A Founder's Pursuit: Addressing Student Loan Debt with College Cash

For the past two years, Demetrius Curry has been dedicated to realizing a significant ambition.

His company, College Cash, presents a novel approach: it enables brands to solicit photo and video marketing content from users, rewarding them not with traditional payment, but with credits applicable directly to their outstanding student loan debt. This innovative model simultaneously provides brands with positive social impact and potential tax advantages.

Inspiration and Development

The impetus for Curry, a founder based in the Dallas area, stemmed from conversations with his daughter regarding the future burden of loan repayment.

He has devoted the last two years to developing the platform, securing brand partnerships, participating in accelerator programs, attracting users, and actively seeking investment to support his vision.

To date, College Cash has successfully raised $105,000, with plans to incorporate this funding into a larger $1 million seed round.

Challenges in Securing Funding

Completing this funding round has proven challenging for Curry. Despite the substantial capital currently available within the startup ecosystem, opportunities have been difficult to secure, particularly for black founders who still represent a small fraction of venture capital allocations.

Following last summer’s demonstrations against police brutality, numerous venture capital firms released statements condemning systemic racism and committing to support more underrepresented founders, launching new initiatives focused on diversity.

While Curry acknowledges the sincerity of these statements and the recognition of the problem, he contends that venture capital networks still require a deeper understanding of the complexities faced by “underserved” founders.

He suggests that many current efforts appear to be merely superficial. He observes a disparity between the celebration of university dropouts and the lack of recognition for founders who have overcome adversity or originated from areas with limited opportunities.

Defining "Underserved"

“You must broaden your search if you desire different results,” Curry explained to TechCrunch. “The concept of ‘underserved founders’ extends beyond ethnicity; it encompasses their backgrounds and experiences.”

Curry expresses frustration with the need to meet conventional investor criteria, even when seeking opportunities specifically designed for diverse founders. He has encountered obstacles such as needing “warm introductions” to access programs intended for underrepresented groups, and being deemed insufficiently developed to qualify for early-stage initiatives.

“Consider the hurdles we overcame simply to gain your attention,” Curry stated. “I once sold plasma to cover web hosting costs – nothing will deter me.”

A Personal Mission

Curry’s dedication to expanding opportunities for individuals burdened by student loan debt is deeply personal, rooted in his own transformative experience with education.

Years ago, after leaving the military, a chance encounter with a stranger at a Hardee’s restaurant prompted him to pursue his GED and subsequently a business degree. This led to a successful career in finance and ultimately, his current entrepreneurial venture with College Cash.

Future Plans

Although currently in its early stages, the platform has ambitious goals. Curry’s next project involves integrating a College Cash tipping feature with gig economy platforms.

The intention is to allow users of these platforms to direct tips toward a worker’s student loan debt. The team has collaborated with a “national gig economy platform” to pilot this integration, and initial focus groups indicate increased tipping rates when funds are designated for loan repayment.