uCollabit Startup Mobile App Expansion

Empower Young Artists to control their future!

uCollabit  is a one-stop social networking app geared toward artists ranging from 18-24 years of age. We are creating a launching point for young artists to start their careers, and our specific niche focuses on college art students such as:  illustrators, graphic designers, photographers to name a few. This could be anything from a one-time opportunity to a full-time job.

 

How we'll use the funds! 

 
90% of these funds will be going to the app, with 10% spreading the word through marketing.

 

Who am I?

My name is Anthony Molden, a small-town biracial kid from the Greater Dayton, Ohio area. I was always an imaginative and goofy kid, whose parents always encouraged me to carve my path regardless of the limiting beliefs I faced growing up. This has led me down roads like becoming a DJ, joining the military, getting my MBA, becoming a business consultant, and being a professor at a college. These experiences have driven the entrepreneurial spirit I have today.

 When I created the idea for, “uCollabit,” in 2016, my lovely mother said three words I will never forget, "Don't Give Up," and I never will!

 

 How I created this and my cause?

 Backstory:

 Part 1- The Feeling

Have you had an emotional experience that affected your life that always stuck with you? I have had a few, but this one was directly tied to uCollabit. I was 21, loved music, and wanted to be a DJ. Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, I sought out support and mentors to show me the ropes, but to my surprise, everyone ignored me. At the time, it hurt my self -esteem, it fired up my resiliency. From that moment on, I knew and made it my mission to help young artists like myself. I mean, we are born altruistic after all!

 
Part 2- MBA Class

Fast-forward to 2015, I was in a marketing class for my MBA, and my professor began talking about entrepreneurship. I raised my hand and asked, "If you want to start a business, what would you do?" He said the first thing you would do is write a business plan. I went home after class and found a business plan template online. I thought to myself, I have a rough idea of what I want, but before I knew it, I had typed 12 pages that night. It was a euphoric moment; my heart was racing; my soul, while smiling from ear to ear, was laser-focused on my goal! Early the next morning, I shared the plan with my best friend, and he said, "You have to do this!" That is how I got started!

 
Part 3- Alfredo & the students

 In 2018, there was a special moment that changed my whole direction of uCollabit. I was asked to teach business at the Columbus College of Art and Design. I remember almost saying no because I was so busy, I simply felt like I did not have the energy. I ended up teaching at the Columbus College of Art and Design for two years. Two things happened; I was put with another professor that was teaching art-related concepts in the class. His name is Alfredo Weeks, and he is not only my business partner but one of my best friends, who has built the brand that you see now. The second thing is where I shifted my energy to target young art students after seeing their fear, worries, and lack of support because school counselors could only do so much. They can't devote all of their attention to the art student, they would have to do it themselves if they wanted to get immediate callbacks and results, but as we all know, sometimes knowing where the starting point is can be the hardest part! I knew in my heart I had to help them.

 

More in-depth bio of Alfredo and myself ……here 

 

 
The recent history that led me to Crowdfunding? 

 In 2019, I quit my job in Ohio and moved to New York City to build uCollabit, and I struggled miserably. It was not all bad, being in NY helped me grow my growth mindset, and the city taught me a lot about life. One thing that stuck out is that a vast majority of life is about who you know, not what you know! I was determined to apply what I've experienced in the workforce and my new-found realization to help me get into meeting rooms with potential investors!

 Now I'm turning to my inner circle and their inner circle to help me with the mission of getting young artists connected to the workforce through helping build the app.

 
Why should you care?

 
The number of Visual & Performing Arts graduates in the workforce has been growing at a rate of 5.42%, from 2.04M in 2017 to 2.15M in 2018.

 
You know that design on your t-shirt you picked out, that home décor you love so much, or that song on Spotify you have streamed 100 times, those were all done by artists. Art is everywhere! When you think about how you learn best, visually, auditory, or kinesthetically, many people would say we are visual learners! Ever wonder why you can remember someone's face for years but will quickly forget their name even after they’ve just told you, it's because it's easier to remember a picture of someone's face versus their name! Interesting huh! “A picture is worth a thousand words”!

 That is why I strongly believe in helping artists because I've sung songs at the top of my lungs, decorated my room with art that represents who I am at the time, and have been able to express myself through clothing. Because of their creativity, these simple joys of life are possible. Thank you, creatives!

Not to mention,  art students have the highest unemployment rate of all college graduates with some of the highest debt but are one of many influential people in your community!  Our platform will be a resource solely focused on building their confidence with our vision to expand fully into the creative economy.

 For Alfredo and myself, we have made so much traction through our journey the past two years together. We are continuing to evolve what we are building from a strategy standpoint. Our biggest roadblock is obtaining appropriate funding to put this in motion.

 

 How can you help?

 If I'm honest, a donation would be the best thing!

 If this could reach 300 people and those 300 people donate up to $60 a piece, that’s $18,000. See, not that bad!

 
I understand with COVID-19, we are all financially strapped, but if there's one thing we have an abundance of and is always available is kindness. Kindness can help this mission get funded; if you can't donate monetarily, you can help me spread the word!

 
You can follow us on Facebook , LinkedIn , or Instagram 

 
We would love to share updates with you along the way to subscribe by signing up on ucollabit .

 
Lastly, I want to leave you with a quote that I've resonated with;

 
"If you want to go faster, go alone if you want to go further, go together."

 

 Thank you!

 Anthony
Founder of uCollabit