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Beyond the Bottom Beginnings At Columbia
Chapter 57: A New BeginningThe morning sun rose over the bustling streets of New York City as Jamal stepped out of the cab and onto the Columbia University campus. The towering gothic architecture, lush green spaces, and the hum of student life all felt both exciting and intimidating. Jamal took a deep breath, clutching his backpack, and gazed up at Low Memorial Library, its iconic dome gleaming under the golden sunlight.Leah stepped out next, her expression a mix of awe and nervousness. “This place is... massive.”Zoe joined them, a bright smile lighting up her face. “It’s beautiful. Feels like the start of something big, doesn’t it?”Jamal nodded. “Yeah. A new chapter.”They stood there for a moment, soaking in the grandeur of their new home. Around them, other students were hauling suitcases, greeting friends, and trying to find their way. The air buzzed with energy and possibility.---The dormitories were a whirlwind of activity. Jamal found himself carrying boxes up to his roo
Beyond the Bottom Connection Beyond Campuses
Chapter 58The morning sun illuminated Columbia University’s campus, buzzing with the energy of freshmen embarking on their new journey. Jamal stood at the entrance of the quad, taking in the expansive view of Gothic and modern buildings that blended history with progress. He'd already gotten lost twice trying to find his first orientation session, but that was all part of the adventure, right?“You good, bro?” a familiar voice broke through his thoughts. Jamal turned to see his roommate, Ethan, grinning.“Yeah, just trying to get my bearings,” Jamal said, running a hand through his hair. “This place is bigger than I thought.”Ethan chuckled. “Wait till we hit the lunch crowd. You’ll be dodging people left and right.”Jamal grinned. “I’ve already figured out the trick: walk slow, let them pass, and pretend you know where you’re going.”Ethan laughed. “Not bad. You’ll fit right in.”They walked toward the student union, the heart of campus activity, where students were signing up for c
Beyond the Bottom Campus Maze:I Found My Way Eventually
Chapter 59The next day, Jamal’s excitement for the future grew as he walked into his first official entrepreneurship club meeting. The atmosphere was electric, a room full of ambitious students from every background imaginable, all eager to share their ideas and passions. Jamal scanned the space, noting the diverse mix of people who had gathered—some with corporate aspirations, others driven by the desire to create something that would impact the world. He felt right at home.Ethan, who had tagged along out of curiosity, nudged Jamal as they made their way to an open spot. “This is the real deal, huh?”“Yeah, it definitely feels like it,” Jamal replied, scanning the room. “I’m about to make some big moves here.”Before settling in, Jamal noticed Zoe and Leah sitting together near the back, chatting and laughing. He waved at them, signaling that he and Ethan were heading over.“Yo, you guys mind if we join you?” Jamal called out as he and Ethan approached.Zoe and Leah looked up, both
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
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Sliver Lining at Last
Chapter 113 The media storm surrounding ByteEdge’s corruption sent shockwaves through the university. News stations aired reports on their monopolistic practices, and students flooded online forums with outrage. ByteEdge’s once-infallible reputation was crumbling, and the momentum was shifting in Skilbridge’s favor.Jamal Davenport sat in the Skilbridge workspace, exhaustion evident in his eyes, but there was no time to rest. The fight wasn’t over yet."We’re seeing record-breaking sign-ups," Zoe announced, staring at the analytics on her screen. "In the past 24 hours, over 20,000 new users have joined Skilbridge."Leah whistled. "That’s insane. Can our servers handle that?"Ethan nodded. "For now. But if this keeps up, we’ll need a serious upgrade."Jamal leaned forward. "Good. The more students we help, the harder it’ll be for the university to ignore us."Leah smirked. "Speaking of which… The board just announced an emergency town hall. They’re opening the floor for discussion abo
The Tides of War
Chapter 112 The days that followed were a whirlwind of meetings, legal consultations, and sleepless nights. Jamal Davenport had always known that challenging a corporate giant like ByteEdge would come with consequences, but he never imagined they would escalate this quickly.Sitting in the Skilbridge workspace—a small, converted student lounge in the university’s co-working hub—Jamal rubbed his temples as he scrolled through the latest news articles. The lawsuit had made national headlines."ByteEdge vs. Student Innovators: The Battle Over Digital Education""A Campus Rebellion: Students Fight Back Against Corporate Monopoly"Skilbridge had become more than a startup. It was now a symbol of student empowerment.Leah walked in, dropping a thick folder on the desk. "Legal just sent over an updated breakdown of ByteEdge’s claims. They’re arguing that we reverse-engineered their platform."Jamal scoffed. "That’s ridiculous. Our code is original.""Yeah, but proving that in court takes ti
The Breaking Point
Chapter 111 Jamal Davenport sat in front of his laptop, fingers hovering over the keyboard. The email from ByteEdge’s former corporate partner was still on the screen, the offer staring back at him. It was an opportunity—one that could cement Skilbridge’s place in the industry.But there was a catch.“They want exclusivity,” Leah said, pacing the room. “If we take their deal, we won’t be able to work with any of their competitors.”Ethan frowned. “That sounds like a trap. ByteEdge lost them, and now they’re trying to lock us in before we grow any bigger.”Jamal exhaled slowly. He knew Leah and Ethan were right. ByteEdge played dirty, and even if this company had pulled away from them, it didn’t mean they wouldn’t try to control Skilbridge in the same way.“We need to negotiate,” Jamal finally said. “We can’t afford to get boxed in.”Zoe tapped her phone, scanning through their latest engagement numbers. “We have leverage,” she said. “Skilbridge’s user base has tripled since the unive
The Turning point
Chapter 110 Jamal Davenport sat at his desk, his fingers drumming against the wood as he waited for the call. This was it. The meeting with the university board would determine whether Skilbridge could survive ByteEdge’s onslaught or be crushed under corporate pressure.The room was tense. Leah, Ethan, Zoe, and Evan sat around him, their eyes locked on the laptop screen.“You sure they’ll go for it?” Ethan asked.Jamal exhaled. “They don’t just want a scholarship. They want something sustainable. And that’s what we’re offering.”The laptop screen lit up with an incoming call. Jamal straightened his posture and clicked accept.“Mr. Davenport,” the university administrator’s voice came through, steady but unreadable. “We’ve reviewed your proposal.”The tension in the room thickened.“And?” Jamal asked, keeping his tone professional.The administrator paused. “The board is impressed. Your career development pipeline is innovative, and we believe it could provide real value to our studen
The War for Dominance
Chapter 109 Jamal Davenport had always known that running a startup wouldn’t be easy, but this was a full-on war. ByteEdge wasn’t just moving aggressively; they were dominating.Their latest move—securing exclusive deals with two universities—was a brutal blow. Skilbridge was fighting against a corporate giant with deep pockets and powerful connections. If they didn’t strike back fast, they’d be buried before they even had a chance to grow.As soon as Jamal ended the call with Ethan, he headed straight for their dorm. Leah, Ethan, Zoe, and Evan were already waiting inside, tension thick in the air.“We need a new plan,” Leah said, arms crossed. “ByteEdge isn’t playing fair.”Jamal dropped his bag onto the chair and ran a hand through his hair. “We knew this would happen. We just didn’t expect them to move this fast.”“They’re leveraging money,” Ethan muttered. “Universities can’t say no to a fat check.”“But that’s their weakness,” Zoe said, adjusting her glasses. “They’re focusing o
Battling for Survival
Chapter 108 Jamal Davenport had faced challenges before—balancing Skilbridge with university, securing funding, and dealing with relentless coursework. But this? This was different.ByteEdge was a monster, a competitor with deep pockets and industry influence. If Skilbridge didn’t act fast, they’d be crushed before they even got a chance to thrive.The emergency meeting in Jamal’s dorm had ended with a plan, but now came the hard part—execution.By the next morning, Skilbridge’s team was already in motion. Ethan was coding new features, Zoe was reaching out to student organizations, and Evan—true to his word—was spreading the word across campus.Leah, on the other hand, had taken control of the marketing strategy.“We need to hit every major university event,” she told Jamal as they walked through the campus courtyard. “Tech fairs, career expos, student meet-ups—anything that gets people talking about Skilbridge.”Jamal nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. His inbox was full of emails
Pressure Building
Chapter 107 Jamal Davenport had thought securing an investor would be the hardest part of the journey. He was wrong.With the ink barely dry on the contract, the real challenge began—balancing Skilbridge, university, and life. Columbus University was unforgiving; professors didn’t care about his startup, deadlines didn’t wait for board meetings, and exams loomed like an unstoppable storm.It was just past midnight, and Jamal sat hunched over his laptop in the student lounge, eyes scanning Skilbridge’s latest analytics report. The numbers weren’t bad, but they weren’t great either. Growth had to be faster if they were going to meet Langford’s targets.“Still at it?” Leah’s voice cut through the quiet.Jamal looked up to see her standing by the vending machine, a bottle of water in hand. She wore an oversized hoodie and sweatpants—her unofficial study attire.“I have to be,” he muttered, rubbing his temples. “If these numbers don’t improve, Langford might start thinking we aren’t worth
The Waiting Game
Chapter 106 The days that followed were agonizing. Patience had never been Jamal Davenport’s strong suit, and now, with everything on the line, waiting for a response from Langford and Hayes felt like torture. The uncertainty gnawed at him, making it impossible to focus on anything else.He sat in the student lounge at Columbus University, his phone in his hand, refreshing his emails for what felt like the hundredth time. Nothing. Leah sat beside him, flipping through her notes, while Ethan and Zoe occupied the opposite couch, discussing an upcoming project.“You’re going to burn a hole through that screen if you keep staring at it,” Leah muttered, not looking up.Jamal exhaled sharply. “What if they back out? What if they decide Skilbridge isn’t worth the risk?”Leah sighed and closed her notebook. “Jamal, you need to breathe. We presented the best possible pitch. If they’re interested, they’ll call. If they’re not… we’ll find another way.”“You say that like we have a backup plan.”
Racing Against Time
Chapter 105 Jamal Davenport sat at the head of the table in Leah’s apartment, surrounded by his closest allies—Leah, Ethan, Zoe, and even Evan, who had surprisingly decided to stick around. Their expressions were serious, their gazes fixed on the documents and laptop screens before them. The weight of saving Skilbridge rested on their shoulders, and there was no room for hesitation.“We don’t have time to waste,” Jamal began, his voice steady but firm. “If we’re going to rebrand Skilbridge and attract investors, we need a full plan in motion by the end of the week.”Leah tapped her pen against the table. “That’s ambitious, but necessary. What’s our first step?”Jamal took a deep breath, knowing the next part would be the most difficult. “We need a pitch that sells Skilbridge as a must-have investment. Not just another start-up struggling to survive, but a company with real potential.”Ethan leaned forward. “We need success stories. Testimonials. Something that proves Skilbridge isn’t
