HUSTLE Entrepreneurship Program

Overview

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What Is Hustle?

The HUSTLE (Helping University Students Tackle Leadership and Entrepreneurship) Program is USF's Nault Center for Entrepreneurship incubator, designed to support student founders who are ready to take their ideas from concept to launch.

Each spring, a competitive cohort of student teams is selected to participate in this hands-on, high-accountability program. Unlike pitch competitions or business plan contests, HUSTLE simulates the real startup journey- from building to pitching to potentially closing a deal.

Throughout the semester, students attend weekly workshops, meet with mentors and work through a structured curriculum covering legal formation, customer discovery, MVP development, financial modeling and pitch training.

The most promising teams will pitch to Chessler Holdings, a real-world investor group with a track record of funding student-founded startups, for the chance to secure an investment deal.

As the startup landscape evolves, so does HUSTLE. This year, the program integrates artificial intelligence (AI) literacy and application to help student founders prepare for the tools shaping modern business.

Participants will learn practical ways to use AI throughout the business creation process- such as accelerating market research, generating customer personas, drafting pitch decks or automating operations. While not every venture will be AI-driven, all HUSTLE teams are encouraged to explore AI as both a productivity tool and a strategic advantage.

HUSTLE鈥檚 Audience

HUSTLE is designed for driven, coachable student founders from all majors who are ready to do the real work of building a startup. Whether you have an early-stage idea, a prototype or a business already in motion, HUSTLE will help you refine your concept, validate your market and move toward actual investment.

All business types are welcome- software, hardware, services- but the program has a unique edge for students launching consumer packaged goods (CPG) products. Chessler Holdings is one of the few investors that actively funds student-led CPG brands, including those in the nutrition, wellness and lifestyle industries.

 

The HUSTLE APPLICATION DEADLINE IS Oct. 20, 2025

Timeline

Fall - The Entry Pitch

Nov. 7 - St. Petersburg campus
To enter HUSTLE, students must first apply and pitch in the fall. This initial round ensures that selected teams are serious, prepared and ready to commit to building a real venture. Only a limited number of teams will be accepted into the spring cohort.

Spring - The HUSTLE Semester
Once accepted, student teams embark on a semester-long experience that combines structured education, live learning, mentorship and exposure to investors.

Key components include:

  • Weekly guest lectures and tactical workshops
  • A guided curriculum
  • One-on-one mentorship and coaching
  • Investor pitch preparation

Throughout the semester, teams work toward building a functional business with traction and a compelling case for investment.

May - The Final Pitch

At the end of the program, all teams deliver a final pitch to Chessler Holdings, with the chance to secure an investment. The Nault Center for Entrepreneurship will work with Chessler Holdings on behalf of selected teams to ensure fairness and favorable investment terms.

Companies that accept deals will join the Chessler Holdings portfolio. Teams that receive investment gain not only critical capital but also validation and connections to accelerate their next stage of growth.

Here's a breakdown of the program's phases:

Program Details

Phase 1: Applications

The initial application will consist of:

  • Students can apply online by clicking as a team, summarizing their business idea. Students can also apply on this page by hitting the Apply Now button.

  • Each applicant must be a current USF student during the application process. Students who will graduate in Fall 2025 can also apply.

  • The application requires a concise business operations plan, budget, and market analysis.

  • The application period is from Sep. 10, 2025, to Oct. 20, 2025.

  • A team of professionals will review the applications, conduct interviews, and select the finalists.

Phase 2: Final Selection

  • Top twenty teams will present to the HUSTLE Board, including David Chessler, on a soon to be announced date.
  • Teams will deliver a 5-minute video pitch, followed by a 7-minute question and answer session.
  • Teams will receive extensive coaching to prepare thoroughly for the pitch event.
  • Each team is required to create a comprehensive business plan and business model canvas.
  • Presentations will be assessed based on business strategy, team dynamics, marketing approach, and financial planning.

With the help of entrepreneurs, professors, and assigned mentors, teams will put together a professional presentation that will be assessed based on:

Business Summary/Strategy

  • Why/how will your business be successful?
  • What is so unique about your business idea?
  • What problem does your product or service solve, and how significant is this problem in the market?
  • What is your business model?

CEO/Team

  • For teams and solopreneurs, is the CEO or each team member determined, hard-working, and qualified?
  • For teams, does the group collaborate effectively? For solopreneurs, is there a clear plan for necessary support or partnerships?
  • Does each team member have a defined role and responsibilities? For solopreneurs, is there a clear division of tasks or an outsourcing strategy?

Marketing/Sales Approach

  • Who is your target audience?
  • How will you market to your target audience?
  • How do you plan to create product/service awareness and generate leads for your startup?

Finance

  • How do you plan to monetize your product or service?
  • What is your pricing strategy?
  • How will you distribute your budget?

Phase 3: Competition

Incubation Phase

Spanning the 2026 spring semester, this phase is tailored to refine and advance the early-stage ideas of up to 10 entrepreneurial teams.

Program highlights include:

  • Access to industry leaders who provide guidance and support to strengthen your business model.
  • Workshops designed to build foundational skills in market analysis, business planning and financial management.
  • A focus on developing and refining your product or service based on testing and user feedback to ensure strong market alignment.
  • Opportunities to begin forming strategic connections with potential investors and partners through planned networking events.
  • Guidance in formulating and refining a comprehensive go-to-market strategy to prepare for a successful launch.
  • Market testing to improve your product and initiate a phased launch strategy.
  • Structured demo days to showcase your progress, attract potential investors and secure funding for market entry.

**At the end of each month, there will be a board meeting to review progress and provide guidance for the upcoming month. These meetings offer an opportunity to reflect on achievements, address challenges and strategize for continued growth and success.

Accelerator Phase

Extending from March to December, this phase is designed to propel the top 3-5 teams towards market entry and operational scalability.

  • Participate in workshops focused on advanced operational strategies and efficient market entry.
  • Formulate and refine a comprehensive Go-to-Market strategy, preparing for a successful launch.
  • Execute market tests to refine your product and initiate a phased market launch.
  • Showcase your progress in structured demo days to attract potential investors and secure necessary funding for market entry.

Program Rules

In the case that a team member is underperforming, the other members may present this information to the board of judges and request that the member be removed. If the board of judges agrees, the member will be dismissed and disqualified from the competition. In this situation, the team may recruit a new member with the board鈥檚 approval.

Throughout the course of the competition, teams may not disclose any financials to outside members (i.e., the opposing team) until the winner has been announced. The HUSTLE Board maintains strict performance standards and reserves the right to dismiss any team that is underperforming within the program.

Additionally, should none of the participating teams meet the required qualifications for additional funding by the end of the program, Chessler Holdings is not obligated to award funding. This ensures that only the most deserving and viable projects are supported and encouraged to grow.

Resources:

FAQs

  1. Can I submit multiple business ideas?
    • Yes, you may submit as many ideas as you would like considered. You will need to submit a complete application for each idea separately.
  2. What if I graduate in the Fall, can I still participate?
    • Yes, as long as everyone on the team is a student on the application due date (Oct. 20) you can apply and participate in the program. 
  3. Is this program open to international students?
    • Yes, this program is open to international students. It is expected that the student understands the implications for their visa status and makes decisions using information / guidance they find on their own. 
  4. Is this program open to "X-Type" students? (medical, engineering, arts, humanities, business, etc)
    • The HUSTLE program is open to all students in all programs across all campuses. Anyone can be an entrepreneur and pursue their ideas- and the program supports innovation and entrepreneurship from all sources. 
  5. Should every cofounder or team member submit an application?
    • No, there should only be one application for each business idea that includes the names of all cofounders / team members. 

Program evolution

As the program continues to evolve, we anticipate offering a for-credit undergraduate course in the near future. Graduate and Ph.D. students are welcome to participate in HUSTLE; however, this course would be taken on a non-credit basis. More details will be shared soon.

For additional questions contact:

Magdelena Harrah
Program Manager
USF Nault Center for Entrepreneurship
magdelena@usf.edu

USF Nault Entrepreneurship Center
entrepreneurship@usf.edu

Tim Ernest
Project Manager
USF Nault Center for Entrepreneurship 
ernestt@usf.edu

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