TAMPA 鈥� For Morgan Bierbrunner, co-founder of , a pre-workout gummy supplement startup, the decision to join USF鈥檚 HUSTLE program came down to one simple mantra: say 鈥測es鈥� to every opportunity.
鈥淲e needed funding to place our first inventory order,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen I saw HUSTLE being promoted, it stood out immediately 鈥� it was a unique chance to pitch in front of real investors.鈥�
Morgan Bierbrunner
Bierbrunner鈥檚 business, which produces one of the first pre-workout gummies in the U.S., wasn鈥檛 just an idea when she applied. Her team had already finalized the formula. But getting from concept to shelf required a big next step 鈥� 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鈥檚 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.
鈥淗USTLE isn鈥檛 just about theory 鈥� it鈥檚 about action,鈥� said Magdelena Harrah, program manager for HUSTLE. 鈥淭hese students walk into rooms with investors, defend their plans, and walk out with the tools鈥� and sometimes the capital 鈥� to build real companies.鈥�
Magdelena Harrah
That real-world exposure was especially valuable for Bierbrunner. Each week, she and her team met with mentors to map out next steps and get expert advice. Since completing the program, Rush Power has received its first inventory shipment and is preparing to officially launch. 鈥淲e鈥檙e experimenting with marketing and sales strategies now,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a long way from where we started.鈥�
For Cherish Alston, founder of , which sells trendy shoe charm accessories, the experience was equally transformational. 鈥淏eing part of the HUSTLE program was exhilarating,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 loved connecting with other driven founders and gaining insights from the mentorship provided.鈥�
Alston credited HUSTLE 鈥� and the support from the Nault Center 鈥� with helping her refine her pitch and win thousands in competition prizes. 鈥淭hanks to the Nault Center, I received one-on-one mentorship and was able to launch my business with confidence,鈥� she said.
Cherish Alston
The program, housed 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鈥檚 cohort. Students from all three USF campuses 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鈥檚 advice to future applicants is simple: 鈥淪ay yes to everything. There are so many opportunities for students to access funding and mentorship 鈥� you just have to show up.鈥�
For more information about the HUSTLE program or to learn how to apply for the Spring 2026 cohort, visit usf.to/HUSTLE.