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ºÚÁÏÃÅUniversity Chicago Logo ºÚÁÏÃÅUniversity Chicago Housed in the ºÚÁÏÃÅBusiness Leadership Hub Ignite Lab

Side Hustle Showcase

$1000 in prize money awarded!

Loyola's 2nd Annual Side Hustle Showcase gave students the opportunity to present their businesses—think of it as a science fair for side hustles. Twelve selected student-owned ventures were on display in the Schreiber Center Lobby, each competing for a chance to win $500 in prize money. From handmade goods to digital services and everything in between, students proudly shared their side hustles with the ºÚÁÏÃÅcommunity.

Event info

Each participant had a designated table to decorate and showcase their business's products or services. During the event, participants provided overviews of their businesses to visitors and answered attendee questions. While sales were not permitted at the event, participants promoted their websites and social media accounts to attendees.

Date: Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Time: 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Location: Schreiber Center Lobby

Meet Past Student Entrepreneurs

Explore the standout ventures featured at past Side Hustle Showcases—each one a testament to the creativity, drive, and entrepreneurial spirit thriving at Loyola.

2025 Participants

Campus Fundracers Racing Team

Founded in 2023, Campus Fundracers Racing Team is a student run motorsports team competing in various endurance races hosted by The 24 Hours of Lemons and ChampCar Endurance Series. They race to raise funds and awareness for The Farmer’s House, which supports job opportunities, fosters skill development, and facilitates life-changing empowerment for individuals with developmental disabilities. They also aim to provide ºÚÁÏÃÅUniversity Chicago students with an opportunity to apply their classroom gained knowledge and skills to real world problem solving in a goal-oriented, fun, supportive team environment.

Chrome Vision

A motivational streetwear clothing brand that inspires people to reflect upon themselves to get the results they desire in life. At the time of the showcase, they offered T-shirts and puffer jackets.

LeinaLuxeNails

With a focus on long, lavish designs, LeinaLuxeNails is an affordable nail business offering premium acrylic nail services. At LeinaLuxeNails, they believe that nails are more than just an accessory—they are a powerful form of self-expression. Their priority is to execute the customer’s vision with accuracy and artistry, regardless of their preference for striking, eye-catching designs or sophisticated, classic looks. Customers will leave feeling confident and polished because each set of nails is a reflection of their uniqueness, originality, and sense of style.

Lu's Cookies

Lu's Cookies is a small, locally-owned business in Chicago that specializes in homemade treats, including cookies, cupcakes, chocolate-covered strawberries, and a variety of other desserts. They also offer custom orders and event catering, ensuring that our creations are tailored to clients' specific needs and occasions.

Mouse Media

A freelance published automotive photographer. This business combines the owner's passion for cars with photography to showcase clients’ cars in new and creative ways via his photography.

sandstone kc

A non-for-profit theatrical performance company based in Kansas City Missouri. The founders collaboratively write, cast, direct, produce, and market every show by sandstone kc. Their slogan is “Live art. Local stories.” This slogan shows their mission to create a space centered on individuality that invites the audience to engage with storytelling in a way that reflects the human experience. Through their commitment to artistic expression, they aim to redefine the landscape of performance and inspire meaningful connections within our community.

Sheancreates

A brand that sells lifestyle hoodies with messages about the concept of love on each hoodie. The brand's mission is to spread the concept of love one step at a time. 

SolisArt

Solis Art is an independent art business that creates and sells original art and prints online. The owner creates pieces both traditionally on canvas and digitally using applications like Adobe. To showcase her art, she has built a social media following on Instagram and Pinterest, generating traffic and growing her audience.

Supply.Grail

A resale business that specializes in rare sneakers and designer items, offering exclusive, high-demand products. With a focus on authenticity and quality, they connect sneakerheads and fashion enthusiasts to limited-edition drops and premium designer pieces.

Synergy

Synergy Magazine is dedicated to showcasing the talent, creativity, and stories of young individuals who are shaping the cultural landscape in Chicago. As a platform, it serves as a space for self-expression, inspiration, and connection, encouraging readers to immerse themselves in a fusion of art, fashion, academia, and social commentary. Their website provides their audience with weekly articles centered around social and cultural issues impacting the everyday lives of individuals. In the future, Synergy hopes to create a physical publication of their magazine that will feature exclusive long-form articles with accompanying photos and graphics.

Unlimited Coverage Cybersecurity

An e-commerce platform that sells cybersecurity gadgets for aspiring cybersecurity professionals and aims to educate users and customers about the potential of being cybersecurity fluent in a way that anyone can understand.

Written By Raya

A stationary business that sells planners, which are a combination of a bullet journal and traditional planner. They combine the popular features of a bullet journal with a traditional planner by creating the most flexible planner system on the market yet. Currently, they offer two variations: The Bloom Planner, which has all floral themes by month, and the minimalistic Be You Planner, where users can add their own embellishments or keep it simple.

2024 Participants

Amerinkas

An online shop that sells products made by Native American artists from different tribes across North and South America. This includes products such as jewelry, pottery, and Alpaca wool blankets & jackets. The owner is Indigenous Kichwa and works directly with each artist to create intricate, one-of-a-kind pieces that capture the essence of Native culture and Southwest style.

Big Eaters

A culinary business that focuses on delivering food to customers around the ºÚÁÏÃÅcampus. They are focused on creating high-quality food from different backgrounds to provide students living in dorms with a home-cooked meal.

Deesandco

A hair and beauty business that provides services mainly for people of color including protective styles such as braids, locs, twists, weaves, and cornrows. This business is also looking to expand its services to cater to the hair needs of all ethnicities.

Hudi

A business that sells decorational hoodies for a car's gear shift. These decorational hoodies protect the gear shift from damage and can be perfumed for an additional smell. Hudi’s product is a fun car decoration as well as a cute novelty gift.

NIEBIESKI

A Polish-inspired streetwear label that features apparel for men and women. The line is inspired by Eastern European culture, urbanity, and contemporary design.

Restoration Resale

An online business that resells contemporary and vintage electronics and other mechanical products that have been restored. This business sources broken or neglected goods from Goodwill outlet liquidation centers, cleans, fixes, and resells them online.

RIZVISIONS

A digital marketing business that uses short-form content creation to generate leads for small service-based businesses. This includes content on platforms such as TikTok, Reels, and shorts. RIZVISIONS uses analysis of these platforms’ algorithms to make sure their clients' content stays ahead and gains viral traction. RIZVISIONS manages its clients' posting schedules across social media channels through flexible subscription programs specialized to each business’s needs.

Sheancreates

A brand that sells lifestyle hoodies with messages about the concept of love on each hoodie. The brand's mission is to spread the concept of love one step at a time.

Sneaker/Designer Resale

A resale business that buys sneakers/designer items at a low cost and resells them for a profit. In addition to selling directly to clients Sneaker/Designer Resale also does consignments at two local sneaker shops.

Zingg Photo & Video LLC

A business that provides multimedia production and creative services for clients. This includes photo and video production, graphic design/illustration, branding, and social strategy with a specialty in corporate storytelling.

Application details

Applications are now closed. The deadline to apply was Saturday, February 22.

Eligibility: Applicants must be current ºÚÁÏÃÅUniversity Chicago students with an operational business that has been active for at least six months.

Selection Process: A review committee evaluates applications based on creativity, feasibility, and the overall potential of the business.

Award breakdown

The Peer Award ($500): Voted on by event participants, who evaluated each other’s creativity, presentation, execution, development, and other key factors.

The Judges’ Award ($500): Decided by a panel of anonymous expert judges who visited the showcase. Participants were assessed on criteria such as viability, innovation, market understanding, and more.

Note: Monetary prizes subject to change based on available funding.

Tim Lanai

This year's student entrepreneurs had the opportunity to receive coaching from seasoned entrepreneur Tim Lanai. With experience launching an executive search firm in 2006 and growing an award-winning home services franchise since 2015, Tim brought expert insights in sales, business development, and startup mentoring. It was a valuable chance to grow their side hustles with personalized guidance.

$1000 in prize money awarded!

Loyola's 2nd Annual Side Hustle Showcase gave students the opportunity to present their businesses—think of it as a science fair for side hustles. Twelve selected student-owned ventures were on display in the Schreiber Center Lobby, each competing for a chance to win $500 in prize money. From handmade goods to digital services and everything in between, students proudly shared their side hustles with the ºÚÁÏÃÅcommunity.

Event info

Each participant had a designated table to decorate and showcase their business's products or services. During the event, participants provided overviews of their businesses to visitors and answered attendee questions. While sales were not permitted at the event, participants promoted their websites and social media accounts to attendees.

Date: Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Time: 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Location: Schreiber Center Lobby

Meet Past Student Entrepreneurs

Explore the standout ventures featured at past Side Hustle Showcases—each one a testament to the creativity, drive, and entrepreneurial spirit thriving at Loyola.

Application details

Applications are now closed. The deadline to apply was Saturday, February 22.

Eligibility: Applicants must be current ºÚÁÏÃÅUniversity Chicago students with an operational business that has been active for at least six months.

Selection Process: A review committee evaluates applications based on creativity, feasibility, and the overall potential of the business.

Award breakdown

The Peer Award ($500): Voted on by event participants, who evaluated each other’s creativity, presentation, execution, development, and other key factors.

The Judges’ Award ($500): Decided by a panel of anonymous expert judges who visited the showcase. Participants were assessed on criteria such as viability, innovation, market understanding, and more.

Note: Monetary prizes subject to change based on available funding.