BRYAN COLLEGE STATION, Texas–With seed funding from Aggieland Credit Union, the Giving Tee was the most profitable company in this year’s Texas A&M Mays Business School Integrated Business Experience (IBE) program, earning nearly $8,000 in profits, which is being donated to Voices for Children of Brazos Valley.
The Giving Tee was one of 10 companies launched by master level students participating in the class.
Students formed real businesses and carried out all the duties required to bring a product or service to market, including securing seed funding.
Together, the 10 companies earned more than $21,000 operating their businesses during the fall semester. Each company donated their profits to a charity of their choice.
The class ended with each company closing operations and making final business presentations to the Aggieland Credit Union judges and funding team.
Giving Tee produced custom designed screen-printed t-shirts for individuals, businesses, and groups. They advertised their t-shirt business using Instagram and Tik-Tok and sold at various venues throughout Bryan-College Station. The company also received media coverage on the local ABC TV affiliate, KRHD25, which helped boost its awareness, generating more sales.
“The culmination of the program is the final presentations in which the students/business owners report on how their organizations performed, “said Jason Goodman, COO of Aggieland Credit Union and a Texas A&M Class of 2000 graduate. “It is always interesting to hear what they learned and about the pivot points when they discovered the challenges of running a business.”
Aggieland Credit Union has been part of the IBE program since the program’s inception in 2016. The credit union has funded $100,000 for various IBE company ventures. Funding varies each year based on the individual company pitches. This year all 10 IBE companies received some funding, ranging from $1,100 to $3,000.
“As Texas A&M’s credit union, mentoring these students about business financing is as important for them as it is to us,” added President/CEO Howard Baker. “We are so pleased to help students achieve high levels of success in their life and their future business endeavors as entrepreneurs and leaders.”
As part of the program, Baker spoke with IBE students covering a multitude of issues pertaining to business operations and leadership.