Entrepreneur Power Hour

About the Company
Entrepreneur Power Hour was founded to create a robust, supportive community for college entrepreneurs. Bobby Housel, who had a passion for connecting people and building startups, initiated this project during his sophomore year at the University of Michigan. The company quickly expanded to Stanford and was on the verge of spreading to other universities before it ceased operations.
The community's mission was to provide a platform where college founders could meet, share ideas, and build meaningful relationships. Entrepreneur Power Hour hosted various events, including meetups, retreats, and educational sessions, all designed to foster collaboration among the brightest minds on campus. The community operated in a way that was different from traditional college entrepreneurship organizations, focusing on organic growth and real-life interactions.
Despite its eventual closure, Entrepreneur Power Hour had a significant impact on college entrepreneurship by creating a space where like-minded individuals could come together and innovate. The community’s unique approach to fostering relationships and supporting entrepreneurs made it a standout in the world of college startups.
Idea Behind Company
The concept for Entrepreneur Power Hour stemmed from Bobby’s experiences as a student entrepreneur. Coming to college with a clear goal to start businesses, Bobby noticed a gap in how student entrepreneurs connected with each other. His freshman year was spent exploring the various entrepreneurship resources at the University of Michigan, where he realized that while there were numerous outlets, they were disjointed, leaving many talented students isolated.
The COVID-19 pandemic intensified this sense of isolation as Bobby took a gap year and found himself missing the entrepreneurial network he had started to build. Upon returning to school in 2021, he began organizing informal meetups with other entrepreneurs. These gatherings revealed a major issue: many of the university's best founders were working in silos, unaware of each other’s existence.
This realization was the catalyst for Entrepreneur Power Hour. Bobby was driven by the need to create a more connected and supportive environment for college entrepreneurs. His vision was to break down the barriers that isolated these innovators and to create a community where they could collaborate, share ideas, and grow together.
Creating the Company
Building Entrepreneur Power Hour started with small, informal meetups at the University of Michigan. Bobby focused on rallying the best entrepreneurs on campus, hosting events that allowed these talented individuals to meet, share their experiences, and build meaningful relationships. The emphasis was on in-person interactions, as Bobby believed that real-life connections were essential for fostering a strong community.
These meetups quickly gained traction, and without much effort in marketing, the community grew. Word of mouth was a powerful tool, as more students became interested in joining the events. The focus was not just on creating a network but on transforming the way college entrepreneurship was experienced. Entrepreneur Power Hour turned traditional models upside down by emphasizing social events, peer-led education, and a relaxed, pressure-free environment.
As the community grew, it began to define itself as the go-to space for college founders to connect. Weekly events, retreats, and partnerships with venture funds and law firms further solidified its position on campus. The growth was organic, and the community became known for its innovative approach to supporting student entrepreneurs.
Launching the Business
The official launch of Entrepreneur Power Hour wasn’t planned. It occurred organically when Bobby and other members of the community were featured on the entrepreneurship podcast "My First Million." The episode, which included pitches from student entrepreneurs and discussions about the community, went viral, attracting a massive amount of attention from both students and investors.
This exposure led to a surge of interest in the community, with many students wanting to join and investors looking to support their ventures. The unexpected publicity pushed the team to create a website and formalize their operations. Despite the chaotic nature of this rapid growth, the team managed to keep up with the demand and continued expanding their reach.
Throughout this period, Entrepreneur Power Hour was bootstrapped, with all funding coming from the founders themselves. They focused on maintaining low costs and maximizing the impact of their limited resources. Events, legal fees, and software subscriptions were the primary expenses, and the team worked hard to keep operations as efficient as possible.
Earnings
Entrepreneur Power Hour’s approach to community building led to impressive member loyalty and low churn rates. The community’s relaxed, non-pressured environment allowed members to engage in ways that suited them best, which contributed to high retention. The founders focused on telling their story publicly through social media and podcasts, which helped attract new members and investors.
As the community expanded, the team began working on several initiatives to sustain and grow their impact. These included a syndicate fund to connect college founders with angel investors, a media arm to share the stories of these entrepreneurs, and a summer founder house in the Bay Area. Each of these initiatives was designed to further support and scale the community's mission.
Despite the eventual closure of the company in 2023, Entrepreneur Power Hour left a lasting legacy in the world of college entrepreneurship. The community’s innovative approach to building connections and supporting student founders paved the way for future initiatives aimed at empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs.