Student View: UniServices Founder, Adam Green, Talks About His Journey Taking His Idea to a Venture-Backed Enterprise

Adam Green is a third-year College of Law student at Michigan State University. In 2020, Green earned his degree in political theory and constitutional democracy from MSU's James Madison College. Green, a lifelong Spartan from a long line of Spartan grads, is the founder and CEO of UniServices, a startup focused on helping college students earn income from assisting individuals in local communities with everyday tasks and chores.

Hi everyone! My name is Adam Green. I am a third-year law student at Michigan State University and the founder and CEO of UniServices. I also happen to be a lifelong Spartan — my family members are Spartans, and we have been coming to campus for football games since I can remember.

MSU is the only school I have ever wanted to attend. Fortunately, it was my best option for achieving my goals and getting my desired education. I was always interested in law and politics, so coming to MSU allowed me to attend the James Madison College residential college. What appealed to me most was that I could also work down the road at our State Capitol for all three years of undergrad! When the opportunity to attend MSU's Law School presented itself, I couldn't turn down the chance to continue my Spartan experience.

As a law student, making ends meet is difficult. I was selling my plasma twice weekly to get some extra cash. It was a challenging time, but it also sparked an idea. I saw a need for affordable and reliable services and knew college students had the skills to provide them. That's when the idea for UniServices was born.

Starting a business is not easy, especially when you're still studying and struggling to make ends meet. However, for me, it was the solution to a problem that I was facing myself. UniServices, a platform connecting students with people who needed their services, was born out of my own struggle.

The idea was simple yet innovative, and the response was overwhelming. Students from all over the country signed up, and people were excited to have access to affordable and reliable services. UniServices was filling a gap in the market and creating opportunities for college students to earn some extra cash and develop valuable skills.

However, the journey to turn UniServices into a thriving business was not without its hurdles. I knew I couldn't do this alone and needed help to make UniServices a reality. That's when I reached out to the Burgess Institute, a resource center at Michigan State University that supports student entrepreneurs.

The Burgess Institute became instrumental in helping me and my team turn UniServices into a sustainable business. Through the Institute, we had access to experienced mentors, networking opportunities, and even funding. There, my team and I connected with Hemkesh Agrawal, now our CTO, who was crucial in building the app. We had access to advisors nationwide, who helped us refine our business model and plan for growth. We even had opportunities to travel the country, meet alums, and attend business events that helped us learn from successful entrepreneurs and gain valuable insights.

One of the biggest inspirations for UniServices was the connection between students and the community. We saw how much students could contribute to the community by providing affordable and reliable services. UniServices also created opportunities for students to develop valuable skills, gain work experience, and earn some extra cash, which is especially important given the high cost of education.

Despite the challenges, UniServices has made a significant impact on the community. With the help of the Burgess Institute, my team and I were able to turn our idea into a successful business. Today, our UniServices team provides affordable, reliable services while creating opportunities for college students to earn much-needed extra cash and develop or hone valuable skills.

As UniServices looks towards expanding across the country, we have filled a gap in the market. There is a significant demand for college students to have flexible work, and UniServices provides a platform that connects them with people who need their services. With multiple venture capital firms and other investors backing us, UniServices is ready to go full-time following my graduation in May.

UniServices is an excellent example of how student entrepreneurs can turn their ideas into successful businesses, even during school. With the help of the Burgess Institute, I was able to identify a gap in the market and create something that has a huge impact. The Burgess Institute was crucial in helping my team and me turn UniServices into a thriving business by providing access to experienced mentors, advisors, and funding opportunities.