soon!"After the brief exchange, Jamal rubbed his eyes and glanced at the clock. It was already past noon, and the group was expected to meet with Professor Clarke again in a few hours for a final review of the pitch. He could already feel the weight of the day pressing down on him. There was so much to get done, and with the investor pitch looming, the pressure was building.As he grabbed his laptop and headed out the door, Leah was already in the hallway, carrying a pile of printed documents.“Got everything for the meeting?” Jamal asked.“Yep,” Leah said, her face set in determination. “We nee
Building Bridges
Chapter 84The sun rose over campus, casting a warm glow on the bustling college grounds. Jamal was the first to wake, thanks to the blaring alarm he had set on his phone. He groaned, fumbling to turn it off before dragging himself out of bed. The faint sound of Ethan’s keyboard clacking could already be heard from the other side of the dorm.“You don’t sleep, do you?” Jamal asked, rubbing his eyes.“Sleep is for the weak,” Ethan replied without looking up. “I’m tweaking the user analytics dashboard. We need better insights on engagement metrics before the next beta test.”Jamal chuckled. “You know that’s not healthy, right?”“Neither is missing our meeting with Clarke,” Ethan shot back.Jamal’s eyes widened. “What time is it?”“Relax,” Ethan said with a smirk. “We’ve got two hours. I just wanted to see you panic.”“You’re the worst,” Jamal muttered, grabbing his towel and heading to the bathroom.---By the time Jamal returned, the dorm was alive with activity. Leah and Zoe had arriv
Campus Chronicles
Chapter 83It had been a week since Rachel and Alex returned to their respective lives, and the team was finally settling back into the rhythm of college. The energy Rachel and Alex left behind was palpable, driving Jamal, Leah, Zoe, Ethan, and even Evan to work harder on their dreams. Yet, college life waited for no one. Between classes, projects, and social obligations, they still found themselves juggling more than they thought possible.Jamal sat in the lecture hall, scribbling notes furiously while Professor Clarke discussed negotiation strategies. Leah was seated a few rows ahead, her notebook already filled with diagrams and bullet points. Every now and then, she’d turn back to give Jamal a knowing look as if to say, Keep up.Once the lecture ended, the two made their way to the campus café, where Zoe was waiting. She had her sketchpad open, and her pencil danced across the page as she worked on designs for a potential Skilbridge branding overhaul.“You’re early,” Zoe said, not
Balancing Dreams and Reality
Chapter 82The weeks following the pitch meeting were a whirlwind of emails, calls, and countless hours spent refining Skilbridge. Jamal, Leah, Ethan, and Zoe had their hands full, but the added energy of Rachel and Alex's visit kept them all grounded. Though their college lives were busy, their commitment to the app kept them connected in ways that were impossible to ignore.It was a crisp, sunny Friday afternoon when Rachel and Alex finally made their departure. They’d spent the last few days back on campus, catching up with old friends, attending meetings, and lending their expertise to Skilbridge. But now, it was time for them to head back to their respective schools—Rachel to Stanford and Alex to Boston for his basketball team’s next game.Jamal and the rest of the team had made plans to meet up one last time before they left. The campus quad was buzzing with activity, students lounging in the grass, discussing everything from upcoming exams to weekend plans. Some were walking be
The First Pitch
Chapter 81The air inside the conference room was thick with anticipation. Jamal stood at the front, his palms clammy, the PowerPoint presentation blinking behind him. His team was spread out around the table, Rachel and Alex leaning in from one side, while Ethan, Zoe, and Leah had their eyes locked on the screen. Everyone was ready.Jamal cleared his throat, adjusting the collar of his shirt. It was a subtle move, but enough to show his nerves. He had practiced this pitch a thousand times in his head, but now that it was real, everything felt different. The room felt too quiet, too vast."Alright," he began, his voice a little rougher than he intended. "Thank you for taking the time to meet with us. My name is Jamal Davenport, and I’m here with my team: Ethan, Leah, Zoe, Rachel, and Alex. We’re the creators of Skilbridge, an app designed to connect students and professionals through a new kind of mentorship system."He paused, letting the words settle. There were two investors on the
Weight of Decision
Chapter 80The following days felt like a whirlwind. With Rachel and Alex in town, the team had been running at full speed—working late into the night on revisions, brainstorming marketing strategies, and refining their pitch for potential investors. The presence of the two new members energized everyone, but the pressure was building, and Jamal could feel it weighing on him more than ever.By the end of the week, the team had made significant progress. Ethan had worked out a few major bugs in the app’s back-end code, while Leah and Zoe had finalized the marketing plan. Rachel had dived into the user research, offering insights that helped tweak their messaging. Alex, despite his packed basketball schedule, had been instrumental in helping refine the pitch. His ability to break things down in simple terms had been a game changer, allowing them to clearly communicate Skilbridge’s value proposition.But now, it was time for the next big decision: who to approach first for investment.Ja
