New SU startup aims to make college more affordable

Cuselight is an eCommerce platform that lets students share books and resources across campus.

Higher education in America demands deep pockets. Even if you find one house and many roommates, decide to walk to school everyday and get the loan you want, you know that money will still trickle out. For many, textbooks, electronics, furniture, clothes and the list to survive on campus is endless.

One Syracuse University student is hoping to make college more affordable through his website called Cuselight.com.

"Education is everything, but sometimes, students miss out on opportunities because of a lack of resources, lack of money."
- Aldrine Ashong-Katai

“It is an eCommerce platform that will allow students to share anything from books to furniture that they often throw away once college is over,” Aldrine Ashong-Katai, the creator of the SU startup, said.     

“During one semester I had to pay $650 just on books. I felt that it was outrageous. I was mad. I thought to myself that I know that someone somewhere has the book that I need, but I don't know them,” Ashong-Katai said.

He said his company would make sure students get the products in good time and shape and at a place that is safe. It will allow subscribers to meet the other party beforehand to make sure that the book or gadget they wish to purchase satisfies their need and is in good working condition.

“All you need is an ‘syr.edu’ domain to connect with others on campus. Then log onto the Cuselight website and start sharing,” Ashong-Katai said.

He said being a college student is the only criteria. Ashong-Katai pointed out that students did not have any real, affordable options on campus. He said sadly, bookstores also make a big profit out of resale items.

“Let’s say a student buys a book for $100 that he doesn't read at all. At the end of the year, he wants to sell it to the bookstore. But the store will only buy it for $10,” he said.

At the same time, there is another student looking to purchase that exact book and given the situation he will end up going to the bookstore and lose money, he said.

“Then there is Amazon, Craigslist and eBay, but you get the books after a couple of days or a week and at a steep price,” he said.

Cuselight will deliver the product the next day and at a cheaper price, because students will be dealing with students, he said. He said it is the first business model of this kind.

The company is also trying to create jobs on campus. Ashong-Katai said that he would be responsible for appointing a representative who will help carry out the transactions safely.

“Each party will pay ten percent of the cost of the item. This money that will go toward supporting the students working for Cuselight,” he said. In that sense the business is sustainable and mutually beneficial, he said.

It is good money for students looking for jobs, which can be hard to come by, Ashong-Katai said.

Ashong-Katai is in the process of procuring a permit to operate with his representatives on school property. Until then, he said, the online portal and its services are free, he said.

“My goal is to take Cuselight to college campuses all over the country. And even though it is in a pilot stage right now, I have launched it in Upstate Medical, Brooklyn, Ithaca and Utica college,” he said.

Ashong-Katai said that he wants to empower students. “Education is everything, but sometimes, students miss out on opportunities because of lack of resources, lack of money,” he said.

Moreover, Ashong-Katai’s business plan is a model that once set in action, will run on its own. He is in his final year at the School of Information Studies, at the Kauffman program that allows young entrepreneurs like him to develop their ideas, and set up their companies.

“Being able to really analyze your environment and make improvements is a rare skill. That is a mark of an entrepreneur,” he said.  “But to take ideas from inception to actualization is what I have learned at Whitman and the iSchool.”

He said his company is his way to give back to community that has made him who he is. 

Cost of education should be

Cost of education should be reduced. The price of education material is going to out of reach. It’s good news that, SU aim to make college more affordable.

“Being able to really analyze

“Being able to really analyze your environment and make improvements is a rare skill. That is a mark of an entrepreneur,” he said. “But to take ideas from inception to actualization is what I have learned at Whitman and the iSchool.”

Post new comment

* Field must be completed for your comment to appear on The NewsHouse
The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.