Eller Student Venture Makes Debut at Arizona Stadium
Pictured from left to right: Zach Johnson, Monet Pokrant, Bernardo Reyes
The McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship’s New Venture Development (NVD) Program teaches the principles of entrepreneurship and under the guidance of faculty and mentors, students build an idea from early-stage to launch-ready venture. It brings students, experts and business leaders together to launch something bigger than any textbook or classroom could hold. Here, people build ideas and nurture inspiration into innovation.
One of NVD's latest successful ventures is VYZZIE—the coolest (and shadiest!) vending machine you’ve ever seen. VYZZIE is a sunglass vending machine that sells trendy and affordable sunglasses. And most importantly, they are available where you need them the most. Co-founders of VYZZIE are Monet Pokrant, Zach Johnson and Bernardo Reyes.
VYZZIE launched in May 2023 after spending time in the NVD program conducting market research, developing a pitch and building a strong foundation of teamwork. Just three months after graduation, VYZZIE was on the market thanks to the support from the McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship.
“During our time in McGuire, VYZZIE had the opportunity to craft a business plan, present our concept at a trade show, and even pitch to real investors…all of which set us up for the success we can now say we have achieved. Perhaps one of our most memorable experiences during this process was pitching at the “Bear Down and Pitch” competition,” says Monet Pokrant—one of VYZZIE's founders. “As our final pitch of the year, we gave it our all. After presenting, we were invited by an interviewer to speak about what McGuire meant to us. In near unison, we responded that applying to the McGuire Entrepreneurship Program was the single best decision of our academic career, and we meant it. During this time, we learned what it meant to work as a team, became leaders in our own right, and learned how to bring a venture to market.”
VYZZIE's first location is the University of Arizona Stadium, where Wildcat fans can now purchase sunglasses if they forget them at home!
“We recognize that VYZZIE would not be where it is today without the support of the McGuire Center leadership and the guidance of our esteemed mentor, Tawn Albright,” says Pokrant. “We are very proud of our venture and don’t plan on slowing down any time soon!”
