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Beyond the Bottom Lines in the Sand
Chapter 75The campus was buzzing with energy as Jamal stepped out of his economics lecture, the crisp January air biting at his face. Students swarmed the quad, some heading to class while others lingered in small groups, chatting and laughing. It was a typical afternoon at Columbia—on the surface, at least.But for Jamal, the day felt anything but ordinary.By the time he reached the dorm, Ethan was already sprawled across his desk chair, headphones on, mumbling under his breath as he typed furiously on his laptop. Jamal didn’t have to ask what he was working on—Ethan had been obsessively fine-tuning the backend of Skilbridge all week, determined to make it as polished as possible before the next round of beta testing."How’s it coming?" Jamal asked, dropping his bag onto his bed.Ethan pulled off his headphones, rubbing his eyes. "Better. I fixed the integration bug that was slowing down the dashboard. And check this out—" He spun his laptop around, showing Jamal the sleek new inte
Beyond the Bottom Tightening the Grip
Chapter 76The library smelled faintly of old books and fresh coffee, the kind of smell that reminded Jamal why he preferred working here over the dorm. It was a little quieter than usual for a Thursday evening, which made it easier for him to focus. He, Zoe, and Leah had snagged a corner booth upstairs, away from the main rush of students.Jamal tapped his pen against his notebook, staring at the screen of his laptop. "Okay," he muttered, "if one more beta tester says ‘easy to use but slow to load,’ I’m going to lose it "Zoe looked up from her tablet, raising an eyebrow. "That’s… oddly specific. Did someone actually say that, or are you just projecting your stress again?"Jamal flipped his laptop toward her. "Here. Read it for yourself. They wrote it twice, in all caps."Leah chuckled softly, glancing over the top of her laptop. "All caps? That’s commitment. Maybe you should take it as a compliment. They care enough to yell at you.""Yell at us," Jamal said, gesturing at the three o
Beyond the Bottom Layers of Competition
Chapter 77The next morning started with chaos, as usual, in Jamal and Ethan’s dorm room. Jamal had just finished brushing his teeth when he returned to find Ethan hunched over his laptop, headphones askew, muttering something about "overwriting variables."Meanwhile, Evan was sprawled on Jamal's bed, scrolling on his phone like it was his full-time job."Yo, Evan, don’t you have your own bed?" Jamal asked, tossing his towel onto his desk chair.Evan didn’t even look up. "My bed doesn’t have a great view of Ethan melting down. This is premium entertainment."Ethan waved him off without missing a beat. "Ignore him. He’s just jealous he doesn’t understand my genius.""Sure, let’s call it genius," Evan said, smirking.Jamal chuckled, grabbing his laptop bag. "You guys play nice. I’ve got a meeting with Professor Clarke in twenty minutes. Leah said she’d meet me there."Ethan finally looked up, pulling his headphones off. "Wait, what’s this meeting about again?""Funding," Jamal replied,
Beyond the Bottom Shadows of Doubt
Chapter 78The next morning, Jamal woke up to the sound of Ethan clattering away on his keyboard. The faint hum of his laptop fan mixed with the sound of Evan snoring on the couch. The dorm room was a chaotic blend of tech and clutter, but for once, it felt like home. Jamal stretched, trying to shake off the stiffness in his neck from a restless night. The pitch meeting had gone well, but the waiting game was taking its toll on him.“Didn’t you sleep at all?” Jamal asked, his voice groggy.Ethan didn’t even glance up. “Sleep is for people who don’t have a server migration to finish. Besides, I’m almost done. Just need to optimize a few things, and we’ll be golden.”“Golden, huh?” Jamal muttered, heading to the bathroom to splash cold water on his face.By the time he returned, Leah had arrived, her notebook in hand and a determined look on her face. She set her things down at the table, surveying the room like a general preparing for battle.“Morning, team,” she said, her voice brisk.
Beyond the Bottom Unexpected Reunion
Chapter 79The campus courtyard was alive with its usual hum of activity—students rushing to class, others sprawled on benches scrolling on their phones, and the occasional group laughing over shared jokes. Jamal sat under the large oak tree near the fountain, scrolling through his tablet as Ethan paced back and forth nearby.“I’m telling you,” Ethan said, his hands slicing through the air, “we should’ve sent a follow-up email by now. Investors like persistence, right?”Jamal didn’t look up. “And desperation is a great way to scare them off. We already did our part—now we wait.”Ethan sighed, stopping mid-pace to glare at him. “You’re way too calm about this. What if they just forget about us? Or worse, what if Milo gets to them first?”“That’s not how this works,” Leah chimed in, approaching with Zoe at her side. Both carried books and notebooks, clearly fresh from the library. “Milo doesn’t own the startup world, Ethan. Let the process play out.”Zoe raised an eyebrow at Ethan. “I’m
Beyond the Bottom 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
Beyond the Bottom 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
Beyond the Bottom 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
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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
