Junior creates online social networking platform for KU students
Dane Christensen earns grant to further develop FreshLink with help from The Catalyst
When junior Dane Christensen first came to KU, he started out studying pre-health and wanted to go into physical therapy. Seeing that a business degree would better suit his business aspirations, he switched his major to business administration with an entrepreneurship minor.
In the spring of 2023, he joined The Catalyst, a KU School of Business program that encourages entrepreneurship and professional development through mentoring, to learn skills that would help support what he learned while exploring his business idea.
As a student from Omaha, Nebraska, Christensen wanted to improve the ability for KU students to connect with each other and with campus groups. From there, he created FreshLink, a social networking platform that connects KU students and organizations. Christensen soft-launched the site for research, design and testing in fall 2021, providing a resource students found valuable to their campus experience.
Christensen recently accepted a $25,000 grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce to help fund his company’s efforts. He plans to use this grant to streamline his website to improve the platform, to develop promotional efforts and to relaunch FreshLink at KU. In the future, he also hopes to fundraise for a mobile platform and eventually partner with other universities.
How is FreshLink different from other platforms like Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.?
FreshLink connects you with brand new people and is centralized by university students. Students sign up to view other users, clubs, organizations and events that are happening around campus. It centralizes every event across KU in one place for people to see so they can meet new people and explore the events.
What has been the journey like?
I did a soft launch in fall 2021 after I hired a team of three computer science students to do the coding for the website. I got a lot of great feedback from students about it and what they would like to see. I also did a lot of promotional activities on campus, which involved starting a campus organization that became FreshLink.
What challenges have you faced while working on your business?
A challenge I faced was having my own vision for something and not being able to create that due to the lack of knowledge of coding and website creation. I put together wireframes that showed the action, but I couldn’t make them do the action. It was very much a situation where I could see what I wanted to do, but I just couldn’t do it. You have to work with others to accomplish your goals.
How has The Catalyst helped and its mentors helped FreshLink?
KU and the School of Business have great professors who connected me to Ryan Rains, director of entrepreneurship co-curricular programming, who in turn introduced me to the grant opportunity and to The Catalyst reopening. I was part of it pre-pandemic, and the program meets you where you are and helps in any possible way. You could have even a sliver of an idea, and they can help cultivate it. I’m learning about funding opportunities and how to speak with angel investors or apply for more grants so I can develop the platform.
What excited you about the future of your business?
I’m excited about helping students. The idea that in a few years, I can have a running platform that actually helps students on campus is great. Other students can help connect one another to different opportunities around campus makes me eager for the future.
Is there anything else you’re working on?
I have another business that I’m currently working on called Make Faith Social. The idea is that the user creates a testimony on the website and links it to their Instagram page. It allows their followers to see the transformation story.
What would you tell students who have a business idea but do not know how or where to get started?
If it is something you like doing, it is worth pursuing. If it is something brand new that no one has created, then go and dominate. And if it is just an idea, then try it out and go find people who have more knowledge or experience than you.
The Catalyst encourages entrepreneurship and professional development through mentoring. Students have opportunities to work out ideas and venture plans with input from industry mentors. Learn more at business.ku.edu/catalyst.
By Alexander Houston
