ABOUT THE FUND
The Marcus Foundation supports Georgia State student entrepreneurs, recent alumni and Georgia State community entrepreneurs with seed funding and mentorship to start and grow new ventures.

ECODROP TECHNOLOGIES
Ishir Vasavada, Co-Founder, Strategy & Finance
B.B.A. Finance ’19
Nicole Toole, Co-Founder & CEO
B.B.A. Computer Information Systems ’22
[email protected]
Launched July 2019 | Seed Stage
PROBLEM
Declining recycling rates and manual
waste management processes along
with the lack of incentive and
accessibility to recycle on college
and corporate campuses
SOLUTION
Automated sorting machines
(Reverse-Vending) and a mobile app
BUSINESS MODEL
Annual lease
TARGET MARKET
Educational and corporate
institutions
KEY COMPETITORS
Rubicon Global, TOMRA, Envipco
USE OF FUNDS
40% hardware development, 20%
marketing, 20% talent, 20% legal
How has Georgia State supported you as an entrepreneur?
Georgia State has played a massive role in my journey. It has given me and my team a platform to conduct all our organizational activities and interact with our users, who are primarily students. ENI at Georgia State has been a huge resource as well by being the first seed grant provider through Main Street workshops and mentorship sessions. We hope to launch our pilot service on the Georgia State campus.
What does entrepreneurship mean to you?
Entrepreneurship to me means challenging myself everyday. It is like a sport. I want to keep playing every day of my life.
How did you meet your team?
Digital Learners to Leaders. I was keen on going beyond the classroom to discuss ideas and projects that could solve the problems faced by the society. I found my team during the Digital Learners to Leaders Program. No one knew anyone back then. Since then, we are continuing to make the necessary changes in order to execute our idea.
What’s your biggest challenge as an entrepreneur?
Patience. It is the most frustrating and yet the most rewarding part of being an entrepreneur. As a student or a fresh graduate, one still has to work a job initially in order to manage finances. That is where time management is put to the test.
What advice can you offer to entrepreneurs?
Be selfish and self-obsessed with your work and yourself in order to create value for others.
FOUNDER INTERVIEW AND PODCAST

ABOUT THE FUND
The Marcus Foundation supports Georgia State student entrepreneurs, recent alumni and Georgia State community entrepreneurs with seed funding and mentorship to start and grow new ventures.