BlueDial Studios: A Creative Space for Artists
Founder: Chris Pinto, B.S. Business Administration ‘26
“Business Lab prepared me for this by pushing me out of my comfort zone, even if that meant learning how to paint a wall.”
Startup Bio:
BlueDial Studios provides affordable, accessible studio space for artists, fostering creativity and collaboration.
Inspiration:
“The studio was inspired by my mom who is an artist. She struggled to find studio space. After meeting with multiple owners of other art studios who were generous with their time, I felt encouraged to continue pursuing and building out my idea to create a space just for artists.”
Business Lab Takeaway:
“Business Lab was crucial in relearning inductive reasoning, which is often discouraged in traditional classes. Professors Ramachandran and Calmon really challenged students in rooting our value proposition in data and the customers view rather than our opinions.”
Learn More: BlueDial Studios
CareSync: Coordinated Healthcare Support
Founders: Azan Khan, B.S. Business Administration ’27, with Cooper Ciavola, B.S. Business Administration ’27; Shahzil Khan, B.S. Finance ’26, University of Delaware; Vivek Kotla, B.A. Economics ’24, The Johns Hopkins University; Ansh Sharma, B.S. Business Administration ‘26
“Each iteration taught me how to listen more closely to users and refine the value proposition.”
Startup Bio:
CareSync helps patients and caregivers manage healthcare coordination more effectively, with tools designed for real-world needs.
Inspiration:
“My start for CareSync was slightly unorthodox. It was born in Business Lab where at the beginning of the year all students had to go through an intense pitch competition. A few startups were selected and the ones who weren't were asked to join a team. What inspired me initially was nobody joined my team until my now co-founder Cooper decided to leave the team he was in and come join my team. This meant a lot to me at the time and enabled me to feel more confident in myself. We hit the ground running and with guidance from professors Ramachandran and Calmon we were able to secure a spot at Demo Day!”
Business Lab Takeaway:
“I think of startup principles in the same way my favorite basketball player Kyrie Irving approaches basketball. He is famous for repeatedly practicing fundamentals like his footwork and handling, even after he became a star.
For me, the fundamentals are the startup principles and customer discovery methods I learned in Business Lab. I still apply them all the time, running interviews, testing small pilots, and using data to validate before scaling.
Just like Kyrie didn’t stop practicing the basics once he reached the NBA, I won’t stop doing discovery just because we’ve launched. That discipline keeps us grounded and makes sure our product continues to solve the customers problems as we grow.”
Learn More: CareSync
Fuel Daddy: Fuel Delivery Reimagined
Founder: Hari Chawla, B.S. Business Administration ’25 and Krishna Chawla, B.S. Analytics & Data Science ‘19
“It’s never about the journey or the destination — it’s about who you become while travelling.”
Startup Bio:
Fuel Daddy offers on-demand fuel delivery, saving time for busy professionals and fleet operators.
Inspiration:
“Last year, I was wearing a lot of hats—interning at a private equity firm, selling homes, juggling classes, and driving all over Atlanta. I was filling up my car twice a week, usually at Costco, burning 20 to 30 minutes each time. Somewhere between the late-night drives and those long lines, I thought: There has to be a better way.
That spark turned into Fuel Daddy. I spoke with over 300 people at gas stations in Midtown and Buckhead—usually after work, in the evenings. Their stories, frustrations, and humor shaped the idea. Fuel Daddy was born from a small inconvenience, a lot of curiosity, and the belief that every problem deserves at least one shot at a better solution.”
Business Lab Takeaway:
“Business Lab taught me one thing very clearly: never fall in love with your idea. Fall in love with your customer. I found myself at gas stations in Midtown and Buckhead, speaking to 300 people. That experience made me realize that business is not about what I want to build, it’s about what people need.”
Learn More: Fuel Daddy
Property Pals: Simplifying Rental Maintenance
Founders: Amanda Chen, B.S. Business Administration ‘26, and Anna Wylly, B.S. Business Administration ‘26
“Business Lab challenged us to step outside our comfort zone and finally chase the entrepreneurial dreams our parents sparked in us years ago.”
Startup Bio:
Property Pals streamlines maintenance coordination between landlords and tenants, tackling one of the most persistent pain points in property management.
Inspiration:
The idea for Property Pals came from Amanda watching her dad manage their family’s rental homes while she was in college. “What was supposed to be passive income turned into endless maintenance calls and contractor chaos. Instead of spending time together, I saw him glued to his phone. I knew that maintenance management was a real pain point. The best part? It’s already given me more time back with my dad.”
Business Lab Takeaway:
“We’ve kept customer discovery at the core of everything we do. Beyond the 200+ conversations we had during Business Lab, we’re still finding creative ways to connect with landlords by joining Facebook and
Nextdoor groups, going to local real estate meetings, reaching out to past landlords we’ve interviewed, and even knocking on doors and handing out flyers to tenants in high rental neighborhoods. Those conversations are about listening to frustrations and making sure we’re still solving the right problem.”
Learn More: Property Pals
Stride: Safety for Adventurers
Founder: Diya Patel, B.S. Business Administration ’25 and M.S. Analytics ‘26
“I didn’t know what a start-up was two years ago, and now I’m trying to build one. You never know where Georgia Tech will take you!”
Startup Bio:
Stride is developing emergency activation tools for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts, offering peace of mind in remote environments.
Inspiration:
“A trip to Patagonia is what made me recognize the lack of safety tools for outdoor adventurers in areas with poor connectivity. The summer before Business Lab, I also started training for a marathon while living in a new city for my internship. A similar issue came up for me, and I couldn't find a device that was not dependent on my phone to ping for help in case something went wrong. I took this issue into Business Lab and my group pivoted the market back to outdoor adventurers after extensive customer discovery.”
Business Lab Takeaway:
“I no longer have any problem pivoting my idea. At the beginning of Business Lab, my team and I would dwell on something that invalidated our idea instead of accepting it and moving on. Over the summer in CREATE-X, there were many setbacks, but each time I was able to find a workaround - either to keep moving forward with a different approach or stop pursuing that specific angle. The professors always said to fail fast and often, and that stuck with me!”
Learn More: Stride
From the Lab to the Marketplace
These five startups are proof that with the right mindset, mentorship, and methodology, students can turn ideas into impact.
As Ramachandran puts it, “We teach that setbacks aren’t failures—they’re just data. We literally clap when teams pivot.” That philosophy turns missteps into momentum and cultivates entrepreneurs who see every challenge as a chance to learn, adapt, and build better.
Learn More: CREATE-X Startup Lab
