Juan Jose Galvez: Rising entrepreneur
Entrepreneurship major Juan Jose Galvez graduated in May with a business already off the ground thanks to the College of Business’s Incubator lab.
LMU’s unique program strives to empower students to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams by providing workspace, funding and guidance from seasoned professionals, with the hope that their efforts could have real-world impact.
Juan Jose says his start-up, “nabthat.com,” which just opened offices in Santa Monica and retains a staff of 12, aims to change the car buying process.
“Essentially it’s an online concierge service where you’re able to make an anonymous offer on a car from the comfort of your own home,” Juan Jose said, “taking out the face to face negotiation process.”
According to Juan Jose, so far business is good, having sold more than 300 cars since launching in March, and is currently attracting attention from some very big investors.
“It’s a dinosaur of an industry,” Juan Jose said. “Over 16 million cars are sold every year.”
Juan Jose says he first heard of LMU when a recruiter visited his high school in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, piquing his interest. Once on campus, he was accepted into the Student Worker Program, which provides tuition in exchange for full-time work on campus.
“That program’s been great,” Juan Jose said. “It gives 24 students the opportunity to work so they can go to school.”
He goes on to describe his time at LMU as “amazing,” saying it’s afforded him huge opportunities he wouldn’t have gotten elsewhere.
“Two-thirds of the people in my country live below the poverty line,” Juan Jose said, “and most of them will never have the opportunities I’ve been given, so I’m just super grateful.”
Juan Jose hopes to one day return to Honduras and start his own Incubator Lab, working with local entrepreneurs. “I feel like I have a duty to give back,” Juan Jose said.
He recommends incoming students “come to LMU with an open mind. There’s a difference between not having a plan and not caring. The most important thing is that you care.”
To check out Juan Jose’s business venture visit www.nabthat.com.