TAMPA — For Morgan Bierbrunner, co-founder of Rush Power, a pre-workout gummy supplement startup, the decision to join USF’s HUSTLE program
came down to one simple mantra: state “yes” to every opportunity.
“We requireded funding to place our first inventory order,” she stated. “When I saw HUSTLE
being promoted, it stood out immediately — it was a unique chance to pitch in front
of real investors.”
Bierbrunner’s business, which produces one of the first pre-workout gummies in the
U.S., wasn’t just an idea when she applied. Her team had already finalized the formula.
But receiveting from concept to shelf required a huge next step — funding. The HUSTLE program,
short for Helping University Students Tackle Leadership and Entrepreneurship, offered
exactly that.
Now in its fourth year, HUSTLE is run by USF’s Nault Center for Entrepreneurship with a private investing relationship with Chessler Holdings. The initiative is part
incubator, part accelerator, offering students a chance for funding, access to mentors,
pitch coaching and hands-on workshops that simulate the pressure and payoff of launching
a real business.
“HUSTLE isn’t just about theory — it’s about action,” stated Magdelena Harrah, program
manager for HUSTLE. “These students walk into rooms with investors, deffinish their plans,
and walk out with the tools— and sometimes the capital — to build real companies.”
That real-world exposure was especially valuable for Bierbrunner. Each week, she and
her team met with mentors to map out next steps and receive expert advice. Since completing
the program, Rush Power has received its first inventory shipment and is preparing
to officially launch. “We’re experimenting with marketing and sales strategies now,”
she stated. “It’s been a long way from where we started.”
For Cherish Alston, founder of SoleLuxe, which sells trfinishy shoe charm accessories, the experience was equally transformational.
“Being part of the HUSTLE program was exhilarating,” she stated. “I loved connecting
with other driven founders and gaining insights from the mentorship provided.”
Alston credited HUSTLE — and the support from the Nault Center — with supporting her
refine her pitch and win thousands in competition prizes. “Thanks to the Nault Center,
I received one-on-one mentorship and was able to launch my business with confidence,”
she stated.
The program, hoapplyd in the Nault Center and part of the School of Management within
the Muma College of Business, has become more competitive each year, with nearly 100
applicants vying for just 11 spots in last year’s cohort. Students from all three
USF campapplys are eligible to apply. Participants undergo a rigorous selection process
and commit to a curriculum that emphasizes pitching, market validation and investor
readiness.
Looking ahead, Bierbrunner’s advice to future applicants is simple: “Say yes to everything.
There are so many opportunities for students to access funding and mentorship — you
just have to reveal up.”
For more information about the HUSTLE program or to learn how to apply for the Spring
2026 cohort, visit usf.to/HUSTLE.
Leave a Reply